Ohio University President Roderick McDavis signed a proclamation last night that could mean the world to an often-overlooked group of OU students.
A Proclamation of Recommitment to Full Implementation of the ADA served as a public reinforcement of OU's commitment to serving the needs of students with disabilities as the 20th anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act approaches.
McDavis worked with the Office of Disability Services and Student Senate's Minority Affairs Commission to organize the signing of the proclamation and the panel discussion that took place after.
The whole idea is twofold to me
McDavis said after the discussion. This makes it possible for students with disabilities to function well on campus and it also makes OU more attractive to prospective students with disabilities.
McDavis said although OU has made progress in supporting students with disabilities, more work needs to be done.
The Office of Disability Services estimates it serves between 600 and 800 students each year. In the fall of 2008, 670 students had registered disabilities at the office; the year before, 650 students had registered, according to a previous Post article.
Members of the Minority Affairs Commission hope this proclamation will improve awareness as the university works to improve access in the classroom and across campus for students with disabilities, said Andrea Blamble, Minority Affairs commissioner. Blamble cited access to buildings on campus as a problem that needs to be addressed.
Jesse Neader, Academic Affairs commissioner, who is running for Student Senate president on the SOUND ticket and has openly discussed his learning disability, sat on the panel of students and educators who talked about living with a disability in a university setting. Neader said his recent prominence on campus has allowed him to reach out to students who are not educated about disabilities.
Neader said when he decided to run for president, disagreements rose between him and those running with him about whether he should disclose his disability.
They felt like students would think I was stupid Neader said, adding the incident emphasized the lack of education among OU students about people with disabilities. I was distraught. These were my friends
and they still didn't understand.
Cort Schneider, who has two bachelor's degrees, two master's degrees and is working on his doctorate, said four of his degrees came from OU and described his time at the university as an ongoing fight.
When I applied here
the mindset was that if you have a disability
you don't go to OU
Schneider said. Someone asked me
'Don't you people have special schools you can go to?'
Schneider echoed McDavis' opinion that relations have improved over the years for students with disabilities, but added that the university has a long way to go. Greater understanding between students is needed, he said.
I would love to fly like Superman
but it's not going to happen; we're all limited
said Schneider, who uses forearm crutches to walk. You're all one banana peel away from being where I am.
