By Wendy Bernshausen
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

University of Houston-Clear Lake is taking measures to ensure compliance with specifications set by the American Disabilities Act by renovating restrooms in the Bayou Building.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation visited the campus to inspect the addition of new labs on the third floor of the Bayou Building and noted that the building did not have any publicly accessible restrooms that were in compliance with ADA standards.

The only restroom in compliance is located in the health center. After the health center closes at 9 p.m., the office has to be opened by the university police for any student needing use of this facility.

To be in compliance, the restrooms must have the proper turning radius in stalls and proper accessories, such as mirrors and sinks, that meet the requirements of individuals on campus with special needs.

The university decided that renovations would begin with a restroom on the third floor that was on the way to the new labs. This newly renovated restroom will be accessible to all individuals on campus.

"This university is a Mecca for people with special needs," said Dan Wilson, director of planning, design and contract administration. "We are a university that is accessible from the parking lot on in.

The university has also taken steps to go beyond ADA standards. UH-Clear Lake decided to completely renovate an existing restroom. Restroom number 13 is on the first floor of the Bayou Building located by the elevators in Atrium II.

Once remodeled, this restroom will not be accessible to all individuals on campus. Individuals on campus will have to register with the office of disability services to receive a key required for entry into the restroom.

"This is a universal bathroom that far exceeds ADA standards," said Susan Leitner Prihoda, director of Health and Disability Services. The special needs restroom will include a locker area for individuals with special needs to keep personal medical items they would otherwise have to keep at the health center. The restroom will feature a hoyer lift for those individuals in a wheelchair requiring assistance. There will also be a call button in place that will ring university police in case of a problem.

"UH-Clear Lake is going above and beyond their responsibilities to individuals with disabilities on campus," said Harry Stenvall, director of risk management.

Bay Architects have completed the plans for both restrooms. The university is still working on the bid process before construction can begin. "Renovations are to be done over Christmas if all goes as planned," said Pam Groves, environmental health and safety officer.

"A restroom that facilitates individuals with special needs has been needed for a long period of time," said Sarah Whitlock, a clinical psychology major and student worker in the Health and Disability Services office. "Currently, UH-Clear Lake is spearheading the process to get the job done."

Wilson said there will be more renovations to meet ADA standards in at least one restroom on the first and second floors of the Bayou Building in the future.

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