I first of all would like to thank Lisa Everman for bringing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance issues to light and also for reporting them so accurately.Physical accessibility is only one of the problems disabled students suffer from on this campus. While it is true that every building does not have to be accessible, by law any building must be made accessible if it houses an activity that a student with a disability wants to be involved in. This includes every campus event, every class, every book and every student life or recreational activity. It is true that OSU does not have an ADA coordinator and it is imperative that one is appointed. There must be one person who is responsible on an administrative level for the coordination of all disabled activities. Not only is it possible to have one coordinator, all major universities across the nation – including the Big 10 – have ADA coordinators; with the exception of OSU. I believe the information concerning whether or not OSU is mandated to have an ADA coordinator is taken out of context. The ADA law is clear: Large institutions are required to have an ADA coordinator. Is there anyone that would question that OSU falls into the category of “large institution?”Warren King is correct in his assessment there are “many things (that) can keep a building from being compliant.” Those “things” are clearly outlined in the Disability Task Force Report that was completed in April of 1995. A spin-off from the Committee for the Undergraduate Experience (CUE), the Task Force produced a nearly 200 page document clearly outlining the problems, pointed out that the university holds the responsibility for correcting them, and then provided recommendations for improvement. Unfortunately, the university community doesn’t know about the Task Force Report because it was never released from the Office of Student Affairs. The Task Force, which reported back to David Williams and President Gee, was comprised of 20 individuals from all over campus who devoted nearly two years of work, only to see that work and the Task Force “shelved” for lack of support from Student Affairs, the President’s office and the Board of Trustees. We assume this was a result of the cost of implementation and the low priority disability issues have relative other things, such as athletics. There are many other problems.

  • Students for Disabled Awareness (SDA) has also been pushing for student life for the disabled student population. There are many student groups across campus that have offices that coordinate tutoring, advocacy and community, but students with disabilities at OSU do not enjoy these benefits. Ann Yurcisin, Director of Office for Disability Services (ODS) specifies that “student life is not in our mission statement” and despite bringing other people in who think ODS should provide those services, nothing has changed.
  • Planning for major events on campus with disabled students in mind is a major problem. When President Clinton came to campus, USG was, we felt, insensitive in the manner they handled the planning. Afterwards, when SDA demanded an apology, officers of SDA were told that “if you ever need anything, don’t ask USG for it.” That folks, is discrimination.
  • The 97-98 Resident Fall kickoff in St. John – which was sponsored by Student Affairs – had no accommodations for students with disabilities. The Town Hall meeting treated the disabled as an afterthought with only two veterans in wheelchairs in the aisles (fire code violation?) and only one interpreter (not even on stage) at a four-way stage event.
  • This past Fall, Student Affairs gave the Adapted Recreation Department the greatest percentage cut of all of the Recreation-based programs.
  • Every student still has problems getting his/her educational materials in the format they are entitled. Although there has been a recent surge (only this quarter, after brought to the Board of Trustees’ attention) of money into the books on tape program, space, manpower and resources remain very short. Unlike athletes, international students and other minorities, ODS has no paid tutors.
  • Through SDA’s suggestion, Richard Sisson and David Williams recently started a liaison program whereby one person would be responsible in every OSU department for the coordination of disabled issues. Response to their request has been slow and follow through hasn’t been very successful, with only 20 offices thus far responding.

As far as the comment from OSU Board of Trustee Secretary Mr. William Napier, that he is “not familiar with the disability program,” I have major problems with it. If what he said was true, he should be at the very least ashamed to admit it. SDA, on Nov. 4, 1997, sat across the conference table from Mr. Napier and directly addressed OSU’s lack of an ADA coordinator and the issues of the disabled students on the OSU campus. We handed Mr. Napier and the Board of Trustees individual copies of the Disability Task Force, and asked for a reply. We got none. Because we received not even one word of encouragement, we asked what would be a reasonable time that we could get back together to discuss progress. The 30 days passed, phone calls and letters to Mr. Napier went unanswered.Mr. Napier’s response is symptomatic of the malaise on this campus regarding the OSU disabled community. Individually, people are very supportive of the disabled movement, but when it comes to their jobs or reputations, few are wiling to step up to the plate. Until the time comes that the OSU administration takes responsibility for the problems, we need to protect those individuals that do stand up for the disabled student – those who daily walk the fine line for the disabled, and let them know we appreciate their efforts.SDA is being evicted from ODS because Ann Yurcisin says “there is a lack of space.” At the current time all of the space is not taken. We argue that we take up only one desk and one bulletin board and the true reason that we are being asked to leave is that we are a stone in their shoe. SDA, in one form or another, has been here since the ’70s and continues to be the only voice for the disabled on this campus. If SDA is removed from the oversight position we currently hold in the Office for Disability Services, no one will be able to stand up for the disabled on the Ohio State University campus. No one will know what is going on and the disabled will be further marginalized from society. We have asked President-elect Dr. Kirwan to give us an official ruling on this and all of the other issues. We wait for his reply.Above are Civil Right violations under ADA and 504 law. SDA has contacted the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice concerning these violations. How we act is dependent upon Dr. Kirwan’s answer. Gone is the era “If you need a tutor, you’re at the wrong university.” Students for Disability Awareness has great faith in President Kirwan that he will lead Ohio State University into a new era of compliance and equal education for all.Students for Disability Awareness represents all students with disabilities. With half of the current population holding the possibility of having one of the many different forms of disabilities at one time or another during their educational career here at OSU (and with a 95 percent possibility that everyone will have one in their lifetime), SDA takes their universal responsibility seriously. SDA looks out for everyone’s rights, no matter who you are. We hope you will join in the movement.We thank you once again for bringing this very important issue public.

Belinda Spinosi is a senior majoring in bioethics and political science and a member of Students for Disability Awareness.