Spring Break
The Daily OrangeSU students with physical disabilities face various policy, logistical problems
By Natalie Dolce
Posted: 11/4/03, 2:39 AM EST Section: News
Syracuse University, sometimes referred to as the "Hill" because of its steep topography, is a routing dilemma for students with disabilities, especially when snow and ice cover the winding paths.
"I know they shovel, but I'm nervous of having an accidental ride from hell down one of the ramps," said April Coughlin, a graduate student in broadcast journalism who goes from class to class in a wheelchair. "Although it will be my first winter [here], and the school has assured me things will run smoothly, people I have talked to have warned me about how slippery and icy sidewalks can be, and I have already run into a few other problems."
The university meets all the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act, which include required bathroom access, ramps, shoveling, design standards, parking and transportation, but Coughlin said sometimes that isn't enough.
While waiting for SU to give her a permanent parking spot, she has received tickets on Marshall Street because there is no ramp in the handicapped spot to pay the parking meter, Coughlin said.
"I have been writing many letters and spending a lot of time trying to get on-campus parking," Coughlin said. "The parking on campus is usually for faculty, and although they have a number of handicapped spots, I am still in the process of getting one after months of waiting."
Alfred Sauer, director of parking and transit services, said SU has handicapped spaces in all of their lots, meeting and even exceeding federal requirements. He said they also have a shuttle bus accessible to students with disabilities that runs all hours when classes are in session.
"I don't know what the holdup for a parking space is," Sauer said. "If the shuttle bus doesn't work for a student, we assign parking as close to the place of need that we have space available."
Although the Health Center also provides accommodations for people who cannot use the shuttle bus, parking for students with disabilities remains a major issue.
"I know they shovel, but I'm nervous of having an accidental ride from hell down one of the ramps," said April Coughlin, a graduate student in broadcast journalism who goes from class to class in a wheelchair. "Although it will be my first winter [here], and the school has assured me things will run smoothly, people I have talked to have warned me about how slippery and icy sidewalks can be, and I have already run into a few other problems."
The university meets all the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act, which include required bathroom access, ramps, shoveling, design standards, parking and transportation, but Coughlin said sometimes that isn't enough.
While waiting for SU to give her a permanent parking spot, she has received tickets on Marshall Street because there is no ramp in the handicapped spot to pay the parking meter, Coughlin said.
"I have been writing many letters and spending a lot of time trying to get on-campus parking," Coughlin said. "The parking on campus is usually for faculty, and although they have a number of handicapped spots, I am still in the process of getting one after months of waiting."
Alfred Sauer, director of parking and transit services, said SU has handicapped spaces in all of their lots, meeting and even exceeding federal requirements. He said they also have a shuttle bus accessible to students with disabilities that runs all hours when classes are in session.
"I don't know what the holdup for a parking space is," Sauer said. "If the shuttle bus doesn't work for a student, we assign parking as close to the place of need that we have space available."
Although the Health Center also provides accommodations for people who cannot use the shuttle bus, parking for students with disabilities remains a major issue.
