University Daily Kansan / Friday, April 17, 1992
5
Statute requires University to identify rooms in Braille
By Erik Bauer
Kansan staff writer
Because of new American Disabilities Act requirements, the University is beginning a project to add Braille to all room-identification sigs.
Signs outside classroom doors, restrooms and office doors in campus buildings will be modified to meet the requirements, said Mike Richardson, director of facilities operations.
"We've been aware of them for probably six months, but I don't think we've received a full copy of them," Richardson said. "It's going to cost many thousands of dollars."
The new federal requirements went into effect Jan. 26. None of the officials could estimate the cost of the sign project.
Bob Turvey, associate director of the student assistance center, said the University of Kansas had a lot of flexibility in finding sources for accessibility financing. Money often is taken from other projects.
Turvey said the University financed Braille modifications for classrooms at Wesco Hall in the fall although money had not been set aside specifically.
"I think that's a very good sign that the University is committed to access," he said.
Turvey said the assistance center had received a lot of complaints about accessibility, including a lack of Braille signs.
"That has not been a requirement previous to these new ADA requirements," he said. "It has not been a thing that the University has acted on."
Turvey said the University conducted surveys that inquired about difficulties students with disabilities might face with campus building access.
Turvey, who is the head of the Architectural Barriers Committee, said the University was evaluating accessibility problems in at least 110 buildings on campus.
"Every feature of access has to be reviewed, and they have to be reviewed by people who understand what the code responsibilities are," he said. "Most of the buildings on campus were not built with access in mind."
He said the number of legally blind students at the University did not
exceed 10 but the number of students with vision problems was much greater.
"We'll be working toward those requirements," Turvey said. "It's not that big of a cost."
"As we put up new graphics under ADA requirements, all room-identification signs will have Braille," he said.
Don Whipple, assistant director of facilities planning, said the Braille signs also would be attached to emergency phones on campus.
Laura Morrow, Overland Park graduate student, said she thought the Braille-sign project showed the administration's concern for students who were visually impaired and increased awareness about challenges those students faced.
"I think it's showing a great deal of respect for those who are challenged," said Marron, who is visually impaired. "It makes people aware that we're out there competing on an equal basis with everyone else and that we're quite capable of doing so."
She said she thought Braille signs and wheelchair ramps helped students with disabilities become more independent.
1,2,3,&4 Bedrooms
- Pool & Volleyball
- Small pets with deposit
- Central Air & Gas Heat
- Disposal & Dishwasher
- Frost Free Refrigerator
- Popular Carpet Colors
Available For Summer & Fall
2166 W. 26th
843-6446
FOUR BEDROOM
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PIZZA
842-1212
Just ask for the #1 Special
2-PIZZAS
1-TOPPING
$600
Offer good through May 17, 1992
DELIVERY HOURS
Additional single topping pizza- $300 Additional toppings .50¢ A "no coupon" special
FRI-SAT 11AM-3AM
MON-THUR 11AM-2AM
Open at 11 am everyday
SUNDAY 11AM-1AM
Dine-in available
We accept checks!
EVERYDAY TWO-FERS PRIMETIME SPECIAL PARTY "10"
2-PIZZAS 3-PIZZAS 10-PIZZAS
2-TOPPINGS 1-TOPPING 1-TOPPING
2-COKES 4-COKES $30^{00}$
$9^{00} $11<sup>50</sup>
The University of Kansas Department of Music and Dance Division of Bands
KU Jazz Combo I KU Jazz Singers
Full Voice vocal ensemble from Seattle, WA
Friday, April 17
Partially funded by the KU Student Senate Activity Fee.
JAYHAWK Special Prices for KU Faculty, Staff and Students
MTech Pro 386/33
- 33MHz 386DX CPU
- 64K cache
- 4MB RAM, expandable to 32MB
* 1.44MB TEAC 600m drive
MTech Talent 386SX/25
- 14" SVGA color monitor, 0.28dpi
- *125MB IDE HD with disk caching
*SYGA video adapter
- 14" SVGA color monitor, 0.28dp
* 2 serial, 1 parallel, 1 game ports
- MS-DOS 5.0
- MS-DOS 5.0
- Windows 3.1
- 25MHz 386SX CPU
- High resolution mouse
- 1 year warranty
- 1 year warranty
$ 1554.00
- 52MB IDE HD with disk caching
- SVGA video adapter
- 2MB RAM, expandable to 16MB
- 1.44MB TEAC floppy drive
- 14" SVGA color monitor,0.28dpi
- 2 serial, 1 parallel, 1 game ports
- 101 kw enhanced keyboard
- 101-key enhanced keyboard
- 101-key enhanced keyboard
- MS-DOS 5.0
- Windows 3.1
- High resolution mouse
- 1 year warranty
- 1 year warranty
$ 1158.00
Optional 1.2MB/360K floppy, 100/125/200/300MB hard disk, CROM, Tape drive, 14" non-interlocked color monitor, MB SVGA card, 15" color monitor, Co-processor.
Above systems are under State Microcomputer Contract State Contract prices for the University are available at KU purchasing dept. or call Microtech at 841-9513 Ext. State Contract dept.
Over the years, Microtech has delivered thousands micro-computer systems to Federal, State, Local governments and Universities. Please call for details on 5 different Desktop and Notebook computer contracts currently offered by Microtech.
MICROTECH COMPUTERS, INC.
841-9513 Technical Support line: 841-9533 Fax: 841-1809 2329 Iowa St
ATTENTION KANSAS CITY STUDENTS
UMKC PUTS THE CHOOL BACK IN SUMMER SCHOOL
Going home to KC and want to keep working on your degree? No sweat We'll give you special visiting student status that makes enrollment easier than ever.
Need to finesse coursework around your work schedule? No problema. We've got four-week terms, six-week terms and a catalog-full of courses going night and day.
Want to cool off between classes? Why not study poolside at our spec-
the basketball outdoor pool on the down
the Plaza or the Nelson and just hang out. At
UMKC we try to take the sweat out of summer
school and put the chool back in.
To find out more, please call:
(816) 235-1111
an equal opportunity institution