by Christopher Sanchez
Daily Lobo
Former UNM student Tyler McCormick said he would love to continue his education and fulfill his dream as a rehabilitation engineer - if UNM were more accessible.
"I refuse to give my money to UNM because of its accessibility problems in the Engineering Department," he said. "I don't want to feel like a second-class citizen."
McCormick, who uses a wheelchair, was among more than a dozen other disabled individuals who marked the 15th anniversary of the American Disabilities Act at a press conference, which took place on Lomas Boulevard at Community Options Incorporation on July 26.
The act was passed in 1990 to help end discrimination of the disabled in offices, schools and society as a whole.
Joseph Cecchi, UNM's dean of engineering, said most buildings in the College of Engineering are ADA accessible, and it is important for him to accommodate those with special needs.
"We are in the process of replacing the older, non-accessible buildings," Cecchi said. "And though some of the buildings are not ADA accessible, we try and accommodate to those who can't access the buildings by relocating them into a different building."
Bob Meyer, an architect at the Department of Facility Planning, told the Daily Lobo in March that the University spent $2.8 million in the last 10 years renovating the campus in order to comply with the act.
McCormick, who graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in applied math, said for the most part his experience at UNM was enjoyable, and students were friendly.
"A couple of professors try to baby you because you have a disability," McCormick said. "But the students were good to me."
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Carla Baron, special projects coordinator for the Independent Living Resource Center, said the press conference was about achievements the disabled have made since the enactment of the act.
"I want to make sure that this day is commemorated," Baron said. "This was an opportunity to inform the public about what has been accomplished and what still remains to be done."
Mayor Martin Ch†vez also attended the conference.
He said during his eight years in office, his administration has spent more than $100 million on sidewalks, ramps and other accommodations to help the disabled community. Though the city has spent an immense amount of money to cater to the disabled, the mayor said it is not enough.
"I'm still not satisfied," Ch†vez said. "We have to work real hard to make sure that programs are working and being funded."
Lucy Birbiglia, the technical services manager of the center, said life was harsh before the act.
"Before the ADA was implemented, people in their 20s, 30s and 40s were living in rest homes because people felt that they could not care for themselves," she said. "Fifteen years later, people with disabilities are able to live on their own."
She said the ADA has given disabled people more opportunities and has made their disabilities more socially acceptable. The ADA has enabled many disabled people to live on their own outside of a nursing home, Birbiglia said.
The ADA was signed into law in 1990 under President George Bush. According to the act, it guarantees equal opportunity for people with disabilities in: employment, in public services, in public and private accommodations, and in telecommunications.
Susan Gray, director of Offices of Disability in Health in New Mexico, said the ADA allows the disabled to be more visible in public.
"The more you see us, the more you know us, the more you're not afraid of us," she said.
Gray said the city of Albuquerque needs more ramps, power doors and handicap accessible restrooms.
"What's good for some of us is good for all of us," she said.
Nancy Coe-Munsey, a disabled artist, said she experiences similar problems throughout the city and insisted the community has to help implement change.
"We don't need a mouthpiece," she said. "What we need are hands."
