| Student with disabilities files discrimination complaint against UMSL
UM-St. Louis student John McGahan has filed a formal complaint with the United States Department of Education and the Americans with Disabilities Act enforcement over alleged discrimination.
McGahan, a senior studying secondary education, said the University's department of disability access services refused to contact his professors to let them know that in case of winter weather, he may not be able to attend class. McGahan is a double amputee.
According to McGahan, he was told he had to have a doctor's notice saying that he was, in fact, a disabled person.
"I think it's just ridiculous," McGahan said. "I already have a handicapped parking sticker from UMSL, so this should be a non-issue."
Marilyn Ditto-Pernell, director of disability access services, confirmed McGahan's complaint and said all students going through disability access services must have a letter from a medical professional.
This Is What Democracy Looks Like
Pro-peace demonstrators flocked to the Mall in Washington DC from every state in the Union for a massive March for Peace on Saturday, January 27. The event began late morning as the crowd was led in prayer by inter-faith ministers and rabbis. Ohio Senator Dennis Kucinich, the 2008 presidential candidate, called for peace. Activists Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon delivered anti-war speeches. Jane Fonda spoke eloquently about learning from our mistakes. An impassioned Sean Penn stoked the crowds emotions as the march to Capitol Hill kicked off. United for Justice and Peace had, by far, the largest group. MoveOn sponsored travel for four hundred of its activist organizers to ensure representation from all 50 states. Santa Monica activists who took part in the MoveOn-sponsored anti-war demonstration on January 11 walked with local mothers of teenagers who will imminently be of draft age.
Officials try to manage health-care needs of aging population ...
One recent Friday morning, Jack Callahan sat in a circle with a group of other cardiac-rehab patients, an African drum between his knees. Amanda Jackson, the group leader, struck a final beat on her drum, a signal that it was time to ask a random question of the next person in the circle. "To Jack," said Jackson, a university student majoring in music therapy. "What specific thing have you done that impressed yourself?" "Staying alive," Callahan said. Callahan, 65, had a heart attack in October. He's a retired Appalachian State University professor, and he knows that he's lucky to live in a place where he can get good health care. Retirees such as Callahan are important to the economic health of many mountain communities, but they also place additional demands on services from health care to housing.
Handicapped parking spots used illegally
Q: Dear Jack, because of recent surgery, I'm handicapped. I really get angry at the people who ignore the spots reserved for handicapped people. What can be done about this? Security officers drove by and did nothing. A: First, talk to the store manager or mall manager to let them know security missed a vehicle which was illegally parked. Lt. David Gammill in Flowood and Lt. Norman Sipp in Ridgeland offered some other information. "Security officers are not authorized to enforce that," said Sipp, patrol division commander. "Handicapped parking comes under state law. Normally they'll call us and we send a police officer out to give the ticket." Gammill said Flowood does the same thing. You also can do the same. Figure out which city the store is in and then call the nonemergency number for the police department in that city.
Need for good health care tireless campaign
Karen Karlstad Gonzalez's campaign for the Illinois Legislature last year came on the heels of the loss of her father -- and a costly but loving effort to make his home wheelchair-accessible for him in his final years. Her 2006 campaign, in the Romeoville-area 85th House District, also came a few years after her own health travails. .
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