Disability Resource Centre (DRC)

St Edmund's College

Contact Details

Address

Mount Pleasant,
Cambridge, CB3 0BN

Tel.

01223 336 250

Fax

01223 336 111

Web

www.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk

Access Issues

Contact

Mrs Moira Gardiner, Bursar

Dr Helen Mason, Senior Tutor

Tel.

01223 336 126

01223 336 252

Fax

01223 336 111

Email

mg211@cam.ac.uk

h.e.mason@damtp.cam.ac.uk

Location, Services and Transport

Mount Pleasant, a one-way street linking Lady Margaret Road with the Huntingdon Road junction. It is a 5–10 minute walk to the centre, and around a 15 minute walk to all University Sites and the University Library. The College is fairly close to the Centre for Mathematical Sciences and the West Cambridge Site.

Traffic

Tends to get busy at peak times, as the street leads out of the city towards the A10 and A14. It is one-way, but there are few safe crossing places and the pavements are narrow and uneven.

Services and shops

City centre. There is a small convenience store in Histon Road nearby.

Parking

Very limited parking on site, with no designated disabled bays. A disabled student could obtain a permit, if arranged in advance. One-way drop off and pick up system outside main entrance.

Other transport options

Uni 4 bus stop on Madingley Road, around a five minute walk away. New bus service on Victoria Road leaves for the rail station every ten minutes.

General Information

325 mature undergraduates postgraduates. For men and women aged 21 and over. Small College with close-knit community of mature students. Family-friendly and with a supportive atmosphere. An access audit was undertaken recently, and access improvements are ongoing. A brand new accommodation block and library building were completed in Autumn 2006. A block of eight apartments for couples was also completed in June 2007.

Smoking

Smoking allowed only in designated areas outside of public buildings. No smoking in student rooms.

Medical facilities

Part time nurse available for two hours each week during term. Surgery nearby. First aiders available during office hours and some meal times.

Emergency procedures

Advise reception if you will need help evacuating in an emergency. New accommodation blocks have evacuation lifts. No evacuation chairs in the Tower, but this is being investigated.

Accommodation and Catering

Wheelchair-accessible rooms

Three specifically designed wheelchair-accessible rooms in Brian Heap building, with adapted en suite shower room.

Other rooms

Many other ground floor rooms, some in Laws building near an accessible bathroom. All have wide doors and can be adapted according to need. En suite flats and maisonettes not suitable for wheelchairs.

Live-in assistants and assistance dogs

Live-in assistants a possibility, but discuss well in advance so that a room can be allocated. Live-in dogs also possible, with large grounds available for exercise.

Early induction and vacation stays

Flexible regarding accommodation, so early inductions and late stays are possible. Staying over summer vacation possible on arrangement.

Catering arrangements

Cafeteria offers three meals daily in hall, except Saturday and Sunday evenings. Kitchen facilities depend on accommodation, but the new kitchens are large and well equipped. Catering charge can be waived in exceptional circumstances.

Special diets

Most special diets can be catered for with advance notice — speak to the catering manager. Allergy forms filled in by each member on arrival. Food cannot be guaranteed free of nuts.

Physical Access

College grounds in general

Almost all areas of the College are accessible, with various buildings and accommodation blocks contained within a fairly small area of the grounds. Main common areas are on ground floor of the Norfolk and Tower buildings and can be reached under cover.

College buildings in general

Level access to main entrance, over a bump and through manual double doors. The Norfolk building runs down a long corridor, with several doors. Five floors in the Tower portion of the building, but the lift is small and not suitable for large wheelchairs.

Bar

Ground floor of main building, off main corridor. Fitted furniture with a high bar. Large, spacious combination room directly outside bar, where most people sit.

Cafeteria

Servery next to hall. Level, smooth and spacious one-way system with fairly low serving counters and tray rails. Staff will help as necessary.

Chapel

Level access from main corridor, or 3–4 steps with handrail from outside. Moveable chairs, and space for a wheelchair. Two steps to altar.

College offices

Most offices are on ground floor off main corridor. Staff based upstairs will meet elsewhere if necessary.

Common rooms

Combination room in main corridor. Large, smooth and spacious, with moveable furniture of various heights. Pool table and television.

Computer facilities

Small computer room off main corridor, all level and accessible. Floor of computers in library, and space for laptops. All rooms are networked. There is wireless internet in the combination room, library and old Norfolk library (club room).

Dining hall

In main building. Ground level access, smooth and spacious inside, with moveable chairs and tables.

Fellows' areas

SCR on ground floor of main building, level and spacious and with moveable furniture. Some chairs have armrests.

Gardens

Almost all areas of the grounds are level and accessible. Some gravel, but most paths are tarmac. Few benches currently.

Laundry

Central laundry block near accommodation. Level access, wide door with no threshold, and accessible washing facilities. Proximity card access.

Library

Brand new library opened Autumn 2006, fully accessible with a lift to all floors. Staffed office hours. Proximity card access.

Porters' lodge and post room

Reception desk at main entrance, with low counter. Pigeonholes run along the main corridor nearby.

Sport facilities

Small gym in basement of new library building, with level access from lift. Large grounds.

Toilets

Disabled toilet and shower on first floor of the Norfolk building. Disabled toilet in library and Brian Heap buildings. Two disabled toilets, one with a walk-in shower, in Laws accommodation block.

Other

• Large meeting area in new building and several seminar rooms in library, all fully accessible via lift.
• Huddleston room on ground floor of Norfolk building, fairly small but spacious and accessible, with moveable chairs.
• Okinaga room on top floor of Tower with views over Cambridge. Lift not suitable for large wheelchairs. Stairs up Tower all have continuous handrails.

Visual Impairments

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs welcome.

Computer facilities

Special hardware or software for visually impaired users could be acquired if necessary. Both PCs and Macs are available.

Large print, Braille and audio

Large print letters and information on request. New lifts all have touch-readable buttons, Braille and audio information.

Library and magnification equipment

Magnifying glasses and photocopiers for text enlargement available. Other magnification equipment could be acquired if necessary.

Signs and wayfinding

Little external or directional signage. A signage expert has recently been commisioned to improve signage.

Other

• Dim lighting around most garden paths at night.
• Most areas of the College, including the chapel, hall and combination room, have large windows and good lighting. Wide-screen TV in combination room.
• State of the art audio-visual equipment in new meeting/seminar rooms.

Hearing Impairments

Induction loops

Induction loop in library building.

Alarms

Visual or sensory alarms could be acquired if needed.

Other

• Traffic noise during peak times in some areas near the main street.
• Most areas, except the hall, are carpeted and softly furnished.
• Chapel is small and has good acoustics. No amplification is needed in chapel.

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. Special arrangements for the taking of examinations can be made.

Planned Access Improvements

Proximity card security system replaces key-locked doors, including room keys in new accommodation.

Other Useful Information

Please do discuss any disability or problem with the Disability Liaison Officers, as the College is willing and able to adapt and help as necessary.