Bill requires ADA compliance by GDOE

It's been 33 years since the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act became law, and senators today discussed a measure to finally bring Guam's public schools into full compliance. Over the years GDOE has sought to accommodate disabled students as best it could, but those testifying today said its time to address the issues once and for all.

The lack of ADA compliance within guam's public school facilities is well known. And while many of the schools were built well before the ADA first became law in 1990, the school system has had more than 30 years to address the issue.

Even newly-hired superintendent Dr. Ken Swanson is well aware of the issues, saying, "One of the biggest access things that I've seen is door width to the restrooms. So a student who's got a cambered wheelchair, that's pretty mobile on their own can't get through the doorway. It's got to be 36 inches. And I see doorways that are two feet wide. So those kind of problems, we're going to have to address building-by-buildiing."

Longtime GDOE board member Maria Gutierrez points to yet more non-compliance. "The schools that have elevators there's a sign, 'Out of order,' at Tamuning Elementary School. What's wrong with your elevators? I don't know, Mrs. G,  that's how its been since I came here four or five years ago. So those schools that have the elevator, they're not working," she said.

Attorney Daniel Somerfleck, who represents parents of disabled students who are suing GDOE for various failures, says its time to act. "If I were looking at it, I would look at more than a plan to plan. I would look at putting our priorities in place. And to me, saying a child can use the bathroom seems like a pretty straightforward priority number one," he explained.

Education chairman Senator Chris Barnett said, "I totally agree with what you're saying, plan-to-plan-to-plan-to-plan. Look at the situation with Public Health and safety guidelines for the schools. We demanded immediate action through Public Law 37-4 and the pushback from Adelup on down to the Legislature was frustrating."

But while he supports the bill, Superintendent Swanson reminds that the problems date back decades, noting, "I do want to caution the legislature that there's going to be a price tag for that. as i look at our facilities we need a tremendous amount of work."

Senator Will Parkinson is the main sponsor of the bill. "I said earlier that we must rally together with commitment and passion. Passion is what made me bring this issue up today, but it's commitment that will solve the problem," he said.