Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, March 9, 1992                   TAG: 9203090171
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MICHELLE RILEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

NEW FACILITIES WILL LET DISABLED JOIN 4-H FUN

Now a seventh-grader, she had expressed interest in going to camp at the Smith Mountain Lake 4-H Educational Center with a group from Alleghany County, where she lives.

But Uzzell, who has spina bifida, dropped the idea when she learned that the camp was not able to accommodate her wheelchair, and chose instead to go to Camp Easter Seal in New Castle.

"She never really talked to me about it," Christy Uzzell, Amber's mother, said. "She's one of those kids who knows that if she can't, she can't."

-Amber was like others who wanted to go to the Smith Mountain Lake camp but couldn't because of a disability, said Ted Carroll, director of development.

"People know that we can't handle wheelchairs and walkers, so they don't even apply," Carroll said.

But beginning this summer, that will change. The Smith Mountain Lake facility will be able to accommodate people with disabilities in a new barrier-free lodge and conference center. The buildings were designed to

meet wheelchair-accessibility requirements. The facility has a wheelchair ramp and extra-wide doors. And each of the 19 rooms has its own bathroom with seats and bars in the showers.

Although the building itself will accommodate people with physical disabilities, Carroll said the camp wants to make programs for people with any disability.

"We want to break down physical barriers and psychological barriers," Carroll said. "We want to not emphasize the disability but to emphasize the many abilities they do have."

The new facilities cost $800,000. So far the camp has raised $461,000 through donations from individuals, businesses, foundations and 4-H clubs. And the camp is applying to a national foundation to get money for programs, Carroll said.

The camp also will have to make other physical changes. It needs to add a lift in the swimming pool and widen nature trails to handle wheelchairs and walkers.

But even with the new and modified facilities, the camp still has a lot of work to do adjusting its summer-camp programs for disabled children.

There are camps for disabled children, like Camp Easter Seal, but the 4-H camp wants disabled campers to be a part of regular camp activities with other children.

"We're still in a visionary process," Carroll said. "It may take a couple of years to get it down."

And, Carroll said, they will probably find other barriers once they start the new programs.

"A lot of it's going to be trial and error," he said.

When not in use by disabled groups, the facility will be available to businesses and church groups for meetings and conferences.

Disabled-advocacy groups are pleased with the potential that the new lodge and conference center brings to the 4-H center.

"Any type of barrier-free facility that would allow children to attend programs is a really wonderful opportunity," said Karen Michalski, director of the Center for Independence of the Disabled.

"I'm thrilled that we are getting this facility. . . . It's a beautiful place and I think it's great that all kind of children will be able to go there," said Ginger Lilly, a 4-H leader who also is an aide for special education in Alleghany County schools.

Christy Uzzell said the camp would suit Amber's love of activity. "She always likes to go camping. . . . But a lot of these kids get left out of these things," she said.

"It just makes things so much nicer for them to be able to be involved."

Staff writer David M. Poole contributed to this story.