ADA ACCESSIBILITY COMMITTEE
Minutes of Friday, January 28, 2000

The ADA Accessibility Committee met on Friday, January 28, 2000 at 11:00 a.m. in Conference Room A of the Powell Building. The following individuals attended:

Ms. Teresa Belluscio, Ms. Kerri Clark, Dr. Karen Dilka, Ms. Lesley Ellington, Mr. Ed Herzog, Ms. Jessica Humphrey, Mr. Steven James, Ms. Mellissa Jones, Dr. Lisette Kautzmann, Dr. Stephen Loy, Dr. Kim Naugle, Ms. Virginia Underwood

Everyone around the table introduced themselves. Before discussing the business of the committee, Dr. Naugle and others stated the purpose of the committee. The ADA Accessibility Committee is a committee that is an advisory and awareness group. It is a group that makes recommendations regarding accessibility on campus. After discussing the mission of the committee, Dr. Naugle continued with the agenda.

Old Business

  • Discussion of the Hummel Planetarium

    • -Dr. Naugle had received a response from Dr. Jack Fletcher on December 8, 1999 to Dr. Naugle's letter of November 21, 1999, regarding the accessibility of the Hummel Planetarium.

    -Dr. Naugle read Dr. Fletcher's response to the committee and passed it around for everyone to read. Dr. Fletcher mentioned that he was unhappy to learn about the complaint. He also referenced the Planetarium's limited staff and said he will be asking his staff to be more aware of the people that need special access.

    -Mr. Herzog suggested the possibility of having an intercom for the workers to use.

    -Dr. Naugle suggested that the staff should have keys to provide additional access to certain areas with the Planetarium.

    -Mr. James asked about the Planetarium and accessibilities with interpreters.

    -Ms. Belluscio mentioned that they are having a trial period with interpreters wearing glowing gloves.

    -Mr. James said that the hands are not the only thing a deaf individual needs. They also need to be able to see the face of the interpreter.

    -Dr. Dilka mentioned that we all should try to go experience the Planetarium and evaluate the accessibilities during our visits.
     

  • Discussion on Parking

    • -Dr. Naugle asked about the status of signs around the Case Building.

    -No one had heard of anything on this [Top]ic since the last meeting during which it was discussed.

    -Mr. Herzog mentioned that if you have too many signs up people start to ignore them.

    -Ms. Humphrey asked about accessibility to the side walk on Lancaster Avenue where the new crosswalk is located.

    -Mr. Herzog mentioned to her that it may be possible to put in a curb cut at the crosswalk.

    -Mr. Herzog also mentioned that it is not desirable to mark that area. As being accessible it may not be a safe crossing at that crosswalk for an individual with a disability.
     

  • Discussion on Accessible Seating in Classrooms

    • -Ms. Belluscio has talked with Dr. Rita Davis regarding the desk and chair situation. Dr. Davis suggested that Ms. Belluscio should speak with David Williams regarding this issue.

    -Ms. Belluscio mentioned desks are being purchased in small quantities at a time due to the budget. The new desks are gradually being intertwined with other desks around campus.

    -Mr. James mentioned that he has had students with disabilities, with weight issues, and personal health problems that come into his classroom that have difficulties seating in the standard desks provided in the classroom.

    -Mr. Herzog asked about a table that is long enough to have three chairs to accompany it.

    -Ms. Jones mentioned that the CCB Building classrooms has the configuration that Mr. Herzog was suggesting.

    -Mr. James asked if these tables were adjustable.

    -Ms. Jones said that the tables are adjustable in height.

    -Mr. Herzog is going to suggest that they get this kind of product for the upcoming renovations for the Cammack Building.
     

  • Discussion on entrance to Rowlett Building

    • -Mr. Herzog informed the committee that an outside contractor will be hired to come in and fix pieces of the walk way without breaking all of it up and then replacing it with new concrete. The contractor has a device that picks up the sunken concrete and puts more concrete underneath and brings it up with the rest of the sidewalk. He is going to be contracted hopefully for the whole campus to fix this problem campus wide.
     
  • Discussion on McGregor Hall

    • -Mr. Herzog said that he will talk with Mr. James Street and Mr. Ron Harrell regarding the McGregor Hall before our next meeting.

    -Mr. Herzog mentioned that it would be nice to have the dormitory that is in the heart of campus be accessible.

    -Ms. Humphrey mentioned that the restrooms in the lobby were not accessible and were difficult to maneuver.

    -Ms. Humphrey asked if those restrooms could become more accessible for all individuals.

    -Ms. Belluscio suggested possibly having patrons that live within McGregor Hall write a letter requesting the accessibility of their hall be addressed.

    . Discussion on The Progress article

    -Dr. Naugle asked about the article that was supposed to be published in The Progress regarding the ADA Accessibility Committee.

