Students face challenges with ADA accessibly at Fresno State
FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State’s student body is made up of students from many different backgrounds with many different abilities. Where some students excel, some might need a little more assistance.
Media, Communications and Journalism major Marcos Marquez was born with cerebral palsy. He says the campus isn’t the most accessible for someone like him. He’s noticed several obstacles on campus that could violate the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“I have trouble walking long distances, walking stairs, there’s a lot of those on campus,” Marquez said.
The Leon and Pete Peters Educational Center inside the recreation center is one of many classrooms that’s a challenge for Marquez to navigate.
The classroom doesn’t have a side railing along the stairs for unsteady students to grab onto. It also has steps that are wide and could be difficult to maneuver for someone with affected mobility.
Those obstacles have forced Marquez to sit in the back of the classroom. He thinks he might have done better in that class had he been able to sit up front.
“I didn’t do so well in that class, I barely passed,” Marquez said.
The building does have a wheelchair lift, but students like Marquez, who aren’t in wheelchairs, can’t use it.
Another ADA obstacle is in the Science II building, where, once again, there are no side railings on the incline.
Outside of the classrooms, Valley Children’s Stadium is also hard for Marquez to navigate. The stadium has steep ramps, several stairs and no elevators.
Marquez attended a football game once and said it was a battle.
“If I get seated somewhere on a bleacher, I can’t get up and go get a snack,” Marquez said.
Juliette Amaro is the testing accommodations coordinator for the ADA services office at Fresno State. She said students have brought some of these obstacles to their attention. She urges the university to listen to the students’ needs.
“I think when they bring those things up it’s really important not to brush it off,” Amaro said.
Fresno State Focus reached out to the university but has not heard back yet.