At the University of Maine at Presque Isle, it is common to find a professor running up and down the stairs in Normal Hall to his or her office and back down to the Faculty Lounge when meeting with a handicapped student. Since there is no elevator located in this building, advisors and professors must accommodate to the needs of the student by bringing books and other resources down to the student on the ground floor.

According to UMPI, this is a reasonable accommodation for any handicapped students. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act specifically outlines that any individuals with disabilities must have accessibility to all programs and services.

“Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in all programs, activities, and services of public entities. It applies to all State and local governments, their departments and agencies, and any other instrumentalities or special purpose districts of State or local governments,” reads the Department of Justice Website frequently asked questions concerning Title II of the ADA (www.usdoj.gov/crt/drs/faqada.htm).

If a public entity cannot or chooses not to make a facility accessible to individuals with disabilities, they can also alter existing facilities, relocate services or programs to an accessible facility, or make reasonable accommodations to the students with disabilities and still be in compliance with Title II of the ADA.

Charles Bonin, the vice president for administration and finance at UMPI, said that meeting students needs is imperative.

“In our plans, accessibility is priority. Three years ago we had to replace three elevator shafts in the older buildings,” he stated.

Bonin said that the capital plan from 2005 includes renovating Normal Hall so that an elevator can be installed. He said that the original plan was to have the elevator inside the center of the building by the stairwell, but it might actually be placed on the outside of the building.

The university recently requested a $5.5 million bond request to the state of which part of the funding was planned to be used for the addition of the elevator in Normal Hall. However, the funding granted to UMPI was reduced to $350,000.

“We submit it [the bond requests] to the system office and they decide what will go to the legislature. Money is the bottom line,” he said.

Until the addition of an elevator is completed, Bonin said that UMPI will continue to make reasonable accommodations for students.

“We make reasonable accommodations. We talk with the client to find out what they are having problems with and try to work with them. For example, in Normal Hall the faculty can come down and meet with students in the Faculty Lounge. They have to come up and down the stairs, but that is a reasonable accommodation,” Bonin stated.

Bonnie DeVaney, the equal employment opportunity officer at UMPI, agrees with Bonin.

“We try to include the student and as what they would like to have for an accommodation. We try to come to an agreement,” DeVaney said.

DeVaney also agreed that it is a reasonable accommodation for professors to meet with individuals with disabilities outside of their offices.