Insurance drives CVTC budget

Updated: 6/19/2007 Leader Telegram:

By Keighla Schmidt Leader-Telegram staff

Chippewa Valley Technical College officials are changing their nationally recognized disability services program to be more cost effective, but that move could come with a different kind of cost.

CVTC President Bill Ihlenfeldt said three disability services instructors will be moved from the program and be placed as instructors in general education classes.

There are five instructors and a clerical assistant in the disability services department. One new person will be hired to work as a manager for disability services.

The change would mean students with disabilities no longer would be segregated from other students.

Services previously provided in a separate center would be integrated.

"It will change," Ihlenfeldt said of the disabilities services. "I have no reason to believe a student wouldn't get services they want."

Disability services personnel help students by reading tests, recording books on tape, helping people in wheelchairs and providing special computer software for people who have vision problems.

CVTC serves 224 students identified as requiring disability services. Joe Hegge, vice president of education, said 62 students used the lab in 2006-07.

A CVTC instructor who asked to remain anonymous said 263 disabled students already are mainstreamed, going to the same classes as other students and only to the service lab in their off time.

The instructor said the disability center's role is to prepare those students for the "real world."

Tina Oleson uses the disability services offered at the college and worries that fewer instructors will hamper learning opportunities for herself and those like her.

"I have many obstacles to overcome and now am at a loss to where my future will lead," Oleson said.

Ihlenfeldt said all students must eventually go into the workforce and be equipped to handle situations. Mainstreaming those students will improve their chances of future success, he said.

"If they can't, then I question what our role should be," he said.

Oleson said she sometimes had trouble scheduling the help she needed before, and assistance will be harder to come by with fewer disability service teachers.

In a written statement, Oleson said those instructors "struggle to meet the needs of so many special people and still have the heart to go that extra mile to encourage the overcoming stigmas."

She said many students have planned their college careers based on receiving disability services. Now she is unsure how fewer people will accommodate those needing extra assistance.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," she said.

I guess, Dr. Ihlenfeldts heart is as big as the Grinch, at least for those who are disadvantaged. What next?

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