2008 Woodie Awards
Letter to the Editor: The need for handicapped accessible ramps outside of every building on campus.
Issue date: 12/3/04 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 1
Dear Editor,
Rollins should implement a new policy directed at building handicapped accessible ramps outside of every building on campus. It is unfair that a school with so much funding has only renovated select buildings to make access for people that already face greater challenges than an average student.
The majority of buildings at Rollins do not have handicap access ramps. The campus does offer aid for handicapped students if they are called, but this is time consuming and places the handicapped at an unfair disadvantage. This daily wait for access would easily conflict with scheduled classes and increase the time devoted to the participation of each class. As part of the state law (Title 34, subtitle 104.21) issued by the Department of Education, "no qualified handicapped person can be denied the benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity to which this part applies." Rollins must correct the problem of handicap access so as to comply with Title 34 in ensuring that all students receive equal opportunity.
There are many ways to fund such an endeavor. Specified endowment funds should provide enough to implement renovations to older buildings in need of newer handicapped accessible entrances. If this is not an option I suggest a committee fundraiser board, implemented through student government, in charge of beginning a trust fund that would work to raise money for construction. A good education shouldn't be forgone because of unequal challenges presented by our unwillingness to change. Amongst the midst of minority aiding policies we must not exempt one group because of their uncommon impediment. We are Rollins College, and together we must make handicapped access to all buildings a unilateral policy throughout our campus.
Jack Brighenti
Rollins should implement a new policy directed at building handicapped accessible ramps outside of every building on campus. It is unfair that a school with so much funding has only renovated select buildings to make access for people that already face greater challenges than an average student.
The majority of buildings at Rollins do not have handicap access ramps. The campus does offer aid for handicapped students if they are called, but this is time consuming and places the handicapped at an unfair disadvantage. This daily wait for access would easily conflict with scheduled classes and increase the time devoted to the participation of each class. As part of the state law (Title 34, subtitle 104.21) issued by the Department of Education, "no qualified handicapped person can be denied the benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity to which this part applies." Rollins must correct the problem of handicap access so as to comply with Title 34 in ensuring that all students receive equal opportunity.
There are many ways to fund such an endeavor. Specified endowment funds should provide enough to implement renovations to older buildings in need of newer handicapped accessible entrances. If this is not an option I suggest a committee fundraiser board, implemented through student government, in charge of beginning a trust fund that would work to raise money for construction. A good education shouldn't be forgone because of unequal challenges presented by our unwillingness to change. Amongst the midst of minority aiding policies we must not exempt one group because of their uncommon impediment. We are Rollins College, and together we must make handicapped access to all buildings a unilateral policy throughout our campus.
Jack Brighenti