Disability Equality Scheme 2010: Progress Report
Trinity Term 2010
Introduction
Since the College endorsed its Disability Equality Scheme and Action Plan for 2009-2012, the following progress has been made against the priorities identified for action:
Recruitment related activity
Plan Priorities:
- Ensure all advertisements for College Fellowships or posts refer to the College’s Equality Policy and, in the case of advertised posts, its readiness to accommodate disabled employees;
All advertisements for staff posts have emphasised the College’s readiness to consider applications from disabled applicants while also making clear any specific physical requirements of the posts.
- Invite all future applicants for College Fellowships or staff appointments to complete, on a voluntary and confidential basis, an equality monitoring form;
All posts and Fellowships advertised by the College have invited applicants to complete an Equality Monitoring form. Results will be reflected in the Equality Monitoring report.
- Conduct three-yearly surveys of all Fellows and staff to ensure that the College has reasonably reliable data on the current incidence and types of disability;
- Encourage incoming Fellows and staff to identify any special health or disability related needs or requirements.
New Fellows and staff are being encouraged informally to identify any special health or disability related needs or requirements to the Manciple or Domestic Bursar.
Disability Awareness
- Arrange Disability Awareness training for staff and encourage all Fellows to attend; ensure all Fellows and staff are aware of the arrangements put in place to support disabled Fellows or visitors to the College.
Twenty-three staff and two Fellows attended a Disability Awareness training session in October 2009.
Improving Access for People with Disability
Plan Priority:
- Use the College’s new website to advertise the access arrangements and provision for disabled visitors and encouraging them and any Fellows hosting disabled visitors as guests or at lectures and seminars to notify the College in advance so that appropriate arrangements can be made for re-location of function if necessary and to provide any necessary assistance.
The new website includes full details of arrangements to facilitate access for people with disabilities. See Visiting the College.
Fellows booking rooms for events or seminars are asked to identify any participants who may have difficulty with access in order that arrangements can be made to assist them. Some requests have been received and actioned.
Plan Priority:
- Carry out improvements to the disabled lavatory to improve its accessibility to a wheelchair user.
A push button controlled sliding door* has recently been installed to facilitate wheelchair access. Some users find it confusing and it is consequently frequently out of order. Clearer instructions will be put in place.
Plan Priorities:
- Acquire an additional portable ramp;
An additional portable ramp has been ordered.
- Install wheelchair accessible doorbell to main (High Street) entrance
A wheelchair accessible doorbell* has been installed.
Plan Priority
- Improve some signage within College
This has not yet been actioned.
- Ensure documents posted on the web page for on-line reading, rather than downloading, are in suitable sans serif typeface.
The new website design is based on a sans serif typeface.
- Maintain contingency plans for the provision of suitable sleeping accommodation of incoming Fellow or visitor with disability related needs.
Contingency plans are in place but have not been activated this year. However, as part of a larger scheme currently under consideration to refurbish and enlarge Staircase X, it is proposed to install a ramp to facilitate wheelchair access to the building and a bathroom for use by a disabled Fellow so that a suitable study or residential set could be made available in College if required.
- Improve the effectiveness of the induction loop system in the Wharton Room and implement agreed measures for the provision of suitable facilities for those using hearing aids and the hard of hearing in other areas of the College, namely the Lodge and Hall, in the first instance.
The induction loop system in the Wharton Room was tested and found to be operating effectively. An induction loop system has been installed in the Lodge, Chapel, and Hall, where microphones are now used in College meetings. It is now also planned to install an induction loop system in the Old Library as part of a project to upgrade its audio visual facilities.
S.A.B.
Domestic Bursar
14:v:10*Listed building consent was required