NORTH SHORE NEWS

February 17, 1982

page C-2

College helps disabled
Going to College
for the first time, or
even returning to
College after many
years out of the
education system,
can be a daunting
prospect for anyone,
but for the physically
disabled
student
there are some
serious barriers to
starting
postsecondary education.
A short flight of stain or a
steep hill, for instance, can
be an immense obstacle for
the student in a wheel chair,
a deaf student may have to
lip read a lecture while the
professor is pacing the room,
or a student with cerebral
palsy may be unable to take
notes or write exams.
Fortunately for the disabled student at Capilano College this term there is a
Special Needs Advisor providing special services
through. the Learning
Assistance Centre.
Paul Jones' job is to give
information to students, staff
and faculty,_ to coordinate
college services for disabled
students and to provide services requested such as taping books, helping students
with mobility problems and '
writing exams for students
unable to do 10.

''The disabled student
seeking • -College education
needs access to buildings
and programs, of course,"
says Jones, ~'but understanding and acceptance of
individual differences on the
part of students, staff and
faculty is equally important."

South campus, dodging cars,
-trucks, pedestrians and
buses as he goes.
This semester Jones has
been in contact with
students who are visually impaired, deaf, wheelchair
usen, or who have cerebral
palsy or artbritia. At the moment his position is only
funded until the end of March, but he is hoping that
when the Ministry of Education reviewa the program
they will make it part of the
permanent budget in coming
yean.

Having studied at UBC
and the University of Toronto, and taught English at
UBC and the University .of
Victoria, Jones is very much
aware of the problems of the
disabled student in postsecondary education. And _
he'• certainly _familiar with
Disabled persons who
some of the accessibility pro- want information about atblems at Capilano - for in- tending Capilano College
stance, having to maneuver should call Paul Jones at 986his wheelchair down a steep 1911, local 356 weekdays
roadway from the North to from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.