Page 6 University Daily Kansan. August 31, 1981
Getting to class is first test for disabled
By CATHY BEHAN Staff Reporter
Getting to class is no problem for the average student on the hill, but for more than 130 identified disabled students on campus, it can be a daily question.
These are all questions a disabled person must consider every day.
Will the elevator work? Will someone be at the door to let me in? Will my teacher understand if I'm late for class or getting an assignment in?
Bob Turvey, associate director of the Student Assistance Center, said there had been a 700 percent increase in disabled students since the center opened in 1977. When the center opened, there were only 15 identified disabled students on campus. There are now more than 130.
"I sent a memorandum to the faculty to inform them of the increase and assist them in making arrangements with the disabled person," he said.
In the memorandum, Turvey suggested teachers put a statement in the syllabus asking disabled students to instructors to discuss class requirements.
"Putting this in the syllabus puts the responsibility very definitely on the student for contacting the teacher to make special arrangements." he said.
The teacher must accommodate the disabled student and work out a program that helps the student fulfill the requirements in a slightly different way than the traditional student, according to Turvey.
"We've had limited response to the memorandum. Most of the teachers we have heard from think it's a good idea to write a statement in the syllabus," said Tarvey.
"Some professors have taught a class for two or five or 20 years and it's hard
for them to think of the impact to the disabled student," he said.
"It has always been up to me to
befriend the teacher about my disability."
Kowalik said.
"One time a teacher showed a movie in class without announcing it to students, a chance to get someone to come in and tell me what was in the film," he said.
However, Tom Kowalski, a blind Kansas City, Kan., law student, said that no teacher has ever put anything in his classroom to teach in class about setting up a meeting.
Kowalski said he spent about $1,200 per semester on readers solely for schoolwork. The Law School does not have any books on tape or in Braille.
Some disabled students have had teachers who were not understanding, but Sisay Cousins, a Stanley sophomore with disabilities, had had no problems with her teachers.
"My teachers have been really understanding about letting me hand things in late because I have trouble taking care of them. All my teachers have been pretty good."
She pointed out that the biggest problem was the elevator in Strong Bldg.
OVERLAND PHOTO
"It's got two big heavy doors. It's not sure how a person with good hands can open it."
Turvey said the renovation of the elevator was scheduled to be funded this year. The work might start late this year.
One way KU has helped make the campus accessible to disabled students is the two vans equipped with wheelchair ramps that are funded by the Student Activity Fund.
A handcapped student pays $30 to be picked up at home and brought to camp.
"The disabled students on campus are not looking for handouts from the community," she said. "All these people will try, then fall on their faces 30,000 times before coming to see us for help."
Independence, Inc. is a link between the school and the outside community, said Moore.
"We try to help people with disabilities have real control over their lives," she said. "These people want assistance as much as you and I do."
THE WESTERN CIVILIZATION PROGRAM FILM FESTIVAL will present three films, "Darrow vs. Bryan: The Monkey Trial," "Evolution and the Origin of Life" and "Lower than the Angels: Parts I and II" beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Dyche Auditorium.
THE INTERVARSITY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the Regionalist Room, Kansas Union. Association topic will be "Corporate Prayer."
THE RENAISSANCE DANCERS AND STUDENT SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM will meet at 6:30 p.m., 600 Ohio St.
AN ART HISTORY SLIDE LEC TURE on "Chinese Paintings of the Ming and Ching Dynasties," will be held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australia, at 8 p.m. in the Spencer Museum Auditorium.
One reason why Lawrence is a good place for a disabled person is Independence, Inc., a service that gives him the care and counseling support to the disabled.
Laura Moore, a social worker for Independence, Inc. said disabled students are all on a trial and error basis when they go to school.
"That's what makes a lot of people able to go here," said Chris Curtis, an Irving, Texas, graduate student who is now working at the University as a good place for a disabled person."
TODAY
On Campus
--no easy ways to maintain the underground tunnels. Wiechert said.
TOMORROW
THE COLLEGE ASSEMBLY will
be held on .. in the Forum Room,
Kansas City.
2120 W. 25 in the Holiday Plaza Shopping Center
Bring in this coupon and something dirty and get a
THE KU COMMITTEE ON SOUTH AFRICA will present a film, "The Fire at Kansas University" 6 p.m. the Council Room, Kansas University will be a brief meeting after the film.
THE KU KARATE CLUB will present a karate demonstration at 7:30 in the Center. Information about joining the club will be available at the demonstration.
FREE BEER
WEDNESDAY
THE NEW LIFE STUDENT FELLOWSHIP will hold a Bible study at 7 p.m. in the Forum Room, Kansas Union.
"You will notice that there are no overhead utility lines on campus," Wiechert said. "This is mostly for beauty reasons."
THE KU SAILING CLUB will meet at 7 p.m. in the Kansas Union Parlores.
The underground utility tunnels keep unsightly overhead lines out of sight on campus.
Although the lines are to be out of sight, they won't be out of the minds of maintenance workers. There are
The project will cost $986,500, Wiechert said, and construction should include basketball season. The underground lines overhead lines out of
THE STEAM LINES will be replaced by new tunnels which would carry not only steam, but also electricity, telephone, cable television and live terminal hookups to the computer center, Allen Wiechert, director of facilities planning, said Friday.
THE ALUMNI PLACE lines were replaced years ago, but failed shortly after they were installed,塑ches said. The University of Kansas was against the contractor, which was settled by the Kansas attorney general.
The steam comes out of the ground because the heating lines running from Robinson Center to Allen Field House, and from behind Summerfield Hall to Murphy Hall, have worn out and need to be replaced.
The steam lines on the south part of campus have not been the only trouble lines. The lines serving the scholarship halls on Alumni Place needed to be replaced also, Wiechert said.
The suit was settled in KU's favor, Wiechert said. He then had to go back to the Legislature to ap- pply for the damages on the lines, because the price went up.
The power and heating plant, in the Facilities and Operations complex south of Flint Hall, heats all the buildings on the main carcous.
Well, just as you are about to find out, it is disappearing.
Have you ever wondered what that column of steam swirling out of the ground south of Murphy Hall was?
"If there is a major break, we might have to dig up a lot of ground to find it," he said.
"It is energy-inefficient because we are losing steam out of the ground, he said. "We have to pump water from our wells and we are serving he outside world."
By LISA MASSOTH Staff Reporter
The new scholarship hall steam lines would be designed this fall, with construction scheduled to start in the spring. Wiechert said.
Steam, power tunnels to be repaired soon
As director of facilities planning, Wiechert oversees all the major construction on campus and is in charge of all but routine maintenance.
"Send your kids to school to lower property taxes." Jack Steineger Senate Minority Leader The Kansas Senate
You paid 22% more tuition this year than last year. 3.5% of that didn't even go to KU.
That's right. The state legislature gave $3.5\%$ of your tuition increase to the counties for property tax relief. Property tax relief. Senator Steineger, who opposed the move, was being ironic, but, in essence, it's the truth. They needed to come up with the money somewhere. Why not make students pay it? They're an easy target.
We shouldn't be, at least we with ASK don't think so. And we don't believe our state's universities should be tossed around as a source of tax revenue every time the legislature gets in a bind. But we can't get the message across alone. We're looking for good, quality students interested in research, campus organizing, and direct lobbying. Applications for the KU delegation are being taken now.
Contact: Dan Cunningham
Student Senate Office
105-B, Kansas Union
864-3710
The KU Delegation of THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF KANSAS
Paid for by the KU Student Senate