The faculty, staff and students with disabilities do not need the extremely inaccurate coverage of the open hearing provided by this newspaper!

1.) The Star stated there was a “disabled hearing” which is an incorrect and inappropriate use of language. Open hearings were held concerning the needs of persons with disabilities. If the hearings had a “disability” it was that they were not well-attended.

2.) I am not the coordinator for Learning Disabilities! The reporter missed that entire point of my presentation! NIU is in urgent need of a full-time learning disabilities specialist.

Our office has requested one for more than two years. I am one of the team coordinators of NIU Services for Students with Disabilities which supports all people with disabilities except those with hearing impairments—served by a separate office.

3.) I never said one word about “picking up a Star” and being upset about the Physical Plant’s non-emergency work. That comment was made by Bob Jordan, a student representative to the commission.

I already called Ed O’Donnell, who works very closely with our office trying hard to support the needs of persons with disabilities, to apologize personally for comments credited to me by your reporter. Our office tries to maintain good rapport with everyone at the physical plant.

4.) George Abbott, a totally blind student living off-campus, presented many well spoken concerns—about the poor reliability of the handivan and the lack of adequate computer equipment for blind students.

However, he did not speak about residence hall room lighting. That point was brought up by Bob Jordan, a student with a mobility impairment living in Neptune West, who had been asked to advocate for two students with severe visual impairments.

(Bob had many fine points to offer. It is unfortunate that your reporter neglected to give credit where it was due.)

I appreciate the Star’s willingness to cover events concerning persons with disabilities; however, something drastic needs to be done to promote the reporting of accurate information!

I’ve been misquoted numerous times throughout the years I’ve worked at NIU, but this misrepresentation was too appalling to ignore.

Linn Sorge

Team Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities