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Association of Disabled StudentsExecutive Board of DirectorsTo:From: University of Oklahoma Association of Disabled StudentsDate: February 24, 2009Subject: Parking Regulation/Accessibility Issues and SuggestionsTo Whom It May Concern:Throughout our time on the University of Oklahoma Norman campus, we, as a smallgroup of disabled students, have noticed some small but significant issues with parking aroundthe majority of the campus. These issues include a lack of handicapped accessible parking as aresult of an inadequate amount of spaces and also because of non-disabled persons filling neededvacancies. Additionally, certain parking and accessibility issues and suggestions regardingextracurricular events will be addressed.

Section A: General Campus Parking Issues

As a student entering the University of Oklahoma for the first time, students who wish to park on campus are required to purchase a parking pass, whether they live on campus or not. Asan organization, we acknowledge this policy and comply by purchasing a parking pass annually.However, with this purchase, we should also have complete access to all available handicapped parking spaces with the appropriate placard. Within the last year, we have noticed an increase inthe amount of people who park in these vacant spots who a) do not have any kind of parking permit and b) who do not have an authorized and approved handicapped placard. Theseindividuals have not appeared to have been ticketed by the University of Oklahoma parkingoffice or the Norman Police Department. As disabled students, we know that there is a fineupwards of $250 to $1,000 and revocation of the handicapped placard available to those toviolate the law. Instead of having the required materials to park in these handicapped spaces,

students, faculty, and staff display a blue gate card that hangs from their rear view mirror that issupposed to suffice as an acceptable substitute for not having the correct documentation. It alsoappears that the OU parking officers only check for on-campus parking permits and not for people who are parked illegally in handicapped accessible spaces. Some disabled students havereported receiving parking tickets for not possessing an on-campus parking permit while parkedin a handicapped accessible parking space but did have the appropriate placard (Sarkeys EnergyCenter and Catlett Parking Facility). Those who have received those tickets have remedied thesituation by purchasing a parking permit. Those who do not have a handicapped placard receivenothing and that is unacceptable. We realize that the Norman campus is of descent size and it isnot possible to monitor the entire campus at the same time. However, the frustration grows whenwe make sure to comply with the regulations set upon us and persons without a need for thosespaces go unpunished. A blue gate card

DOES NOT

constitute as an acceptable substitution for not having a handicapped placard displayed.All of the handicapped accessible parking spaces on the campus are essential to thesuccess of a disabled student at the University of Oklahoma. Disabled students are instructed to plan their schedules to ensure that they have adequate time to get from class to class in order toreduce class disruptions. Those spaces are placed strategically to make sure that they are as closeto the building as possible which makes it easier to get to class on time. The problem comes tolight when all of the handicapped accessible spaces are filled by non-disabled students, faculty,and staff, and even construction crews. Unfortunately, we do not have many options when itcomes to where we can park because all of our disabilities require different things from us. Somestudents have vision impairments and the closer they can get to the building they wish to enter is potentially safer. Other students have walking impairments and can only walk short distances before running out of energy. The main objective here is to utilize all of the accommodationsavailable to ensure that a disabled student has as equal of a chance at success as any other studentat the University. People who wish to park in handicapped spaces who do not need them throwoff the planning and timing of the student because of the chance that he/she will have to relocatetheir vehicle to another parking lot and walk the extra distance. Tardiness and disruptions are notthe keys to success.At the same time, we acknowledge that everyone needs somewhere to park on campusand sometimes it can be difficult to find one. The difference lies in the fact that a non-disabled person has an option to park somewhere else and generally will be able to walk the extra distancewithout any problems at all. A disabled person, however, does not have this option. We areforced to make plans early and even though we try to be as flexible as we can, there is only so far we can bend. With this, we suggest that the University of Oklahoma parking officers identify andticket those who do not have an on-campus parking permit and/or authorized handicapped placard. Disabled students are more than willing to fulfill their parking requirements and followthe regulations set by the University. In turn, we expect others to honor these requirements andfulfill their obligations as well.

Section B – On Campus Special Event Parking/Accessibility Issues and Suggestions

One of the best phrases that University of Oklahoma students cannot wait to here is “It’sFootball Time in Oklahoma!” Football season is a time for all OU students to get together tohave a fun and relaxed time to get together with friends after a busy and stressful week. It is atime that everyone needs to prepare for the week that is to follow and everyone should beallowed to attend.Tailgating is a lot of fun but indirectly creates some problems for the disabledcommunity. Unfortunately, roads are blocked off which eliminate some of the availablehandicapped parking spaces. Those parking lots that are not blocked off by the Norman PoliceDepartment are inaccessible because they are used for people to charge for parking or to tailgate.The problem with this is that, as mentioned above, for some disabled people, the shorter thedistance from point A to point B, the better. On game day, the only way to get even somewhatclose to the stadium before kickoff is to a) pay inflated prices in a parking lot or yard or b) park your vehicle somewhere and walk all the way to the stadium. This in itself is an issue because alarge number of sidewalks and ramps for handicapped use are either badly cracked or non-existent. The perfect example of this problem is on Parsons Street (coming from ChautauquaAvenue going towards Elm Avenue). In this particular area, the slabs of concrete that make upthe sidewalk on both sides are cracked into a minimum of three pieces. It is not hard to imagine astudent walking with a walker with three inch wheels struggling to stay out of the cracks.Additionally, an individual with a 250+ pound, semi-wide power wheelchair does not have theoption to travel this route because a) the sidewalk in too narrow b) there are ramps that have asending end but no receiving end when a person crosses the street or vice-versa or c) the standingwater left over in the street after a rain cycle does not allow for a disabled person to travel thatway safely either. Luckily, the University is slowly making progress fixing this and other unsafeareas, but there is another, faster way to complement these efforts.We propose that one of the available parking lots be reserved for handicapped personsonly. This includes but is not limited to current students, faculty and staff, and alumni. The parking lot does not have to be of enormous size but should be proportionate to the number of handicapped seats within the Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium and be a reasonable distancefrom it so that everyone is able to travel safely to and from the stadium, enjoy the football seasonwith friends and family, and also support the Oklahoma Sooners towards another NationalChampionship.

Section C – Maintaining Continuity and Equality