The daily collegian., April 23, 1981, Image 11

20—‘The Daily Collegian Thursday, April 23, 1981
Awareness Day:
Handicapped: victims of 'rip-off,'
objects of 'money-making' system
Handicapped people are victims of the in electronics, became interested in the
health care industry, a University stu- plight of the handicapped after his
dent who has designed pinball machines younger brother was paralized from the
for the disabled said yesterday. neck down in a car accident five years
“The handicapped are being ripped- With the help of others, he designed
off,” Gary Marince (13th-speech com- and built a control box to enable his
munication) said. “The handicapped brother to use the telephone, television,
industry is very much a money-making lights and other household items inde
business. For years they conditioned us pendently. The box utilizes integrated
that it is hopeless, then they decided they circuitry and is controlled by two whistle
might as well make money off it.” tones.
'The handicapped are being ripped-off. The
handicapped industry is very much a money
making business. For years they conditioned us
that it is hopeless , then they decided they might as
well make money off it.'
Gary Marince (13th-speech communication)
Marince also said funds for the hand- He said there is nothing like that on the
icapped are misguided. Instead of market today.
spending money modifying bathrooms “ We built things that are far supe rior
or making curb cuts, jt should be spent for an eighth the cost of commercial
searching for a cure for spinal cord equipment,” he said.
‘"“The whole‘ < system is inefficient. I
s, ro „g,y promote cure, not caro By LuET
directing funds to the approp la veloped a pinball machine that is oper
search organizations, we could have this *v“ j , .
problem licked in three years.” ated P uffs of a,r '
Marince, who has an associate degree
mum
iversity Concert Committee presents:
fe v,i-q
Illustration by Scolt Smith
by Ron Waters
Ticket applications will be accepted at HUB desk from,
Any remaining tickets will go on sale beginning
By RON WATERS
Daily Collegian Staff Writer
Students were given the opportunity to view the
world from a wheelchair yesterday as part of Disability
Awareness Day, a program designed to change people’s
feelings toward the physically disabled.
Of the students who tried doing everyday activities
with simulated handicaps, several said they were
“looked at funny” which is one of the reasons the
Association for Barrier-Free Living Environment and
Design presented the program.
“We just want to be treated normal,” said Donna
Duffolla (12th-special education). “You are on stage
and you have no idea what to do. You want to be
accepted, not to feel that you are an outcast just
because you are handicapped.”
Bill Beck (graduate-rehabilitation counseling) exits his van by way of a wheelchair lift, an example of a modern convenience for the handicapped,
9 a.m. to 4p.m. on April 14, 15,16
April 21 from 9a.m. to 4p.m. at HUB desk
world from wheelchair
ABLED treasurer Bill Beck said the disabled want
to be treated as people.
“We are individuals and want the same basic rights
that everyone else gets,” he said.
“We want the right to get a job if qualified, the right
to be independent, the right to get married and have a
family. We don’t find hatred against us as other
minorities might find, but sometimes well-meaning
people kill us with kindness. They want to take care of
us, when we want to take care of ourselves.”
Beck said 18 volunteers composed of students and
administrators participated in a day-long exercise to
find the best way of improving people’s awareness of
the problems the handicapped face.
One-half of the group simulated disabilities while
they did their daily activities and the other half acted as
observers.
April 26,1981 800 p.m.
Tickets:
Ticket applications now available at HUB desk
TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE !!!
$6.00
ALL SEATS RESERVED!
Joe Paterno, director of intercollegiate athletics,
also participated in the program, upsetting Bill Beck on
a specially equipped pinball machine. The flippers were
controlled by breath and Paterno used a wheel chair.*'
However, he was defeated 3,950 to 200 in a video
game against quadraplegic Roland Rodgers of State
College.
“I had bad luck, that’s my story,” Paterno said of
his loss.
Jeff Watson, adviser for ABLED said about 150
people witnessed the demonstrations of the specially^
equipped games.
•“If they left with any kind of feeling of what is going
on, then it was successful. We’re not trying to change
the attitudes of all of Penn State all at once —we’re
looking for a chain effect,” he said.
Recreation Hall
Limit: 4/student ID