Reed Jackson//January 17, 2013//
A group of Oregon State University students is planning to inform state legislators that OSU is failing to meet Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.
Since the ADA was put in place in 1990, none of the structures OSU has built or renovated has fully met ADA requirements, according to the Able Student Alliance. On Tuesday, the group announced that it will lobby at the upcoming legislative session to increase awareness.
鈥淚t’s pretty clear that this university is not going to do anything unless they are forced to,鈥 said Jeffery Evans, the group’s president. 鈥淲hen you talk to (OSU officials), they will say buildings are as compliant as possible. But there are standards, and if you don’t comply with the standards, what are you doing?鈥
Evans has already filed nine complaints with the U.S. Justice Department. The Able Student Alliance is working with the U.S. Attorney’s office in Portland on the possibility of opening a case against the school, he said.
One of the most recent complaints was filed in conjunction with the Associated Students of Oregon State University.
鈥淚 believe that these complaints will draw attention to the incredible injustices that students with disabilities here 鈥 have continued to endure,鈥 said Amelia Harris, ASOSU president. 鈥淭he university continues to follow a pattern of willful and intentional discrimination against students with disabilities.鈥
When OSU was contacted about the issue this past summer, Angelo Gomez, interim executive director for equity and inclusion, admitted that oversight on construction projects is not as strong as it probably should be.
The university is trying its best to meet all ADA requirements, but that is a difficult task, Gomez said.
鈥淭here could be hundreds of requirements, including how many inches are above the floors of a grab bag or a towel dispenser,鈥 he said. 鈥淪ome people might say if you’ve met 99 out of 100 requirements, then you’ve failed.鈥