Some disabled NIU students say they are upset that money is being spent on non-emergency Physical Plant work while some disabled-accessibility needs haven’t been met.

Lin Sorge, member of the 1990-91 Presidential Commission on Persons with Disabilities, said at a Tuesday night disabled hearing that the evening was her chance to be heard on the matter.

“It’s hard for me to pick up the Northern Star and read about how the Physical Plant is spending thousands of dollars on non-emergency work,” said Sorge, coordinator for Learning Disabilities and also a person with a disability herself.

“People with disabilities have some needs that were brought up last year and still haven’t been met,” Sorge said.

However, Edward O’Donnell, superintendent of building maintenance at NIU’s physical plant, said that work on a handicapped accessible stall in the women’s bathroom in Adams Hall had just been completed last week.

“Problems with handicap accessibility on campus is always one of our top priorities,” O’Donnell said.

Sorge also brought up the hiring freeze that is strapping NIU President John La Tourette when a disability specialist is needed.

However, “The commission’s job is not to be able to answer all the questions and complaints that the students have, but work together in order to find a solution,” said Gary Gresholdt, chair of the commission and assistant vice-president for Student Affairs.

Also on the agenda was the issue of transportation for the disabled.

The Student Association Mass Transit Board was commended at the meeting by University Legal Counsel George Shur for taking action on the issue of better bus service for the disabled.

“This is the SA Mass Transit Board’s finest hour,” Shur said. “These students have taken a strong leadership role in seeing that the disabled get more accessible bus service as quickly as possible.”

The commission hopes that there will be at least four buses on the Huskie Bus line route that will be accessible for disabled people.

Also, there were complaints heard about the Handi-Van on-call service and a suggestion that the service should expand its hours.

George Abbott, a disabled student at NIU, also commented on the need for better lighting in visually-impaired students’ rooms and adaptive computers for people with disabilities.

The commission now will have monthly meetings to evaluate the problems that were brought up and work along with La Tourette to solve these problems as quickly as possible, Shur said.