The reputation of the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) has resulted in record numbers of handicapped students this year than Edinboro University has ever seen.
“The reason I chose to come to Edinboro was the OSD program that it offers,” said Kate Fisher, a sophomore majoring in psychology. “(It’s) the only school in this area that offers the 24/7 personal care that OSD offers.”
According to Robert McConnell, director of OSD, the goal is to provide access to all the institution has to offer for students with disabilities.Students pay for each of the services that they are enrolled in and aren’t required to purchase a set number of services.
They are each given the option to enroll in each of the services we provide “which are above and beyond what is required by law,” sad McConnell.One of the services that the university offers is the personal care attendants, who are available to help students 24 hours a day.
The personal care attendant service has been going well this semester, according to Vickie Trnavsky, coordinator of attendant care.
“Our main goal is to make sure kids are getting up (in time) for classes… and we strive for independence,” Trnavsky said.
Attendant care aims to teach students to self-direct their needs and encourage students to communicate how they want things done, Trnavsky explained.
There are currently six workers that divide their time and attention between 39 disabled students in Lawrence Towers.
“Its like living in a family with a lot of kids,” said Trnavsky.A sign-up sheet in the personal care room is provided for students to write down the times that they will need help and indicate what they need the attendant to do.
“It’s all a matter of organization,” said Trnavsky.There are three different shifts for the workers in the personal care office, Fisher explained.
In each of the rooms, a buzzer is available for immediate and unscheduled help.Last year, Fisher said, they had both state and student workers. But this year the attendant office postponed hiringthe student workers.
Trnavsky explained that during the first two weeks of the semester, they don’t employ any students since they are busy settling into their new homes and getting their schedules figured out.
Just recently, Trnavsky has started employing student workers.“The student workers are a big help,” said Fisher.Students aren’t allowed to help with showers, but they can do some of the small chores, such as laundry, for the students enrolled in those services.
“It’s nice to have that extra help when the state workers are busy with other students,” said Fisher.
According to McConnell, OSD used to be directly involved in the personal care attendant service.However, as of last year, the responsibility transitioned out of OSD and into the Student Health Services.
“OSD has been going strong for 30 years, said Trnavsky, “and I expect it to keep going for many years to come.”
(Taken from The Spectator at Edinboro University – Vol. 3, Issue 2, October 20, 2011)
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