Construction buries 14 popular spots near library
Blue disabled parking spaces have disappeared, but so far students are not seeing red.
Disabled parking got a little tighter this semester, with the loss of 14 spots near the library.
Photo by: Fernando A. Martinez
Four squat mobile units housing 16 classrooms took over the spaces. The trailers serve as temporary, multi-use classrooms until the new student union complex is completed in 2023.
Behind the library former lots M and N had 38 spaces, including spots for students, faculty and staff, as well as parking spaces required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Lot N was the closest access point for people with disabilities using the library.
Southwestern College has 4,104 parking spots for nearly 20,000 students. There are 128 ADA spaces, more than the 99 spots required by law. SC does not keep records on how many students, faculty or staff have ADA license plates or placards.
Aurora Ayala, acting director of facilities, oversees campus construction and parking. She said the college will add one more van accessible spot across the perimeter road from the library in Parking Lot J to make up for the lost ADA spots. Ayala said she spends a good part of her days referring to the oversized maps that cover her office walls.
“We look at this as a whole,” she said. “So, we took out these parking stalls entirely, so it wasn’t just ADA spots, it was staff parking, student parking. The entire lots had to be taken out to make way for the learning hubs that were coming in. There’s no room for building more parking.”
Dr. Malia Flood, director of Disability Support Services, said she has had just one complaint from a disabled student about the missing ADA parking behind the library. She said the college is always looking to exceed the needs of the disabled on campus.
“There’s a difference between compliance, which is your minimum obligation, and being a campus that values inclusion and universal design, which means going above and beyond and really being thoughtful about how we meet the needs for all students,” she said.
Flood said she wants to hear from disabled students having trouble with any campus facilities.
“I don’t want them to suffer in silence,” she said. “We can’t do anything unless students come forward. So, it’s always nice if students take time to come and let us know if they’re struggling with something.”
Ayala said she is working with a team of students to create an interactive map of the paths of travel around the campus.
“It’s really just making sure that our entire campus is an ADA-friendly campus,” she said. “We want it to be above and beyond. I just want to be sure we’re covering all our bases, to make sure that everybody has the same experience. So, we’re looking at ADA counts, van-accessible stalls, making sure we have push bars on our restrooms, entrance pathways, so we don’t have anything blocking it during construction.”
Humberto Gurmilan, an adjunct journalism instructor, uses a wheelchair. He said he used to park behind the library when he could because it gave him easy access to his classes. He said he does not have any problems finding accessible parking here, but he struggles at San Diego City College.
“I think in terms of ADA parking Southwestern is pretty good,” he said. “I teach at other colleges and it’s a little bit challenging. I think Southwestern does a really good job of having those (accessible) spots available. I think the more you can get, then obviously it’s great, but then you impact the regular spots. It just depends on your point of view.”
Police Chief Dave Nighswonger points to the college website for parking guidance for times when there is no ADA parking available. It says disabled drivers can park nearly anywhere on campus where there is a designated parking stall.
“If you have a disabled placard, it doesn’t matter if you’re a student, faculty, staff visitor, whomever, you can park anywhere,” he said.
Restricted areas include spaces reserved for specific people, orange-lined spots at the fitness center and areas marked “No Parking” or “Tow Away Zone.” Designated loading zones are also off-limits.
