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Disability Statement

THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE IN LARGE PRINT AND ON TAPE. COPIES ARE OBTAINABLE FROM THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE, UNIVERSITY OF WALES, LAMPETER, SA48 7ED.

The University has a Student Support Officer, currently Ms. Victoria Wade, who can be contacted on 01570 424876, and who can amplify any of the information given in this document.

Introduction

1. The University has an equal opportunities policy, enshrined in the Students' Charter, which welcomes students from every section of the community regardless of background or circumstance. The number of students with disabilities, in particular specific learning difficulties, (dyslexia), admitted to the university is increasing, a trend which is expected to continue with the widening of community participation and the adoption of more inclusive policies. Enquiries about undergraduate and postgraduate courses should be made to the Admissions and Postgraduate Office.

The Environment

2. The University of Wales, Lampeter is situated in a small market town in West Wales. The campus is largely self-contained and is close to the heart of the town, to local shops and to facilities. Vehicular traffic levels within the campus are low. A small river dissects the campus forming a valley with gently sloping sides. Some buildings are therefore at different elevations though all are accessible by vehicle, wheelchair and on foot. Four academic departments are situated in properties off the main campus, though none is more than 200 yards from the campus perimeter. Owing to the small size of the University and its tradition of friendliness, it provides a safe and supportive environment for all. There is a purpose-built crèche offering excellent childcare facilities at subsidised rates.

Existing Provision

Student Support Office

3. The University has a designated member of staff, Victoria Wade the Student Support Officer, who offers advice and support to students with disabilities and maintains contact with local and national organisations including SKILL, the British Dyslexia Association, the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, the Royal National Institute for the Blind and Disability Wales, local health service professionals and social services. Students are encouraged to engage in an open and constructive dialogue to enable the Student Support Officer to identify and meet their learning needs. She arranges and co-ordinates a wide range of support for students, liaising closely with local authorities, internal support services, departments and individual staff within the University, to ensure that a network of support is in place.

4. The Student Support Service offers the following:

• Confidential assessment interview.
• Screening and arrangements for the professional assessment of dyslexia.
• Post-assessment advice and discussion about learning requirements.
• Advice and assistance with applications for the Disabled Students' Allowance
• Arrangement of appropriate individual counselling and learning support.
• Referral to other support agencies both internal and external.
• Group study sessions for disabled students and their learning support.
• Regular contact with the student's learning support tutor to monitor progress.
• Liaising with student's department when requested.
• Arranging examination provisions
• Study skill support which is available at five locations across the campus.

Technology for the Disabled

5. The Media Centre holds equipment for use by students with sensory impairments, and provides information on access to appropriate technology. The equipment includes specialised tape recorders for blind people, and portable induction receivers for hearing-impaired people. The TV studio, subtitling suite and video-conferencing room in the Media Building are all accessible by wheelchair users.

Libraries

6. All levels of the Main Library are accessible to wheelchair users. Counter staff are trained to give assistance to students in getting books from high bookstack levels. Library staff offer a range of support to students identified as having special needs by their Library Card. The Founders' Library in the St. David's Building is a research library with a unique collection of early printed books and manuscripts. There is no wheelchair access to the Founders' Library, but, if you wish to consult material from it, arrangements will be made for it to be taken to the Main Library for your use. A suite of computer terminals connected to the LAN and the Internet, and for reading material on CD ROM, is integrated into the Main Library. Specialist equipment is available in both libraries to assist visually impaired and dyslexic students in accessing all texts.

IT Provision

7. The Academic Computing Service provides workstation rooms, all accessible to wheelchair users, which are currently open daily during term from 8.00 a.m. to 11.45 p.m. Software is in place to provide large print text on computer monitors and on printed output. A number of individual workstations have been specially adapted to accommodate wheelchairs more easily. Some departments have their own computer rooms linked to the Lampeter Local Area Network, and, through that, to JANET.

