By Jared Todd
All of CCSU’s buildings are currently in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to Facilities Management, however some issues still arise for those who must maneuver around campus with a physical impairment.
Facilities Management says that there are always improvements to be made and more innovative progressive thinking to be done for handicapped accessibility.
Sal Cintorino, Director of Facilities Management, said that his department focuses on making sure the campus is “convenient as well as accessible” for those with mobility impairments.
“There’s certain design criteria that we follow,” said Domenic Forcella, Environmental Health and Safety Officer.
Even though CCSU is in compliance with ADA code, it doesn’t mean that the campus is of optimal convenience for the disabled.
According to Natalie Stimpson-Byers, Student Disability Services Coordinator, the Willard Hall elevator door is too narrow for some wheelchairs. In fact, she advises her students in wheelchairs not to use it.
She also pointed out that “some of the sidewalks are buckled and broken,” which is not a convenience for someone navigating campus in a wheelchair.
The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, available on ada.gov, specifiy that each facility used by the public must be designed and constructed so at least one part of the building accommodates individuals with disabilities.
The document also states that multi-bedroom housing units, or dormitories, must provide an accessible route throughout the unit.
Two years ago, there was a student who experienced difficulty getting through the doors at Seth North residence hall, said Cintorino. Facilities Management attached remotes for the electric doors to the student’s wheelchair, making accessibility throughout the building more convenient.
Since that occasion, Cintorino said he has received “no complaints” about campus accessibility.
Forcella and Cintorino were quick to mention a new elevator that was recently installed in the production studio area of Willard Hall in order to ensure that those with disabilities have easy access to the area for their academic needs.
Diloreto, another building that could use updates for accessibility, has one ramp and one electric door on the side of the building near Stanely Street.
“I don’t send any of my students to Diloreto because of accessibility issues,” said Stimpson-Byers, who frequently changes the location of classes to better accommodate her students.
According to Cintorino, Facilities Management is trying to make the campus more convenient by replacing more of the traditional round doorknobs with the flat, L-shaped handles to help those who cannot grasp the traditional knob.
However, replacing doorknobs might still be insufficient, which is why Stimpson-Byers submitted a request for the installation of some electric doors on the inside of buildings as well as their entrances.
She claimed that for at least one year Student Disability Services has awaited the approval of its request for more electric doors on campus. No word has come from Facilities Management on the request.
Stimpson-Byers, who has been Coordinator for six years, can only help students who come to her with accommodation requests for their disabilities. Some students, for personal reasons, choose not to take advantage of Student Disability Services.
She suggested that students with disabilities and ADA advocates should be organizing on campus to make accessibility issues more salient.
“Students have the power,” said Stimpson-Byers.
The Student Government Association has discussed accessibility issues before, although President Eric Bergenn said “it is not generally in the limelight.” The Student Life Committee’s duty is to occasionally check the campus for any accessibility and safety problems.
“Some of the things that this has resulted in are the blue emergency phones around campus, more on campus lighting, and some changes to handicap ramps as well as other things of the like,” stated Bergenn.
Bergenn, like Stimpson-Byers, encourages those in the student body to spotlight issues with handicapped accessibility so CCSU can solve any problems more efficaciously and make prompt renovations or updates.
“I have, and will continue to beseech students with issues such as accessibility…to contact the SGA and let us know what we can do to help,” said Bergenn.