ADA, OK -- Is it a case of discrimination? A handicapped student at East Central University in Ada is being told he's a threat and can no longer live on campus. For the past few years this man has been living with his mother, but that is no longer an option. So he moved into the dorms on the ECU campus only to be told he can't stay there either.
When you step into Joshua Jackson's dorm room you'll find the usual student stuff like a TV, laptop computer, and books; he's studying criminal justice.
You'll also find a hospital bed; that's because Joshua ended up in a wheelchair after a car accident.
The 35-year-old junior is now facing another setback.
He's been told he must move out of the dorms by December 12th. Jackson says, "I can't transfer myself in or out of bed so they have deemed me a threat to myself or others."
If there was an emergency, like a fire, while Joshua was not in his wheelchair, he would need help evacuating.
Diane Berty, Vice President of student development at ECU says, "Our concern is the safety of the student and helping he or she to be successful in this environment."
Berty wouldn't talk about Joshua's case, but told us students like him are allowed to stay in the dorms if they have help.
She says, "Our students can choose to live in the residence halls, or they can choose to commute."
But without assistance, Joshua says he can't do either. He says he can't afford to both hire an aide and pay to go to school.
Jackson says, "I don't want preferential treatment, but I want to be just like every other student. It's been very discouraging. I get pretty angry about it."
Joshua wants the policies changed at East Central.
He says he doesn't feel like he's in any more danger than any other student would be in an emergency situation.
If he can't stay on campus, he says it would be the end of his college career because he does not have transportation.
When you step into Joshua Jackson's dorm room you'll find the usual student stuff like a TV, laptop computer, and books; he's studying criminal justice.
You'll also find a hospital bed; that's because Joshua ended up in a wheelchair after a car accident.
The 35-year-old junior is now facing another setback.
He's been told he must move out of the dorms by December 12th. Jackson says, "I can't transfer myself in or out of bed so they have deemed me a threat to myself or others."
If there was an emergency, like a fire, while Joshua was not in his wheelchair, he would need help evacuating.
Diane Berty, Vice President of student development at ECU says, "Our concern is the safety of the student and helping he or she to be successful in this environment."
Berty wouldn't talk about Joshua's case, but told us students like him are allowed to stay in the dorms if they have help.
She says, "Our students can choose to live in the residence halls, or they can choose to commute."
But without assistance, Joshua says he can't do either. He says he can't afford to both hire an aide and pay to go to school.
Jackson says, "I don't want preferential treatment, but I want to be just like every other student. It's been very discouraging. I get pretty angry about it."
Joshua wants the policies changed at East Central.
He says he doesn't feel like he's in any more danger than any other student would be in an emergency situation.
If he can't stay on campus, he says it would be the end of his college career because he does not have transportation.
