A disabled student could be homeless for three weeks over winter break if Residential Life does not help him find a living arrangement to accommodate his lifestyle.
Steven Martin, a public administration sophomore who uses a motorized wheelchair, said the one residence hall ASU is keeping open during the three-week break during which all halls close is unsuitable for many disabled students.
"Come the 17th of December, I might be without a place to live," he said.
Martin said he found out his hall would be closing Dec. 17, and the only residence hall scheduled to remain open would be the Commons on Apache.
Because he is originally from Hawaii, it is difficult for him to travel home for the holiday season, he said.
Susan Mulligan, spokeswoman for Residential Life, said the Commons on Apache is compliant with all Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
But Martin said he knew the Commons wouldn't accommodate him because he toured the facilities last summer.
All of the gates and doors at the Commons are key operated, and the handicapped bathing facility was a shower with a bar, which is not adequate for students like him who need keyless access and larger showers, he said.
"The Commons' idea of handicap access was a joke," Martin said.
After he told ResLife officials in spring 2005 the Commons would not be adequate, he moved into Hayden East in Center Complex, Martin said.
When Martin learned his hall would be closing for winter break, he met with ResLife assistant director Patrick O'Rourke to discuss other options.
"He told me I might look into getting a hotel," he said. "But you can't just throw a disabled person into any living situation and expect it to work."
Martin said a hotel room may not be enough for what he needs because the room may not be large enough and have sufficient shower facilities.
Martin added he is having surgery to place a pump in his back at the beginning of January and does not want to have to keep moving around.
"I can't afford to be moving around," he said. "And the one place they're keeping open I couldn't move into, even if I wanted to."
Mulligan said all students should be accommodated by the Commons, even though the ADA amenities are not as exceptional as they are in other residence halls on campus.
"The students who live on campus -- those rooms have some really nice features for them," she said. "That's how these students have been living. The Commons doesn't offer the extras."
Martin said this is not enough, and ResLife should keep another residence hall open to better suit disabled students.
"I am not the only disabled person on campus," he said. "Other students should be aware of these situations because an able-bodied student could break his back over winter break and be in the same situation."
While he does not want to go to extremes, Martin said he may hire a lawyer to help him reach a compromise with ResLife.
"I'm going to do what I have to do to make sure I have a place to live," he said.
Reach the reporter at tara.brite@asu.edu.
