Equality for the disabled

We all know that various demographics throughout human history have been treated in an unfair manner in some way or another. Whether it is over race, religious beliefs, nationality, gender or age, someone has been the brunt of inequalities and/or discrimination. Some recent personal moments became a cause for further concern about the treatment of another demographic-those who are disabled to any degree.Whether this writer looks older to other students is not known. But the truth is that a 10 year age gap exists there. So there is at least that much more real world experience, and the most recent instance of this ended in May of 2004 on shaky ground.

The writer's employer had decided that a lower back problem was cause enough to terminate an employee from a position which had no physical demands. This decision came about despite check-ups and signed permission by a family doctor allowing a return to the job. The employer's exact job-ending words were, "You are too unhealthy to work," even though no doctor had ever said so.

So here it was, the first time ever experiencing how the corporate world can be towards a person with one health issue or another.

To make a long story short regarding that matter, not much ever came of it despite spending a great deal of time communicating with the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC). A right-to-sue letter was issued, followed by 90 days to secure a lawyer specializing in discrimination and wrongful termination cases. Finding a local lawyer with a contingency fee basis took too much of the 90 days for the case to go to court.

Another mounting concern was whether or not to tie up any more time once enrolled at West Chester University as a full-time student. Therefore, the whole case came to an end officially for reasons of finances and education by last month.

In that same month, something unexpected happened that only added to the feeling that those who are disabled are not always considered.

Upon arriving in the Sykes parking lot, it was unclear if a young man was about to leave or had also just arrived there. However, he closed the car door and walked to the building, having taken the last handicapped space near the bookstore entrance. Unlike someone who had paid for a handicapped placard, the young man had no indication of a disability, including no placard or tag.

One of the parking patrol officers was a few cars away at that moment and the illegally parked car was pointed out to him. The whole incident became a disagreement between him and yours truly because it seemed the car's driver deserved a ticket but was not given one. The young man, now back in his car, was blocked in while it continued to be pointed out that if someone is parked illegally they should be ticketed.

Also mentioned to the patrolman was that the person who had a right to that particular space was in possession of a handicapped placard. However, it seemed and was verbalized that the patrolman did not care what the handicapped placard holder had.

Given the recent history of unfair treatment over health issues, and because of the patrolman's position on campus, this was not taken well. As a result, the head official at WCU parking was called to report the bad attitude of the patrolman. The young man, for providing business to the college, seemed to have been given special parking treatment over someone with a disability.

To set the record straight regarding recent history of health discrimination, a bad back does not mean one is too unhealthy to work.

In the particular case of this writer, it only prevents standing for long periods of time or walking long distances without sitting. After all, higher education is still able to be pursued and it is something a disabled person equally deserves.

As a demographic, the disabled seem to be overlooked at times in general compared to stories about other areas of discrimination. Whether it is unfair actions or attitudes of an individual here and there or the general public, we do not hear of enough solutions for this problem. The news covers many stories on various areas of equal rights, but a lack of coverage on disability discrimination will leave it unresolved.

One thing needing to be addressed here at WCU is how non-disabled students are parking in handicapped spaces. Some do so only to run up and back down the flight of stairs outside of Sykes and jump back into their cars. Is this not a form of some students, not all, showing discrimination towards the disabled of WCU by simply not being considerate?

While that still needs work, the matter over the WCU parking patrolman was resolved with assurance by that it would not happen again. As a student with some degree of disability, it seems that WCU is a difficult school to handle with a lot of walking. So for those whose disability keeps them from walking long distances, being able to find an available handicapped space is essential.

In closing, it simply seems that more needs to be done at WCU to address this particular problem with campus parking accommodations. Also, more public attention needs to be given towards the discrimination that those with disabilities face in society, on the job, etc.

Carol A. Dwyer is a third-year student majoring in English and communications studies. She can be reached at CD 660170@wcupa.edu.