University of Colorado Student Union

Legislative Council

March 20, 2008                                                                                                                    68LCB10           

Sponsored by:                      Hadley Brown                                   Tri-Executive

Dustin Farivar                                   Vice President Legislative Council

Abdallah El-Yacoubi                       Representative-at- Large

Erik Bondurant                                 Senator, Graduate School           

                                    

Authored by:                         Matthew Beres                                 Co-Dir City/Neighborhood Relations                                                       Hadley Brown                                   Tri-Executive

A Bill to Create a Disabilities Access Task Force

Bill History

Disabilities access influences the range and depth of diversity on this campus. In order to work towards our goal of diversity and make it possible for more people with disabilities to work and study at the University of Colorado, CU must demonstrate a commitment to equal access and sustainable inclusion thereof. The university’s commitment to diversity should include people with physical disabilities, but it does not.

There have been concerns voiced regarding current and future physical accessibility on campus. These concerns have existed for a long time, but were originally brought to UCSU’s attention with the removal of two accessible spaces on 18th St just south of the ATLAS building, due to the construction of the Fine Arts Building, a student-fee-funded project. Four nearby spaces on 18th  St. fail to meet the acceptable slope requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) even though they are marked handicapped-accessible. Despite multiple conversations with various disabilities access and facilities management organizations and entities, these spaces have not been corrected.

Further worries include the often unacceptable condition of paths between buildings, the attention that will be given to physical access in the planning and implementation of the university’s master plan and capital construction, and the transparency and accessibility of such plans to the student body.

Bill Summary

 This bill will create a Disabilities Access Task Force that is formally charged with the responsibility of researching, managing and monitoring issues regarding physical and program disabilities access.

Setting up a committee to take on these responsibilities will result in more oversight and involvement by the Legislative Council in the actions of the University regarding disabilities access.

THEREFORE BE IT ENACTED: 

SECTION 1:  This bill creates a Disabilities Access Task Force which will report to the Legislative Council.

SECTION 2:  This committee will be comprised of at least two members of Legislative Council as appointed by the Legislative Council President,  the UCSU Diversity Director, and up to four students at large nominated by the tri-executives and appointed by a majority approval of Legislative Council. The position of Committee Chair will be filled by one of the students at large and sanctioned by majority approval of the committee.


SECTION 3:  It is strongly advised that the positions of student at large be filled by students who have proven experience with the ADA, experience dealing with campus administration, equal access issues, the study of architecture, and/or first hand experience with physical mobility impairments. 

 

SECTION 4:  The Responsibilities and purpose of the Committee will include but are not limited to the following:

1.   Act as the primary student body that works with the campus architect, Parking and Transportation services, Facilities Management and all other University entities that affect disabilities access.

2.   Act as UCSU’s student representatives on any committees, commissions, or boards that deal with disabilities access issues and future campus capital construction.

3.   To monitor the planning and actual construction of campus infrastructure for compliance with ADA and student needs, and to press for the University to go beyond minimum ADA standards for physical program access and achieve wherever possible physical access to learning and research areas.

4.   In the event that the proposed correction of parking spaces on 18th St. are not made to meet ADA regulations, this task force will continue to advocate for said corrections.

SECTION 5:  The Chair of the Committee shall give a formal presentation regarding capital construction progress to the Legislative Council at least twice a semester.

SECTION 6: UCSU Legislative and Executive staff will support the Disabilities Access Task Force to the fullest of its capabilities, particularly when access needs are not being met. 

SECTION 7: This bill takes effect upon passage by Legislative Council and upon obtaining the signature of the Legislative Council President and the Tri-executives.

Vote Count

03/20/2008                                                    Passed                                              Acclamation

4/3/08                                                             Amended & Passed                       Acclamation

 

____________________________                     ______________________________

Boyce Postma,                                                         Hadley Brown

UCSU Legislative Council President                   Tri-executive

 

_________________________________          _______________________________

Charles Gilford                                                         Sara Davine

Tri-executive                                                 Tri-executive