I just had to share. This story about the University of Illinois’ new super-accessible residence hall and dining hall for students with disabilities is inspiring, and if you’re like me, it will make you a little weepy too. You’re probably seeing a lot of emotionally overwhelmed parents and students lately, but let this story introduce you to two more.
Kelsey Rozema, best of luck at the University of Illinois!
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is 20 this year.
Ben Mattlin, asked to commentate on the anniversary, mentioned a college experience that must have been common for disabled students pre-ADA.
Still, the issue of reasonable accommodation is difficult. What a disability is can be hard to qualify, and since there are a great variety of disabilities and accommodations that can be made. Every situation can’t be anticipated and codified in policy; some decisions must be made relatively quickly. Lately, on the ACUHO-I listserv, there has been discussions on accommodations. One query concerned a student who needs a live-in attendant. The attendant must live in the room with the student, but is not a student himself. Were there any legal issues with allowing a non-student to live in the hall (normally against policy), and how should the institution charge for the room? Our listserv members contributed their own experiences and suggestions regarding the tricky situation.
What would your suggestions be?
Micah Fialka-Feldman, an intellectually disabled student at Oakland University in Rochester, MI, is in a program for students like him; he takes mainstream classes, but uses tutors and other assistants to keep up and complete his coursework. Since he’s a part-time student in a special program, he was not allowed to live on campus. His commute from his parents’ home takes about two hours, and Fialka-Feldman felt he was missing out on campus life. He sued for the right to live in the on-campus residences, and recently found out he won. He’s hoping to move in soon, to begin his last semester at Oakland.
Many institutions limit on-campus housing to full-time students because allowing part-time students to live in campus might lead to other issues: people who are mostly non-students taking advantage of the low rental rates on campus; students with too much free time. However, this sort of policy excludes students such as Fialka-Feldman, who are part-time for other reasons. Students with varying disabilities (diagnosed or otherwise) make managing the living environment more challenging. On the other hand, students who drink too much, who violate the community rules or who avoid participating in community gatherings, also make it harder to nurture a cohesive and safe community. Not all disruptive factors can be controlled, and at what cost? Have you encountered similar issues on your campus? How have you dealt with them?
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