General Access Information

(website: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/disabilities)

Provides advice and consultative support to Loughborough University's services on disability and mental health-related issues.

Provides pre-enrolment and/or ongoing support for students.

Assesses student support needs for the Disabled Student's Allowance.

Contributes to co-ordinated approaches for meeting student need, in conjunction with other departments and through liaison with external services.

Identifies appropriate reasonable adjustments which the University can make to accommodate a student's individual needs.

Contributes to the development of University policies, procedures and services in response to student needs.

Offers training – a range of topics is usually available and these are shown in the Staff Development guide.

Please contact DANS if you have a particular training request.

Offers informal advice - please feel free to contact us:

Telephone: 01509 222770 Fax: 01509 223933     Email: DANS@lboro.ac.uk

Facilities Management (formerly Estates Services) undertook an audit of all the academic buildings in 1998 as part of the requirement of the Disability Discrimination Act, (DDA) . An access audit is a study of a building and its surroundings to determine its accessibility for use by people with physical disabilities. Our guide for what is appropriate is currently the Building Regulations and BS 8300:2001 "Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people".

The audit is used to establish the extent of the works required to achieve compliance, individual tasks are given an estimated price and priority rating. Where a requirement cannot be met on grounds of excessive cost or extreme physical limitations this is also recorded in the audit.

To date HEFCE has made allocations of approximately £2,000,000 to the university to undertake works identified in the audit. Several large schemes installing new lifts, upgrading lifts and installing new "accessible" toilets have already taken place. Over the next 14 months many more schemes have been planned, these are generally improving entrances, automating doors, improving signage and installing more accessible toilets.

Each department will be contacted by David Lennon, the surveyor appointed specifically to deal with DDA schemes, to discuss proposals and agree timetables. It is our intention to undertake the works given the highest priority rating in the audit.

If specific requirements are needed for any individual Facilities Management will, where possible carry out alterations, where funds permit.

If you require further information please contact:

David Clews Telephone: 01509 222120 E mail: D.Clews@lboro.ac.uk

David Lennon Telephone. 01509 228077 E Mail: D.A.Lennon@lboro.ac.uk

Fax: Building Maintenance 01509 223924

Access to Work

This is a Government designed scheme that provides practical help to overcome the barriers that disabled* people experience in the workplace. You may not define yourself as disabled, however, if you have an impairment that restricts your ability to carry out your job then you may wish to consider this scheme.

The Government will either pay for or make a substantial grant towards the costs of additional support needed as a result of disability.

At recruitment applicants are asked to identify if they have any access needs. The Occupational Therapist will contact direct to ensure that such needs can be met and may advise the use of the Access to Work Scheme.

Disability Staff Group

The remit for this groups is to comment and be consulted on the policies and practises of the University, which is in keeping with the disability Discrimination Act and good practice. 

Members of this group are currently working closely with Facilities Management to prioritise work being carried out on their "Access Audit".

Recruitment Process

All applicants are asked if they have any access needs which need to be taken into account for interview. Members of recruitment panels are also asked about their needs. Interviews are arranged and adjustments are made if appropriate and wherever possible.

Two Tick Disability Symbol

The University has been awarded the Two Tick Disability Symbol. This means that we have made commitments to disabled people. This includes the recruitment process.

1. Guarantee disabled candidates who meet essential criteria an interview.
2. Ensure disabled employees have opportunity each year to discuss how they can use and develop their skills.
3. Make every effort to retain employees who become disabled.
4. Ensure all employees develop an appropriate level of disability awareness
5. Review the commitments yearly

Training is provided for all those who are involved in recruiting and retaining staff.

40 Minute Focus

Compiled and presented in consultation with DANS a number of lunch time sessions have been offered which look at issues affecting disabled staff and students. For example a practical session on accessible computer programmes and how to operate the hearing loop in a lecture theatre, plus awareness raising of the medical and social models of disability

For more information about the 40 Minute Focus sessions contact Staff development details below.

For more information about Equality and Diversity please contact you HR Adviser or: Abida Akram, Staff Development Adviser, Equality and Diversity.  Telephone: 01509 222389,  E Mail: A.P.Akram@lboro.ac.uk

Staff Development, usually in collaboration with DANS, has been involved in a number of projects in this area.

See http://www.ltsneng.ac.uk/downloads/disability_Guide_web.pdf
for a Guide to Working with Students with Disabilities from the Engineering Subject Centre. This contains valuable guidance for any member of staff.

Disabilities: Academic Resource Tool - http://dart.lboro.ac.uk/ for information about this HEFCE-funded project. This contains case studies of particular interest.

We also run a session on Equality in the Curriculum and include dyslexia in core sessions on learning and teaching.

We're always happy to talk to individuals and departments about learning and teaching issues relating to any aspect of diversity, including disability.

The University offers a course "Respecting Diversity" for all members of staff. This covers the main areas of discrimination currently covered by legislation.

For more information about training please contact Staff Development Telephone 01509 222381   Fax: 01509 223992    Website: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/service/pd/