May 2, 1994


The Honorable Harold L. Volkmer
Room 370
Federal Building
Hannibal,  MO  63401

Dear Congressman Volkmer:

Like everyone else, we need your help!  Help in this case is with the 
ADA and the Justice Department.

We have asked the Great Plains Disability and Business Technical 
Assistance Center at the University of Missouri to review the needs of 
Missouri Military Academy in light of the ADA and our interest in 
building a new barracks for our cadets. 

M.M.A. does not accept cadets who cannot participate in military drill 
and does not have to meet the ADA guidelines for complete accessibility 
in our dormitories. If the ADA says that we have to accept children who 
are in wheelchairs and cannot perform military drill, it will destroy 
one of the pillars upon which the Academy was founded. We see military 
drill as critical to our disciplinary system and to the development of 
esprit de corps, and thus, M.M.A. is exempt from accepting children who 
cannot participate.

Given the above, why should we be forced to install a very expensive 
elevator in our new barracks, when the elevator will not be used?  When 
boys are hurt and must temporarily be on crutches, we move them, to the 
first floor of the dormitories for ease of accessibility. A boy with a 
handicapped parent would be housed on the first floor in any case.

What we need at this point is someone from the Department of Justice to 
rule that we do not need to construct an elevator in our new dorm 
because of our special status. Architects and contractors are afraid to 
act, for fear of law suits in the future. The Board of Trustees is 
willing to place in writing the fact that elevators will be installed 
in the future, should the mission of the school change.

Will it be possible to get the Justice Department on this as soon as 
possible? I will be willing to meet with them on our campus or in 
Washington, D.C., if needed, to resolve the issue quickly.













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The Honorable Harold L. Volkmer 
May 2, 1994


Thank you in advance for any assistance you may offer. I know how much 
of a favor this is and appreciate your help.

                               Sincerely,




                             Ronald J. Kelly
                               President



RJK:b1r




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