In an effort to increase accessibility for handicapped students, wheelchair ramps have been installed at various buildings around the campus.
“By law, all buildings require handicap access, so ramps are being installed at all buildings, and they are being put in the design of new buildings,” said Ednas Vincent, director of the Office of Facility planning,
Other modifications have also been made on campus such as the adding of more handicapped parking spaces, buildings with wider doors, curb cuts on the sidewalks and dormitory modifications in the shower areas.
“It’s always a monetary situation, so whenever we have access to the money, we make improvements as we can,” Vincent said.
Although the university is progressing in areas of accessibility, there may still be much work to do.
“I don’t really have any problems on campus since they have made some changes, however there is still a lot to be done as far as accessibility is concerned.” said Cecil Houston, who uses a wheelchair, and is a graduate student from Baton Rouge, pursing a masters in counselor education. Houston is also the cross enrollment coordinator for the enrollment office.
“I haven’t gotten any complaints about the accessibility personally,” Vincent said.
That could mean that handicapped students are generally satisfied with conditions, or just that no one has taken the initiative to come forward and address the issues.
