Disability rules to affect foreign cruises

A proposed set of regulations based on the Americans with Disabilities Act would affect all U.S. cruise ships and all foreign cruise ships at U.S. docks. The proposal is on hold pending public comment but the government should finalize it later this year. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that the federal government's proposed rules would ban discriminatory practices aboard such vessels and would likely force all cruise ships docked in U.S. ports to become more accessible to the handicapped. International Council of Cruise Lines exec Ted Thompson said the implications of the proposal would not fully be known until any new ship design guidelines are revealed. It is difficult to analyze the impact of these regulations until we know more regarding the content of the guidelines, Thompson said.

What about wheelchairs?

Rob Cunningham, director of the Office of Disability Services, said there weren't any laws that included handicapped regulations on college campuses.

Most buildings on campus aren't handicapped accessible because this institution was built before all universities were required to handicap accessibility, Cunnigham added.

"Most Greek houses on campus, just like other buildings on campus, do not have the ability [to be handicapped accessible] because the University was built before that was even required," Cunnigham said.

Confirming the problems with handicap inaccessibility is the Office of Greek Affairs.

"When the buildings were built in the late 1940s and 50s, there wasn't a great need for handicapped accessibility, and it wasn't a requirement for Universities to have this," said Tim Carney, associate director for Residence Life.

What about wheelchairs?

Rob Cunningham, director of the Office of Disability Services, said there weren't any laws that included handicapped regulations on college campuses.

Most buildings on campus aren't handicapped accessible because this institution was built before all universities were required to handicap accessibility, Cunnigham added.

"Most Greek houses on campus, just like other buildings on campus, do not have the ability [to be handicapped accessible] because the University was built before that was even required," Cunnigham said.

Confirming the problems with handicap inaccessibility is the Office of Greek Affairs.

"When the buildings were built in the late 1940s and 50s, there wasn't a great need for handicapped accessibility, and it wasn't a requirement for Universities to have this," said Tim Carney, associate director for Residence Life.

Speaker to explain why 'Walking is Overrated'

Motivational speaker Matt Glowacki of Sun Prairie begins his hundreds of presentations to 100,000 people every year by pointing out the obvious: He doesn't have any legs.

Yes, Glowacki, who was born healthy but without legs in Janesville in 1973, uses a wheelchair. But he's also an Olympic athlete, owns three successful businesses and has rubbed elbows with two presidents.

Glowacki will bring his popular presentation "Walking is Overrated" to Baraboo Monday, touring local schools to talk to children all day and giving a 7 p.m. interactive presentation at the middle school that is open to the public.

His accomplishments and no-nonsense, no-excuses attitude would be inspiring regardless of his physical characteristics. But Glowacki insists he's not an inspiration. His message, he said, is not one of "Yes You Can," but rather, "Don't be surprised when people who are living lives different from your own succeed."

"A lot of times people say, 'I'm glad to see you out' … They'll congratulate me for being alive, or they'll be amazed at the most basic things I can do," he said.