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University makes adjustments for handicappedBy Maureen Drost Associate EditorAuburn University is now working to comply with Section 504 of of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504, which became effective in June, prohibits discrimination against the handicapped.Section 504 will necessitate making adjustments on campus to provide access and equal opportunities to “qualified handicapped” people.The measure states: “Nootherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States, as defined in Section 7(6), shall, solely by reason of his handicap,be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program receiving federal financial assistance.”In compliance with Section 504 President Harry M. Philpott has asked deans of schools and directors of other Auburn University programs to submit to Dr. Harold Grant by July 27 statements saying their divisions will be fully accessible to the handicapped by August 2.Grant is special assistant to the President and coordinator of efforts to bring Auburn University into compliance with Section 504.A committee of eight will meet with Grant July 29 to begin work on a self-evaluation of Auburn University’s non-discrimination program for the handicapped which will be due June 3, 1978, the date for compliance in this regard stated in Section 504.Auburn University is in compliance with the Section 504 regulations in the new Auburn facilities built in the last few years and is making progress toward compliance in the older buildings, according to Campus Planner and University Architect William Guerin.Guerin said it would be an “expensive, continuing effort” tocomply with the regulations. No cost estimates are known yet, however. Those will come after Dec. 2, 1977 when Guerin completes the transition plan to change campus buildings and make them comply with the regulations.National university business officers predict that implementation of the measure could cost a total of $1.5 billion nationwide.Guerin said most of the changes made so far have been for people confined to wheelchairs. Guerin said the Impetus for the changes has come from Auburn University itself and from a state law concerning people confined to wheelchairs.Some of the changes include the provision for wheelchairs in the north span addition to the stadium, lowering of curbs at different places on campus, installation of automatic door operators at Ralph Brown Draughon Library, Haley Center and Auburn Union.cally for the handicapped In Cary and Thach Halls, marking of reserved parking spaces, the installation of the ramp at the east end of Thach Hall, provision of special toilet facilities for the handicapped and campus housing.The “qualified handicapped” people referred to in Section 504 indicates those people who meet an institution of higher learning’s standards for admission and participation in the educational program or activities.A handicapped person as stated in the Section is someone with a physical or mental impairment such as a physiological disorder, mental retardation or emotional and mental illness. These physical or mental impairments must be such that the person is limited in one or more of his life activities (such as caring for himself, walking and seeing), has a record of such a handicap or is regarded as having the handicap by the college or because of the attitudes of others.
Newspaper Details
Auburn Plainsman
Auburn, Alabama, US
Thu, Jul 21, 1977
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Eliza S.
USA 11 Dec 2024
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