Spring Break
Swimming Fun for Everyone
Climbing out of the Cypress College pool is difficult for some students, with unregistered disabilities.
DanaRose Crystal
Last Updated:6:02 AM PST 8/25/08 Section: Opinion
I love swimming. Not only is it truly the best exercise, it is a relief of the tension and anger that has me wound-up on a usual basis, these days.
During the 2008 Winter Intersession, I took the PE 134 Swimming class at Fullerton College. It was seven days of concentrated swimming. The teacher, Pete Snyder, coach of the FC swim team, only required us to swim an hour and a half each day--but since it was a four-hour class, I took advantage and swam at least two and one half to three hours per day. In those seven days, my health and my figure improved immensely. I was so delighted that I signed up for a semester-length swim class this spring. However, because I have morning classes at Cypress, I had to register here, instead of at Fullerton. The coach, Larry Beidler, is a nice guy, and allowed us to swim at our own pace and preference--the beginners could learn to swim, the more advanced people could have intense training, or those of us who prefer to do our own thing could do just that--swim laps, choose our own strokes, and just enjoy ourselves. What a wonderful thing, and for only one unit, one hour a day.
Sadly, I was unable to continue. Why? Because I cannot climb out of the pool.
I have damaged knees. I had taken ballet when I was about nine or ten, and my left knee got severely twisted, damaging my anterior cruciate tendon. It went untreated, and I've had problems walking ever since.
Years later, I fell on a cement street, breaking my right kneecap. I've had other falls since, plus the onset of arthritus--I cannot put my full weight upon my flexed knees, so have a problem climbing or descending stairs on a usual basis. The Fullerton College swimming pool is equipped with a small stairway---Cypress' pool is not. When I tried to use the "ladder," as Mr. Beidler referred to it, I was soaking wet, therefore not only slippery with water, but weighed down. I was in a near-panic as I struggled to pull myself out of the pool. I tried and failed three times, and was finally forced to heave my upper body up on the deck, painfully heaving up one knee, bending painfully, scraped on the rough deck, and taking my body's weight. It was horrible, painful and scary, because I felt that I could've fallen and hurt myself. Mr. Beidler had been occupied with someone else, so hadn't seen any of this, and I hadn't a chance to discuss this with him, until Wednesday, Jan. 23. I had arrived earlier than anyone else, and walked around the pool, inspecting it all over. Indeed, the "ladder" was the area with the most cut-in steps of all such areas. But I did see a device that could work--a lift-chair for disabled people. That would get me in and out of the water!
Mr. Beidler and the rest of the class finally trailed in, a few minutes after 8 a.m. I spoke to him, but he informed me that he could not operate the chair, and I would have to take some other type of class.
This is not fair. Not everybody with disabilities have the papers to prove it. Some of us cannot afford to go to doctors who provide us with such. So, now, I am robbed of the benefits of swim class. That is not right. WHY can't the pool be equipped with a ladder that leads all the way to the top? WHY isn't he allowed to operate the chair? I can strap myself into the chair.
This seems discriminatory to people with disabilities who are not currently registered as such. I spoke to Kim Bartlett, Director of the Roosevelt Center ( the Cypress College center for Disabled Student Programs and Services ). She said that neither teachers nor students have to be licensed to use the chair, but they should have some training in its usage, due to liabilities. Even simple aid to a student can be risky.
She said due to federal mandates, to get accomodations a student must be registered with the Roosevelt Center with a certified disability, even if it is only a temporary injury. They will accept a doctor's note, if there is no X-ray. Bartlett said they will accept confirmation from the school's Health Center. If further diagnosis is needed, and the student has no insurance and little money, the Health Center can refer low-cost or free clinics.
All well and good. Students don't have to be severely disabled to use the Roosevelt Center; it is there to help people who can function fairly normally, except in circumstances such as these.
But still, a pool minus the convenience of steps seems to be a safety hazard. With all of the new, fabulous buildings and construction on campus, why not concentrate on installing a device that makes climbing in and out of the Cypress College swimming pool safe and comfortable for everybody? At least, a set of stairs at our pool? Fact is, I am sure that everyone would appreciate it, even the experienced swimmers. During the Fullerton College Winter Intersession class, I noticed that even the members of the swim team used the steps instead of just pulling themselves out of the pool. Convenience is for everybody.
The extensive construction campus-wide is designed to improve access for all at Cypress College. But our swimming pool needs attention, too.
The Roosevelt Center (DSPS ) is located in the Cypress College Complex, first floor, near the Financial Aid office, in the middle of campus. Call (714) 484-7104 or TDD (714)761-0961. The Health Center is located in Gym-2, nearby the swimming pool. Call (714) 484-7361.
