Last week's walkout of deaf interpreters demanding higher pay from our University lasted only a day and affected only 26 students. The problem was dealt with in the timeliest manner possible -- maybe to not attract attention to the larger problems disability services and their clients face.
The one-day strike was a last resort for translators who, even after receiving a 10 percent pay increase over the summer, were still making considerably less than what the private sector offers (often with entering positions of $38 per hour). The walkout came only after months of trying to negotiate with the administration.
For the past couple of years, the University has been cutting funding to students' disability resources, though in the past it has maintained an image of a disabled-friendly campus, providing scholarships and awards for students who have worked to overcome the impediments of their disability to succeed academically.
Even though the administration is quick to lull a problem that might give it a bad rep, there are many other struggles for the disabled and those who work with them that the University is slow in addressing.
Take dorm elevators for example. Two weeks ago, one of my neighbors, who is in a wheelchair, could not attend his classes because the elevator was broken (again) and it took almost an entire day to fix.
The last time this happened was during a fire alarm, and it took 20 minutes for someone to send an envoy to wait with the disabled student until the fire department arrived. It's hard to imagine what would happen if it weren't another case of burned cookies but a lethal threat.
There are many such incidents, and they are largely ignored as isolated cases that won't happen again. Yet disabled students and those assigned to help them face similar challenges on a daily basis. Our school seems to be committed to the equality of experience and education of the disabled on paper, but only comes through for them when forced to act -- as Monday's walkout demonstrated.
This is not to say our school is entirely flawed at providing services for the disabled -- the extent of the programs and options open to the disabled at ASU is extensive when compared to other public universities. But those services should be on the priority list of our administration, whether distributing funds, planning events or innovating the campus and University structure.
Students and staff shouldn't be forced to walk out every time an elevator breaks just to gain the administration's attention -- or their aid. Both our administration and the student body should treat the disabled and those who work with them with equality and respect, and that includes monetary compensation.
Above all, disability and disability services should be a normal, mainstream and openly discussed topic at ASU -- at all times.
Lucia Bill is a political science and journalism major. Reach her at lucia.bill@asu.edu.
