During the summer of 2008, the University of Fraser Valley (UFV) took away accessible parking spots near a building and put them further away.
Ostensibly the reason was to allow for service vehicle parking.
This story is almost a carbon copy of taking the last parking spots from UPEI campus.
UPEI never did return the accessible parking near the campus buildings. We’ve been reporting this story for years, UPEI says PEI building codes don’t apply.
When shown the problem, Fraser Valley put the accessible spots back.
Let’s hope UPEI does the same although they seem resistant to that idea so far. It’s only been four years since the parking at UPEI was removed.
“Brandon Langhjelm was looking forward to starting his summer school semester, but when he arrived and headed for his usual parking spot he became confused and found himself in a life-threatening situation. (Abbotsford Times)
From Canada.com – September 12, 2008 -Brandon Langhjelm was looking forward to starting his summer school semester, but when he arrived and headed for his usual parking spot he became confused and found himself in a life-threatening situation.
Langhjelm, 27, a history student at the University of the Fraser Valley, was born with Loeys-Dietz syndrome, which is a severe connective tissue disease that affects every cell in his body. Due to Langhjelm’s disability, his body is extremely frail, and having to walk long distances could put his life in jeopardy.
Since he started at UFV in 2004, Langhjelm has enjoyed easy access to Building B from the four handicap parking spaces located directly beside the building’s main door and elevator, which is close to the school’s disability services where he picks up his electric wheelchair.
But, in July, when Langhjelm returned to school he found the parking spots had been changed.
The area was allocated for UFV service delivery vehicles only, and the handicap parking had been moved across the street, around 170 feet away from Building B’s main entrance,” said Langhjelm.
“I felt so discouraged and what upset me the most was these spots had been moved without any consultation – I was given absolutely no notice and I don’t think any other disabled student heard about it either,” said Langhjelm.
“From the day he showed up on campus, he has been forced to cross a busy campus road and walk a much greater distance, which has put a significant strain on his body and overall health,” said Langhjelm’s mother Carol, who is upset, and has been lobbying to have the parking spots put back to their original spots.
“It is just so disheartening to know they would move those spaces so arbitrarily without warning,” she said.
While investigating the matter, Carol said she discovered a classroom beside the former handicap parking had been converted to the Facilities Department [control centre for all the construction activities] which used to be located in Building A.
She said she couldn’t believe the school’s building projects had taken priority over disabled students parking.
The spots were moved because some disabled students, especially those with wheelchairs, filed complaints about the possibility of not being able to get out of their cars due to large trucks loading and unloading in that area, said Tim Segger, UFV vice-president of administration.
“The area has always been used as a service area, and the matter of safety was discussed, therefore the Occupational Health and Safety Committee decided to move the spots,” he said.
“The intent was not to throw the disabled students out, it was only to ensure their safety.”
In terms of consulting and giving notices to the disabled students about the relocation of the parking spots, he said, “It would have been a good idea. It probably could have been handled a lot better in that regard.”
In retrospect, Segger said the school plans on replacing three disabled parking spots back in the Building B area next week, and will relocate parking elsewhere for the service vehicles.
For its 1,500-plus student population, UFV is required by code to have 15 disabled parking spots, said Segger.
UFV currently has 17, but by next week it will have a total of 19, he added. ”
Story from Canada.com
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