Welfare and Counselling Services

8. The Students' Union has a well developed welfare service, headed by the Deputy President (otherwise known as the Welfare Officer), who oversees the welfare services which are offered to students at Lampeter. It also provides a starting point of contact for students if they have a worry or concern about accessibility of facilities, academic issues, accommodation, finance or any aspect of their lives. The welfare services available in the University include three fully trained and experienced counsellors, the Student Support Officer, a student health service, and the Night-Time confidential listening service (run by trained student volunteers). The Employability Unit subscribes to the National Bureau for Students with Disabilities and maintains specific and appropriate information, including relevant current vacancy details, for the use of students with disabilities.

The Campus

9. The campus is well suited to students with disabilities. It is compact and students never have to travel more than a few hundred yards between buildings and facilities. All academic services are accessible by wheelchair users. While some academic departments are housed in two or three-storey buildings without lifts, all departments have some teaching accommodation which is wheelchair accessible, or will arrange ground floor facilities for wheelchair users. The original building of the University (called the St. David's Building) dates from the 1820s and is listed Grade II. This means that there are restrictions on the adaptations and alterations that can be made to it. As a result some of the services in that building are not easily accessible. Staff in these areas will see wheelchair users at ground floor venues. An information point on the ground floor handles enquiries.

10. Recent campus developments have included the installation of a link road and wheelchair ramp between the two main levels of the campus, thus shortening considerably wheelchair routes between key points.

11. Disabled toilets are located in all key areas.

12. Induction loops for the hearing-impaired have been installed in a selection of teaching rooms of different sizes, including the Cliff Tucker Theatre. If you are hearing-impaired your department will timetable classes with your needs in mind.

13. New developments in student accommodation now provide self-catering and en-suite facilities designed to meet the needs of disabled students. Further information is available from the Accommodation Officer about any specific requirements.

14. Car parks for student use and for visitors have designated spaces for disabled users.

15. All the facilities of the Students' Union are accessible by wheelchair. The Union Building, Ty Ceredig, is on two floors, with access to the upper floor by means of an external bridge.

16. The Sports Hall and Multigym are accessible by wheelchair with male and female changing and disabled toilet facilities.

Other Services

17. All students are encouraged to register with the local medical practice, whose Surgery directly adjoins the campus. The University works closely with the practice and supports a nurse with specific responsibility for students within the practice. The nearest general hospitals are at Carmarthen (22 miles) and Aberystwyth (26 miles).

18. There are railway stations at Carmarthen and Aberystwyth, with local bus services connecting to Lampeter. There is a through coach service to Cardiff and Swansea. A local taxi company provides transport for wheelchair users.

Policies and Procedures

19. The University has policy and procedure documents covering the following matters insofar as they relate to students with disabilities:

• Equal Opportunities: the University endeavours to develop and maintain a high level of inclusive provision which gives disabled students an equal opportunity to pursue their chosen course of study and, with appropriate support, to succeed in reaching their full academic potential.

• Admissions: the University welcomes applications from potential students with disabilities. Procedures are in place for the processing of such applications and applicants are encouraged to visit the campus in order to view its facilities and to discuss requirements. Admissions staff work closely with the Accommodation Office and Student Support Officer to ensure that needs are addressed and catered for in advance of and on arrival.

• Examinations and assessment: arrangements are made to provide appropriate methods of assessment and to ensure that examination facilities are appropriate to the needs of individuals with disabilities. A code of practice for the assessment of students with special needs, including dyslexia, is in place.

• Complaints, grievances and appeals procedures: The University Council has approved procedures for handling complaints from all students.

• Monitoring and evaluation of support services: this is done through the University Management Group, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor.

• Staff Development and training: to ensure compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act Part IV, all staff will be given an opportunity to participate in disability legislation awareness training. This will also be provided as part of an induction programme for all new staff.

• Access to and availability of non-medical helpers: the Student Welfare organisation provides non-medical support at all times.

We can send you on request full documentation about the above policies and procedures in printed and audio tape formats.

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