By HEATHER RADFORD
Handicap Accessibility
Handicap Accessibility
Has it ever crossed your mind to check out different facilities to see if they were handicap friendly?
Professor Tom Raunig teaches adapted physical education (HPE230) at the University of Great Falls and brings handicap accessibility to people’s attention.
In one of his classes, he gives an assignment to check out different facilities and do a check off sheet to see if it is updated or equipped for those with handicap needs.
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| Most of the classrooms and building on the UGF campus are two stories like this one. |
According to the check off sheet, The University of Great Falls needs to be updated more...
Things that were acceptable for the school were:
-railings on both sides of stairs in buildings
-some of the stairs have slip grips on them
-most of the doors are wide enough for a wheel chair to enter
-door opening mechanisms (buttons to automatically open doors)
-the lighting is bright
-phones are at a lower level for anyone to reach
-bathrooms have a larger stall, stall railing, and sinks are low enough for anyone to wash hands
-drinking fountains are lower to the ground
-handicap parking is available
-there is one elevator on campus located in one of the newer residential housing areas.
Things that were acceptable for the school were:
-railings on both sides of stairs in buildings
-some of the stairs have slip grips on them
-most of the doors are wide enough for a wheel chair to enter
-door opening mechanisms (buttons to automatically open doors)
-the lighting is bright
-phones are at a lower level for anyone to reach
-bathrooms have a larger stall, stall railing, and sinks are low enough for anyone to wash hands
-drinking fountains are lower to the ground
-handicap parking is available
-there is one elevator on campus located in one of the newer residential housing areas.
Areas that need some work are:
-double stair railings for all sets of stairs
-braille signage
-non-skid surfaces for all floors on campus
-make sure all doors are wide enough for wheelchair entrance
-ramps
-elevators available in all buildings
-class room move-ability for wheelchairs and seating for them
Imagine what it would be like to be in a wheelchair, or to be blind without any braille inscriptions to tell you where you are.
The reviewing the check off sheets, and not having handicaps enrolled at UGF lead to many good questions....
Does UGF not have students with disabilities here because they are choosing a different University?-double stair railings for all sets of stairs
-braille signage
-non-skid surfaces for all floors on campus
-make sure all doors are wide enough for wheelchair entrance
-ramps
-elevators available in all buildings
-class room move-ability for wheelchairs and seating for them
Imagine what it would be like to be in a wheelchair, or to be blind without any braille inscriptions to tell you where you are.
The reviewing the check off sheets, and not having handicaps enrolled at UGF lead to many good questions....
Are disabled students not furthering their careers, or are the students not choosing UGF because they have toured the facility and know it would be too difficult for them to move around?
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