ADA Coordinator's Office Ensures Equal Opportunity

"We encourage people to rethink 'accessible' as a customer-oriented culture," says Mike Galifianakis, State ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Coordinator. Mike's team, part of the Georgia State Financing & Investment Commission, helps state agencies make their programs, services and activities accessible and usable by everyone.

The team recently helped a state university improve access for a student who is quadriplegic and uses a wheelchair. Whenever the student attempted to take an elevator to his classroom, the elevator would arrive already packed with students so he could not get on and was late to class.

Senior ADA Architect Tim Bromley advised the administration to begin a dialogue with students with disabilities to identify positive solutions and spread awareness. Tim also advised putting up signage asking people to make room on the elevator for persons with disabilities and personal mobility devices.

"A few weeks later, we received an email from the student stating that as a result of the conversations with the administration and the signage, other students were consistently making room or exiting the elevator so that he could get on and get to class in time," said Tim.