76-5 Resolution on BARRIER-FREE BUILDINGS

WHEREAS we recognize that LSM-USA seeks to reach all of our brothers and sisters in Christ, including those who are physically disabled; and

WHEREAS we recognize the physical limitations of our student centers and campuses in achieving this goal;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

1. Local LSM-USA groups be encouraged to evaluate their own facilities for barrier-free design and encourage campus ministry boards to make their facilities barrier-free.

2. University of Montana will provide the national office with criteria for barrier-free design to be published in the LSM-USA newsletter in order to encourage all local groups to evaluate their campus ministry facilities with regard to barrier-free status.

3. University of Montana will also gather information of how local groups may further implement this resolution and will send this information to the national office for distribution.

ACTIONS TAKEN:

IN THE SPIRIT OF THE RESOLUTION…..

..An evaluation form for use in evaluating the accessibility of a building to the handicapped was supplied by the University of Montana and is available upon request from the LSM-USA national office.

..Students at one campus assisted a task force in evaluating the accessibility of all buildings on campus to the handicapped for future construction to make the buildings accessible.

..Students at another campus have been instrumental in urging their University to look at its inaccessibility to the handicapped.

RELATED ARTICLES:

Rights of the Handicapped:  Becoming a major issue.  Handicapped are demanding implementation of their rights under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which would involve building special facilities for those in wheelchairs, the blind, others, in many schools, housing projects, etc.  There is a move to include drug addicts and alcoholics among the handicapped, barring discrimination against them in employment and in the provision of health services.  This will be one of the major issues of the next few years: Be ready. 

(Youth Report, Vol. 11, No. 4, April 1977)

$45 million awarded to training education personnel to work with handicapped children:  U.S. Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare announced that approximately $45 million has been awarded to the States and territories to prepare education personnel to work with handicapped children.  The 698 teacher training grants, administered under Part D of the Education of the Handicapped Act (as amended), give assistance to colleges, universities, State education agencies and other nonprofit agencies.  The purpose is to train teachers, supervisors, administrators, researchers, teacher educators, speech pathologists, and other special service personnel such as specialists in physical education and recreation and paraprofessional.  The Bureau of Education for the Handicapped, which administers the program, has estimated that some 250,000 educators and aides are still needed to meet the special education needs of handicapped children.  A brochure, “Special Education Career Preparation,” which lists programs receiving funds, may be obtained by writing:  Closer Look, Box 1492, Washington, DC 20013.

(NEWSBRIEFS, Lutheran Resources Commission)

RESOURCES AVAILABLE:

BARRIER-FREE MEETINGS:  A Guide for Profession Associations (for making meetings accessible to the handicapped, $4.00).  American Association for the advancement of Science, 1515 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005.

THE COLLEGE GUIDE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES  available from Abt Associates Inc., 55 Wheeler Street, Cambridge, MA 02138.  Cost: $18.50.  The guide lists accessible institutions and describes their programs and services.

ARCHITECTURAL ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE DISABLED OF COLLEGE CAMPUSES co-authored by Mr. De Graff.  Available from Alfred De Graff, Disables Student Services, Boston University, 775 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215.  Enclose 35 cents for postage.  The guidelines give technical advice on how to build ramps, entrances, residence halls, cafeterias, laboratories, restrooms, and other campus facilities so they will be accessible to students will all types of physical disabilities.

SETON NAME PLACE CORPORATION  New Haven, CT 06505.  Phone: 203-772-2520.  Carries signs with the standard “symbol for access” available in different sizes, gummed on either side, large and small.  Send for catalogue of all sorts of stickers, posters and signs at low cost.