Disability may keep ECU student from staying in dorm room
Disability may keep student from staying in dorm room
BY VALLERY BROWN
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52
Published: November 9, 2009
ADA — A Tupelo quadriplegic is wrangling with East Central University officials over whether he can live in the campus dorms.
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Quadriplegic student forced out of dorm
Nov 8Joshua Jackson explains the housing application and Dr. Diane Betry...
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The accommodation
Berty cannot comment on Jackson’s situation because of privacy laws. She said in higher education it is the student’s responsibility to alert school officials if accommodations are needed. The university can do some things within reason, but others are the student’s responsibility.
"It’s not the student’s disability that is discussed,” she said. "It’s the accommodation. We try to exhaust every option to make them.”
Jackson said he filled out his application to live in the dorms and indicated he is in a wheelchair and needs a room large enough for a hospital bed. He didn’t state he needed an overnight aide. He also included medical information from his doctor.
He said he has worked with the university’s financial aid office to find grants and loans he might be eligible for, but even with assistance, he would be left with thousands of dollars in bills.
"If it’s a question of hiring an aide to be with me eight hours a night, I can’t afford it,” he said.
Berty said the school cannot pay for an overnight aide. A letter sent to Jackson in October signed by Berty states he could remain on campus without an assistant until the end of the semester, but he would be, "assuming any risks, including death, by residing in the residence hall.”
"It’s a behavioral conduct issue — that’s the hallmark we work from,” Berty said. She said because he can’t evacuate his dorm on his own at night, he is violating school codes and residence hall rules.
Without the aide, Jackson said he will likely have to live in an adult home or with family outside of Ada. This would put even more strain on his fixed income and would give him less time for school work.
"I just wanted to focus on my education,” he said. "I didn’t want to have to worry about anything else and I wanted to have the same opportunities as other students.”
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Sometimes students do not have all the information and that is why the ECU office of Disabled Student Services should have been able to step in and help but I forget I am dealing with my backward state of Oklahoma Dept of Ed ( I heart OK ) who perhaps does not know what DSS means.
Missing Oklahoma but can't fix stupid
Keith
Way to go Samantha on speaking up and trying to do and say what is right! You are a great representative for all of us!
Elizabeth Reeve
Ms. Wheelchair Oklahoma State Coordinator
Ms. Wheelchair Oklahoma 2008-2009
Screw you guys, I'm going home.
Why is it happening at all !!
OU should ask them to come and be students in Norman because I beleive they will be treated as full fledged human beings unlike ECU which sucks by the way and I called the presidents off and politely stated they sucked.
I wonder if there is a law that says you can not say suck and if it is a law than it must be in Oklahoma Now I wait to be served with an out of state warrant for saying suck and I hope the jail can accommodate my disability because we know ECU won't do it.
Sincerely
Mr. Keith W Kemp
We all want the best for the BEST (OKLAHOMA) state in the union but it seems like it will take many lifestimes of concerned people to make this happen.
People do not become less because of their disability but in fact become more valuable because of being placed in a situation where you must strive harder and by doing so we become inspirations to those who think they have it bad until they meet us.
Us is people born with or later in life become disabled and we do not quit just because some life road blocks appear in our current situation and people expect to watch us waste away and die.
I am here to tell you "That is not happening today". Never not as long as you can breathe you can try to make things better for all those around you.
Perhaps ECU should try to seek funds from a large donar to create an accommodation or better yet when building a new dorm it will be an enabling person dorm.
My fingers are becoming tired so some one type for me while my spirit still soar for all people being limited by limiting people.
Sincerely
Mr. Keith W Kemp
In chris's case...the little boys locker room.
Chrissy-the-sissy knows alot about michael jackson...it must be his idol.
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