    -Ms. Ellington and Mr. Herzog recalled that the article had been published.

    -Ms. Ellington is going to bring Dr. Naugle a copy of the article so everyone can have a copy.

    -Mr. Herzog mentioned that is was a good article.
     

  • Discussion on Accessibility errors of EKU main website

    • -Ms. Clark informed the Committee of her discussion with Mr. Ron Yoder regarding the accessibility of the main EKU website. Mr. Yoder is taking classes on accessibility for websites and has made corrections to the EKU main site. This will be ongoing.

    -Ms. Clark stated that Mr. Yoder is working on getting a program that allows EKU's websites to be text based only.
     

  • Discussion of ex-officio members

    • -Dr. Naugle asked for a motion on the following individuals to become ex-offico members of the ADA Accessibility Committee: Ms. Jessica Humphrey, Ms. Lesley Ellington and Ms. Mellissa Jones.

    -Dr. Dilka made the motion for these individuals to become ex-officio members: Ms. Humphrey, Ms. Ellington and Ms. Jones.

    -Ms. Belluscio second the motion.

    -The committee passed the motion unanimously.
     

  • Discussion on Awareness Day/Week

    • -Ms. Ellington mentioned that she is in charge of the Plus Program and is willing to get that program involved with Awareness Day/Week.

    -Dr. Dilka will ask students that are in the Special Education degrees to come volunteer for Awareness Day/Week.

    -Mr. Herzog said that it was nice that Ms. Jones was coming and getting involved with the ADA Accessibility Committee due to it being career oriented.

    -Mr. Herzog said that people who are involved in disabilities as a career oriented goal may want to volunteer for Awareness Day/Week.

    -Dr. Dilka asked that all suggestions and ideas be e-mailed to her regarding the Awareness Day/Week as soon as possible, seddilka@acs.eku.edu

    -Ms. Humphrey and Ms. Ellington both suggested that we have activities at our booths for Awareness Day/Week.

    -Ms. Ellington suggested getting the Office of Retention involved.

    -Dr. Naugle mentioned having a scavenger hunt on campus.

    -Mr. Herzog suggested making awareness a year long goal. He also suggested the possibility of having the events here and there throughout the year instead of one time per year.

    -Ms. Belluscio suggested having a resource list so we could resort to it for all year long awareness.

    -Dr. Dilka mentioned just having tables at Spring Fling, and Dr. Naugle agreed.
     

  • Discussion on Alumni Coliseum Pool Access

    • -Dr. Loy hasn't had time to check on the status of accessibility to the A.C. Pool.

    -Dr. Naugle is going to get the ADA Rules for Pool Access.

    -Dr. Loy will write a letter to Mr. Dan Lichty.

    New Business

  • Discussion about new awareness center

    • -Dr. Naugle wants the committee to become involved in making sure that the new awareness center is accessible to the patrons of the center.
     
  • Discussion on accessibility issues in different areas on campus

    • -Dr. Loy requested that the vending machine next to the rest room on the ground floor of Combs be moved away from the entrance. There is no wall space between the vending machines and the door entrance.

    -Mr. Herzog mentioned that the Coates building doesn't have accessible bathrooms.

    -Dr. Loy asked about the door handles on the front of the Perkins Building.

    -Mr. Herzog is going to place a sign on the side door of Perkins for people to use the front entrance.

    -Dr. Naugle mentioned that the bathroom stalls in the Perkins Building are not accessible.

    -Mr. Herzog mentioned that he will go check out the bathroom stall situation as soon as possible.
     

  • Discussion of being an alternate member

    • -Mr. James needs to check with the President's Office to get permission to be an official alternate for Dr. Dorothy Mercer.

    -Dr. Mercer needs to contact the President's Office to be taken off of the official list for this academic year and request the President appoint Mr. James in her place.
     

  • Discussion of someone else taking over copying and mailing out reminders and minutes to members of the ADA Accessibility Committee

    • -Ms. Belluscio asked for anyone with clerical standing to take over the job of mailing and copying the information regarding the ADA Accessibility Committee out to its members.

    -Ms. Clark agreed to take over the job with Ms. Underwood's consent.
     

  • Discussion of New things that have happened with Ms. Belluscio and her office

    • -Ms. Belluscio mentioned that her office has had the disabilities statement put on all syllabi on campus.

    -The National Workforce Development Cabinet is coming to campus on February 7, 2000 to recruit for Federal Jobs.

    -The Whalin Complex is becoming accessible on the 4th floor, using a lift.
     

  • Discussion of next committee meeting
    • Date: Friday, February 11, 2000
    Time: 11:00 a.m.
    Where: Powell Building, Conference Room A


    After confirmation from everyone attending the meeting, Dr. Naugle adjourned the meeting.