Disability Resource Centre (DRC)

Jesus College

Contact Details

Address

Jesus Lane,
Cambridge, CB5 8BL

Tel.

01223 339 339

Fax

01223 339 313

Web

www.jesus.cam.ac.uk

Access Issues

Contact

Senior Tutor

Tel.

01223 339 468

Fax

01223 339 313

Email

senior-tutor@jesus.cam.ac.uk

Location, Services and Transport

Location

A five minute walk to the city centre. 15 minutes to the Downing Site and New Museums Site. 20 minutes to the Sidgwick Site and University Library. Close to Grafton Centre, Jesus Green and Midsummer Common.

Traffic

Jesus Lane has traffic in both directions, but is rarely very busy. Victoria Avenue is busy with traffic, but there are two safe crossing points onto Midsummer Common. Pavements are rather uneven, and there are few dropped kerbs.

Services and shops

City centre. Several cafes and small shops on nearby King Street.

Parking

Car park on site with two disabled bays. Entry via Victoria Avenue with intercom for assistance. Student car park with disabled bay in nearby Park Street. Disabled students could obtain a permit.

Other transport options

No bus stops on Jesus Lane. The central bus station is a five minute walk away.

General Information

480 undergraduates and 265 postgraduates. For men and women. An old College, with many listed buildings. Regular access for students or staff with disabilities would be fairly difficult. However, do discuss any needs well in advance as adaptations can often be made. A proximity card security system operates around the College.

Smoking

No smoking permitted in any College buildings.

Medical facilities

Nurse holds a weekday surgery during full term (Tel. 01223 339450). Level access to sick bay.

Emergency procedures

Advise porters' lodge if you will need help evacuating in an emergency. No evacuation chairs or other evacuation facilities.

Accommodation and Catering

Wheelchair-accessible rooms

Four newly built wheelchair-accessible rooms in North Court with en suite shower room. Lift to all floors of North Court. Two ground floor accessible rooms in Library Court.

Other rooms

All rooms in North Court are en suite and accessible by lift. Adaptations can be made as necessary.

Live-in assistants and assistance dogs

Live-in assistants and dogs a possibility, but please discuss well in advance.

Early induction and vacation stays

Early induction possible, on arrangement. Staying over vacation also possible, but you may be asked to move rooms.

Catering arrangements

Cafeteria serves three meals daily in hall. One formal hall a week. Self-catering would be possible in North Court — one kitchen is currently adapted. Catering charge payable unless there is a medical reason.

Special diets

Most special diets can be catered for, including kosher with advance notice. Speak to the catering manager. Kosher kitchen in one staircase.

Physical Access

College grounds in general

Two worn steps down to main gate. Level access with proximity card through side entrance or Victoria Avenue car entrance. College based around several courts, with fairly uneven slabbed paths. Most areas accessible, and all cobbles avoidable.

College buildings in general

Many buildings are up or down a step, and have steep, winding staircases. Not all stairs or steps have handrails. Doors are often double doors, with one bolted shut from inside. Access to main areas is usually possible, but difficult for regular users.

Bar

Ground level via ramp with handrail, through heavy doors. Newly refurbished. Level and sloping, with low seating and tables. Disabled toilet outside.

Cafeteria

Cafeteria opposite hall, up flight of stairs with handrails. Stairclimber available, but arrange in advance. Sufficient space inside.

Chapel

Easiest entrance has two steps down. Ramp available, but arrange in advance. Spacious, with moveable seating. More steps to screen and choir area.

College offices

Tutorial office, and most other College offices, up steep sets of stairs. Staff will meet elsewhere on arrangement.

Common rooms

JCR/TV room up and down a step. Rather small, with low sofas. MCR at ground level.

Computer facilities

Computer room off library, through wide door. Proximity card access. All rooms networked.

Dining hall

Up flight of stairs, with handrails most of the way. Stairclimber available, but arrange in advance. Smooth and spacious inside, with low moveable chairs and long tables. Regular toilets up several more stairs.

Fellows' areas

SCR and Fellows' dining room both up stairs, with handrails. Stairclimber available, but arrange in advance. One step up to high table from hall.

Gardens

Level, occasionally uneven, paths and lawn around site. A few benches. Jesus Green, Midsummer Common, and the river Cam are nearby.

Laundry

Laundry in basement of North Court, accessible by lift, through heavy doors.

Library

Ground level entrance with proximity card, through two sets of heavy manual doors. Over three floors, with lift to all floors. Plenty of shelf and workspace. Disabled toilet on first floor.

Porters' lodge and post room

Level access from Court, or ramp down from main entrance. Unmarked high bell for assistance outside entrance. Mail room in JCR, up and then down a step, but porters can keep post at lodge on arrangement.

Sport facilities

Ground level gym. Sports fields on site. Pavilion recently refurbished, with disabled toilet and accessible changing rooms.

Toilets

Disabled toilets outside bar, on first floor of library, and in sports pavilion.

Other

• Party room and music room above bar, accessible via new platform lift. Level, smooth and spacious inside, with moveable furniture.
• Alcock room and other meeting rooms are up stairs, with no access.
• Upper hall up flight of stairs from hall. Stairclimber available and can climb up fire escape, but arrange in advance.

Visual Impairments

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs welcome.

Computer facilities

Special hardware or software for visually impaired users could be acquired if necessary.

Large print, Braille and audio

Large print letters and information on request. Touch-readable and Braille buttons in library lift. Audio information in North Court lift.

Library and magnification equipment

Good lighting generally. Catalogue markings and other signs are small and hard to read. Photocopier available for text enlargement.

Signs and wayfinding

Little directional signposting. The site is large and fairly complex, so can be confusing for first time visitors. Colour map available from porters.

Other

• Dim lighting around site at night, with several dark areas and passages.
• Few steps and stairs are marked, and many do not have continuous handrails.
• Chapel rather dim due to heavily coloured stained glass windows.
• Lighting in hall dimmed for dinner, but can be adjusted on request.

Hearing Impairments

Induction loops

One staircase, with 12 student rooms, fitted with induction loop. Induction loops in chapel and main meeting rooms.

Alarms

Rooms can be adapted for hearing impaired students as required, and have been in the past.

Other

• Echoey in hall and chapel, as they are both large, with harsh furnishings and high ceilings.
• Library carpeted, but open plan and sound does travel in busy periods.
• The College as a whole is set back from the main road, so there is little traffic noise.

Specific Learning Difficulties and Mental Health Issues

Arrangements for students with Specific Learning Difficulties are on an individual basis, in conjunction with the Disability Resource Centre. Discuss your needs with your tutor.

Planned Access Improvements

No access improvements planned currently, but please discuss any needs or suggestions.