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OLD Sep22 Accessibility and inclusivity: Cambridge libraries toolkit

Accessibility and inclusivity: Cambridge libraries toolkit

The Disability Resource Centre

The Disability Resource Centre (DRC) provides a confidential and accessible service for disabled students and those staff supporting them.

The objectives of the DRC are to:

  • Provide advice & guidance for prospective & current disabled students to enable them to access a wide range of services, and to identify and remove barriers to equitable learning opportunities
  • Develop & implement support programmes for disabled students to ensure equal opportunity, access, & attainment allowing disabled students to achieve to the best of their abilities
  • Provide advice, guidance, and training for University and College staff in meeting the institution's duties to disabled students within the context of disability equality legislation
  • Developing and communicating policy, processes and guidance in relation to disabled students, accessibility, inclusive teaching and learning and universal design for learning

The DRC supports current and prospective disabled students, including those with:

  • Specific learning difficulties (including dyslexia, dyspraxia)
  • Physical/mobility impairments (including people who are wheelchair users, Upper Limb Disorder - also known as RSI)
  • Sensory impairments (including hearing loss, visual impairment)
  • Mental health conditions (including depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder)
  • Long-standing illnesses/health conditions (including cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV, diabetes, epilepsy)
  • Asperger syndrome and autism

When to refer - advice from the University of Cambridge

The following text is taken from the University of Cambridge 'When to refer' report, produced 2017/18. The report was contributed to by the University of Cambridge Disability Resource Centre (DRC) and the DRC recommend this guidance when considering aspects of working with disabled people.

If a current student needs disability-related advice or support:

  • Direct them to the Disability Resource Centre to speak to a Disability Adviser, who can arrange/provide
    • information and advice on disability issues
    • guidance on screening and diagnostic assessments
    • assistance with funding applications
    • the loan of specialist equipment
    • human support (e.g. student skills, mentoring, note-taking) through the non-medical help (NMH) scheme
    • liaison with the student’s College and Department via the College’s Disability Liaison Officer
    • Examination access arrangement advice

If you would like advice about teaching a disabled student:

  • Visit the Disability Resource Centre dedicated webpages:
  • The DRC can also arrange to come to University Departments to talk with staff about supporting and teaching disabled students.
  • The Head of the DRC, the DRC’s Disability Development Consultant and Disability Advisers are happy to advise members of academic and support staff on matters related to teaching disabled students. Email disability@ admin.cam.ac.uk or Phone 01223 332301 and your enquiry will be directed to the most appropriate person.

If you would like to explore training opportunities available in supporting disabled students:

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