By Michelle Costa

Idaho State University is trying to raise awareness of people with disabilities. They're sponsoring a disability awareness week.

At ISU's ADA & Disabilities Resource Center, there are many services offered for individuals with disabilities. Members of the Center say within the last ten years, more technologies have become available.

"My computer talks to me," said Todd DeVreis, ADA & Disabilities Resource Center.

The Center uses a scanner to replace school books with plastic bindings. This makes it easier to someone with a learning disability to pull the book completely flat.

"Now, to be able to go to Barnes & Noble or a bookstore and buy a book and scan it and be reading in twenty minutes is an absolutely awesome experience," said Todd Devreis, ADA & Disabilities Resource Center.

He said last year, they scanned 18,000 pages. Imagine that stacked up! They also use a Braille printer. All you have to do is type in what you'll like on your computer, which is then converted to Braille and you print it out.

Monday was the first day of their disability awareness week. Unfortunately, their slogan: "I'm aware .. Are you?" didn't hold true. The seats remained empty Monday afternoon. A very discouraging feeling for these members.

"It's not the physical barriers, but the attitudinal barriers so if people open up their minds and their hearts a little bit and see the people with disabilities as equals and worthy of the same pursuits that they themselves have, it would make a lot of difference," said Dennis Toney, Director of ADA & Disabilities Resource Center.

"A disability can happen at any moment and your life can change in the blink of an eye. And once people realize that that's something that can happen to them, they're usually a little more understanding and a little more open-minded," said Tracy Martin, Guest Speaker.

Martin said barriers are everywhere.

"It can come from a step, to a doorway, to someone not speaking loud enough or the right things that someone doesn't understand," said Martin.

She said Pocatello is doing a good job at making her life a little easier, especially with the bus system.

"It's a door to door service where when the snow's piling up, if someone doesn't shovel that part of the sidewalk, that's as far as I'm going."

Martin said the biggest problem for her is the push buttons. She said it's impossible to open the doors by herself and perhaps the City should look into an easier system.

The Center said majority of the people using their center have learning disabilities. But, they can help anyone. Awareness week runs through Friday. For more information, contact the center at 282-3599.