On Monday of that week, some campus buildings had only one security checkpoint for One Cards, the DAC wrote in their statement, also writing that many checkpoints were inaccessible entrances, leaving some students with disabilities locked out of certain buildings.
One Card checkpoints were placed at some accessible entrances for the rest of the week, the DAC stated.
Inaccessibility experiences
In their statement, the DAC wrote that some accessibility push buttons were not synced with corresponding One Card scanners, leaving those reliant on them unable to unlock doors. The committee wrote that some internal push buttons were also inoperable, locking some students with disabilities inside campus buildings. The DAC stated that this put some students at risk of being unable to escape during an emergency.
The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance, Accessibility Resource Services, Risk Management and the Office of Campus Safety were all notified of the inaccessible security measures as issues arose, the DAC wrote.
Students and faculty with classes in limited-access buildings were informed of the increased security over email at around 8 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6. However, Saavedra Forero said the DAC had brought up concerns about accessibility to admin prior to the week.
Tiller said some accessible entrances in buildings, including Graham Memorial Hall were commonly locked before the added security, and continued to be locked throughout the week and afterward.
“This is a very common experience for disabled students. This is not, ‘oh my God, it's the first time this has ever happened,’” Saavedra Forero said. “No, this happens all the time.”
The DAC stated that some inaccessibility issues weren’t resolved by the end of Friday, Oct. 11.
“There was clearly no meaningful attempt to ensure these security measures were accessible to people with disabilities,” the DAC wrote.
Media Relations wrote to The DTH that the University addressed accessibility issues they were made aware of “as quickly as possible.” They stated on multiple occasions that no representatives from related departments were available for comment.
DAC requests
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In its statement, the DAC asked that the University creates accessibility plans for campus security changes and designate a liaison from the EOC Office to review the plans.
The DAC also requested a public apology from the University to the campus community for inaccessibility during the week and called for the University’s commitment to following the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Title II of the ADA states that all programs of publicly funded universities must be accessible to students with disabilities, with measures including providing access to buildings.
Public and private schools receiving federal funding must also, under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 maintains that students with disabilities shouldn’t be “excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
UNC receives both public and federal funding.
According to the UNC-Chapel Hill Policy on Accommodations, the University will provide "Reasonable Accommodations" to qualified individuals as required by state and federal law. The guideline also states that UNC will not provide accommodations that "eliminate an Employee’s Essential Job Function(s); Fundamentally Alter academic or admissions standards or requirements essential to an academic program, activity, technical standard, or professional or licensing requirement; constitute an Undue Hardship; or create a Direct Threat."
"Failure to implement an approved Reasonable Accommodation may constitute discrimination under the University’s Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct. Retaliation for requesting or using Reasonable Accommodations is also prohibited under the Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct," the policy stated.
Additionally, the policy states that external regulations, under related requirements, included the ADA.
Looking ahead
The DAC asked for the changes to be made by the end of the Fall 2024 semester, requesting written confirmation sent to the committee.
The group also called for help from “peers, mentors and friends” to advocate for the changes.
“We are just trying to be students, but we also have to be full-time ADA advocates and compliance coordinators,” Saavedra Forero said.
Saavedra Forero said the DAC has not received communication from the University regarding potential accessibility improvements, as far as she's been made aware of.
“One of the University’s highest priorities is the safety of the students, faculty and staff,” Media Relations wrote. “The University appreciates and takes seriously all feedback received and carefully considers any changes that may be needed on our campus.”
Tiller said students can share any inaccessibility they experience and witness on campus with the DAC to add validity to the committee’s reform requests. To learn how to advocate for accessibility, she said it’s important for UNC students to attend DAC events and teach-ins.
“I think that would seriously help, because then it wouldn’t just be, you know, 15 [DAC] students. It wouldn't just be the voices of 15 students,” Tiller said. “We could have the voices of hundreds, or potentially thousands.”
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