During the 2008 Winter Intersession, I took the PE 134 Swimming class at Fullerton College. It was seven days of concentrated swimming. The teacher, Pete Snyder, coach of the FC swim team, only required us to swim an hour and a half each day--but since it was a four-hour class, I took advantage and swam at least two and one half to three hours per day. In those seven days, my health and my figure improved immensely. I was so delighted that I signed up for a semester-length swim class this spring. However, because I have morning classes at Cypress, I had to register here, instead of at Fullerton. The coach, Larry Beidler, is a nice guy, and allowed us to swim at our own pace and preference--the beginners could learn to swim, the more advanced people could have intense training, or those of us who prefer to do our own thing could do just that--swim laps, choose our own strokes, and just enjoy ourselves. What a wonderful thing, and for only one unit, one hour a day.
Sadly, I was unable to continue. Why? Because I cannot climb out of the pool.
I have damaged knees. I had taken ballet when I was about nine or ten, and my left knee got severely twisted, damaging my anterior cruciate tendon. It went untreated, and I've had problems walking ever since.
Years later, I fell on a cement street, breaking my right kneecap. I've had other falls since, plus the onset of arthritus--I cannot put my full weight upon my flexed knees, so have a problem climbing or descending stairs on a usual basis. The Fullerton College swimming pool is equipped with a small stairway---Cypress' pool is not. When I tried to use the "ladder," as Mr. Beidler referred to it, I was soaking wet, therefore not only slippery with water, but weighed down. I was in a near-panic as I struggled to pull myself out of the pool. I tried and failed three times, and was finally forced to heave my upper body up on the deck, painfully heaving up one knee, bending painfully, scraped on the rough deck, and taking my body's weight. It was horrible, painful and scary, because I felt that I could've fallen and hurt myself. Mr. Beidler had been occupied with someone else, so hadn't seen any of this, and I hadn't a chance to discuss this with him, until Wednesday, Jan. 23. I had arrived earlier than anyone else, and walked around the pool, inspecting it all over. Indeed, the "ladder" was the area with the most cut-in steps of all such areas. But I did see a device that could work--a lift-chair for disabled people. That would get me in and out of the water!
Mr. Beidler and the rest of the class finally trailed in, a few minutes after 8 a.m. I spoke to him, but he informed me that he could not operate the chair, and I would have to take some other type of class.
This is not fair. Not everybody with disabilities have the papers to prove it. Some of us cannot afford to go to doctors who provide us with such. So, now, I am robbed of the benefits of swim class. That is not right. WHY can't the pool be equipped with a ladder that leads all the way to the top? WHY isn't he allowed to operate the chair? I can strap myself into the chair.
This seems discriminatory to people with disabilities who are not currently registered as such. I spoke to Kim Bartlett, Director of the Roosevelt Center ( the Cypress College center for Disabled Student Programs and Services ). She said that neither teachers nor students have to be licensed to use the chair, but they should have some training in its usage, due to liabilities. Even simple aid to a student can be risky.
She said due to federal mandates, to get accomodations a student must be registered with the Roosevelt Center with a certified disability, even if it is only a temporary injury. They will accept a doctor's note, if there is no X-ray. Bartlett said they will accept confirmation from the school's Health Center. If further diagnosis is needed, and the student has no insurance and little money, the Health Center can refer low-cost or free clinics.
All well and good. Students don't have to be severely disabled to use the Roosevelt Center; it is there to help people who can function fairly normally, except in circumstances such as these.
But still, a pool minus the convenience of steps seems to be a safety hazard. With all of the new, fabulous buildings and construction on campus, why not concentrate on installing a device that makes climbing in and out of the Cypress College swimming pool safe and comfortable for everybody? At least, a set of stairs at our pool? Fact is, I am sure that everyone would appreciate it, even the experienced swimmers. During the Fullerton College Winter Intersession class, I noticed that even the members of the swim team used the steps instead of just pulling themselves out of the pool. Convenience is for everybody.
The extensive construction campus-wide is designed to improve access for all at Cypress College. But our swimming pool needs attention, too.
The Roosevelt Center (DSPS ) is located in the Cypress College Complex, first floor, near the Financial Aid office, in the middle of campus. Call (714) 484-7104 or TDD (714)761-0961. The Health Center is located in Gym-2, nearby the swimming pool. Call (714) 484-7361.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
DanaRose Crystal
posted 5/01/08 @ 1:17 PM PST
My apologies in regard the print version of this story; because unlike this version, it does not include the comments by the Director of the Roosevelt Center, which appears to have been due to using the first draft, instead of the revised version. (Continued…)
DanaRose Crystal
posted 5/01/08 @ 1:28 PM PST
RE:
Les Sie Crockrom, co-Advisor of ICC and Administrative Assistant of Student Affairs ( and one-time Cypress College student ).
I want to clarify that Les Sie is employed at Fullerton College, not at Cypress. (Continued…)
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