Monday, April 9, 1C34
Daily Ncbraskan
Pago C
Model home toiwed
eague removes barriers of handicapped
KyJcnathn.il Tcylcr
A new program known as the Barrier Removal
Information Center will save the League of Human
Dignity about $30,000, Mike Schafer, the league's
executive director, said Tuesday at a barrier-free
environment awareness luncheon.
Mark Schultz, housing and design specialist, said
the new program was formed March 1 when the
barrier-removal and barrier-free information centers
were combined. Schultz took a group of Lincoln
community business people on a tour of the league's
barrier-free model home. Funded from Community
Development block grants, the model home features
a living room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen.
Schultz said the model home has a hydraulic tub
lift and a roll-in in the bathroom, lever-type door
handles in all rooms and a kitchen with an adjustable
height roll-under sink and stove, pull-out storage
shelves and a front-loading washer and dryer. More
than 1,000 people have studied and used the home
in the last two years, Schultz said. He said that by
having the donated equipment on display, customers
can test the products before they buy, rent or
receive them by way of grants.
The model home is an example for contractors
and builders to follow when they put "adaptable
designs" into their homes. Schultz said "adaptable
designs" allow builders and contractors to build
Lack of funding
restricts access
By Jonathan Taylor
Accessibility to buildings on campus "is not .
perfect, but it's quite good," said Martin Munn,
director of handicapped services.
Munn said that not every floor of each
building is accessible to the fewer than 25
students who need barrier-free entrances. But,
he said, programs and classes have been
moved to accommodate those students' needs.
Electric doors currently are being installed
in the library entrance, Munn said. However,
the extremely high cost of barrier modification
limits the amount of remodeling that can be
done on other areas of the campus, he said.
Union Director Daryl Swanson - said few
people have complained about the accessibil
ity to the Nebraska Union.
"I am surprised to hear we're one of the
better buildings," Swanson said.
Swanson said that when the ramp on the
westside of the union was built, it was expect
ed to be only temporary. He said the electronic
door lets in a blast of hot or cold air, depending
on weather conditions.
Swanson said two alternatives have been
proposed. The first calls for a long, low incline
ramp to be installed on the north side of the
union, so handicapped students could enter
where the large screen television currently is.
The other alternative would be to tear down
the existing ramp and replace it with an
enclosed, heated vestibule, a lift device for
handicapped, and steps for the general public.
However, no structural changes have been
implemented because of a lack of money,
Swanson said.
r ) i
OA
2nsit'$ZttZ. Ectja3i Z$z-tjZttZz
- 1
ir
LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE
FOH'l
We 'II treat you to a Highlight Frosting for just $1
with your purchase of a regularly priced haircut,
shampoo and styling. A $32 value, yours for just
$13.
Step by today or give us a call at 477-6921 or 477
921 1. Appointments not always necessary.
hovlcnd'svcnson
Downtown Third Floor
fm. means Ferzn Special. Our deluxe salon perm,
V, including haircut shampoo and styling, reg. 34.50,
ground-level homes that customers with or without
handicaps can use.
Schultz said that while the builders he has talked
to cooperated with design changes, some argue that
the changes cost too much. Though only the best
cost-reducing methods are suggested, hes?id bu ilding
a home with a barrier-free entrance, wider doorways
and a five-foot turning radius in every room adds
about $300 to $100 to the price. This docs not
include possible grab rails or other specific equip
ment that may be installed later, Schultz said.
With the low turnover rate of barrier-free homes,
Schultz said, the need is definite.
Schultz said he hopes this need will be met when
construction begins this month on a $700,000 scattered
site barrier-free apartment project made possible
through a loan from the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development.
The league has waited one and a half years for the
approval of the HUD loan to build the 12 one
bedroom and six two-bedroom units at four locations
in Lincoln. The spots include the Belmont area,
62nd and Seward streets, 65th and Starr streets and
three blocks North of O on 34th street.
About 34 people have expressed interest in the 18
units, Schultz said. People who cannot get space in
the new complexes and need modified housing can
receive relocation help from the Barrier Removal
Information Center.
The center keeps a list of modified homes and
determines its customers' access problems and the
best solutions. The center also consults with archi
tects, students and other building professionals.
People who need to remove or modify barriers can
get grants of up to $2,500 from the center, Schultz
said.
If people qualify for financial aid, the center
schedules a conference to assess the barrier problem,
Schultz said. He then draws up the plans for
changes. Such barrier changes have included ramps,
wheelchair lifts, doorway widening and complete
bathroom remodeling, Schultz said.
Aside from a free equipment loan program, Schultz
said the center makes sure public buildings follow
state law and city codes for accessibility by con
ducting on-site inspections and keeping a building
plan checklist.
Law requires that buildings constructed after
1 976 be accessible to the handicapped, Schultz said.
But, owners of older buildings take responsibility to
decide whether barrier changes should be made.
"We need to get the word out of the services we
have available," fichultz said. But because the league
does not publish many public service announcements,
he said, most of the center's publicity is by word-of-mouth
or the league's bi-monthly luncheons.
' - - 4
t r
13
yjj
i
iioijuji
On
i
Dave TroubaDally Nebraskan
Sophomore Darlene Wirth uses the handi
capped access ramp on the west side of the
Nebraska Union.
J I
This holiday was designed to celebrate
and encourage America's fitness.
Yqu can help, celebrate by jogging over to
. University Plasma Center. Become a
"plasma donor!
S10 is paid per donation and you can
donate twice weekly (but please wait 72
hours between donations).
New donors bring this ad for a $2 bonus
for your first donation.
Call now-for an appointment.
475-8645
Univcrcibj Placrr.a Ccntor
1442 O Stoot
OPEN:
MON., TUES., THURS.. FRI. 7:30 am to 7:00 pm
WED. AND SAT. 7.30 am to 6:00 pm
FEDERALLY LICENSED
rZ
1 1( ik uj .
V
-
3S3No..l2tIi
477-9347
2 FOE
Pick any two frames in our entire stock, and we will
make your prescription in glass or plastic lenses for
the price of the most expensive pair.
Order 1 pair of bifocals and your second pair would
be your choice of either distance or reading
prescription. '
V
If you only want 1 pair, take 50 off our everyday
bw price of that pair and add $10.00.
Limited to prescriptions no higher than a plus or minus 5.00 diopters.
No multifocals included except round bifocals, or Flat top 25mm bifocals.
This ad cannot be used in conjunction with any other optical promotion.
Offer expires 4-14-84.
i now on j
i