By STEFANIE HILL

Staff Writer

Disabled students wanted to ensure their rights to a fair and equal educational opportunity, so to get their voices heard, they formed the Association of Students with Disabilities in the beginning of February.

Damein Delrie, president of the association and a sophomore computer information systems major, said Association of Students with Disabilities is an organization that will help improve handicapped accessibility around campus.

Delrie was born with artrogryposis, a disease that causes lack of muscle and joints, and uses a wheelchair to get around. He said because of the lack of handicapped accessibility, he has had trouble getting in and out of buildings on campus.

"Tolliver Hall doesn't have an automatic door, and there have been many times I had to sit outside of it and wait for someone to open the door for me," Delrie said.

"It's problems like this we hope to improve."

Laura Jones, vice president of the Association of Students with Disabilities and a senior journalism major, was born with cerebral palsy and also uses the aid of a wheelchair to get around campus.

Jones said disabled students wanted a voice, so they thought who better to give a voice than the actual students who have disabilities?

"We had all voiced frustrations with the university as far as the way they were doing things, like with broken elevators," Jones said.

"We want to make the university aware of these things because I think if you are not sitting in a chair or have any other disabilities, you are not going to be aware of these sorts of things."

Jones said the organization is not just for students with disabilities.

"I think it is important for students who don't deal with disabilities to get involved because it raises awareness," Jones said.

"It can help [students] be open to a new way of thinking, and it gives them a way to be involved with another group of students.

"We want to make [students] aware that we have concerns and help them find solutions to whatever problems we may have," Jones said.

Jones said the point of the organization is not for them to segregate themselves from the university, but to make sure their concerns are being addressed and they are treated equally on campus.

"To make sure we are on an equal playing field with everybody else, we have to go out of our way," Jones said.

Delrie said there are so many other organizations around campus, but none of them have representation for students with disabilities.

"If we have no one to represent us, nothing will get done," said Delrie. "This organization will be a means to have our concerns heard, include ourselves into university life and bring disability awareness to the university and the community."

Pamela Crawford, coordinator for the office of disabilities, said this organization is a positive thing for the campus, and it helps get the college spirit into these students.

"These students with disabilities will be able to key the university in on things that need to be done," Crawford said.

"Little stuff that non-disabled students overlook or just don't think about. This organization will help open their eyes to it."

Delrie said the main goal he hopes this organization will accomplish is to break down the barrier of the stereotype of a disabled person.

"People with disabilities are just that," Delrie said. "People come first and disabilities second. We want to be looked at as a person and not defined by our disability."