Campus Accessibility Report

Following recent feedback from students regarding issues with accessibility, your Vice-President 2019/20 Liam Rogers conducted a Campus wide project to review accessibility with students.

Below is the first draft of the report that is being presented to the University. Staff from the University have warmly welcomed this report, and we will use this page to update students on any progress made on our recommendations. Underneath the report (below) is an update of work which has already been completed from the recommendations.

RATIONALE
After having conversations with numerous students and staff it has come to my attention that the University campus is not as accessible as what it could be. Students and staff feel that there could be more done to change the way the campus is designed in order to improve the student experience and accessibility of students and staff studying at Newman. As a Students’ Union we also have had numerous motions passed at Student Forum from multiple academic years (2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20), which is the voice of students at Newman. These motions include:

Highchairs in Sanctuary and classrooms – motion passed (14/03/2018)
Water fountains – motion passed (06/11/2018)
Hearing loops – motion passed (19/11/2019)
More baby changing facilities – motion passed (18/02/2020)
Disabled access to the library – motion passed (18/02/2020)

All of these motions have been passed by students who have mandated the Students’ Union to campaign for the University to change and improve the campus. Alongside these motions the Students’ Union have conducted a campus accessibility review These motions that have passed are a clear indication that students have recognised multiple areas across the campus that pose accessibility issues. Whilst some of these motions have been acted upon (highchairs in sanctuary and classrooms and the water fountains motion), they have been put into this report to highlight that students have seen a variety of accessibility issues. This could be interpreted as the students mandating the Students’ Union to pioneer accessibility change and the University being reactive rather than proactive to the required campus changes.

Since the initial conversations and these motions have been passed at Student Forum I (Vice-president) have been around the campus and on social media doing a survey for students to answer the questions regarding how accessible they find the campus and their thoughts on how it could be more accessible. The feedback from students during this survey has been analysed and we have conducted a thematic analysis of the feedback [Appendix 1].

STUDENTS' UNION EXECUTIVE INITIAL RESPONSE AND FINDINGS
On during February 2020 members of the Students’ Union executive committee conducted a walk around and noted down any potential accessibility issues that have come to light after conversations with students. There are a number of issues we have recognised, which is one of the reasons this report has been created. The hoped outcome is to try and reduce these issues and to make the campus more accessible for all students and staff. Below is a list of issues we have identified:

Hearing loops – there are rooms with hearing loops in but a lack of advertisement on the doors of these rooms. Both I and the SU president (Christian Black) have held conversations with the Director of Estates who has taken this conversation, and to our understanding, is rectifying this issue by placing more advertisement on the doors of these rooms when the signs arrive. The drama studio also has no hearing loops in, thus limiting potential student engagement within extra-curricular activities that could consequently have an impact on retention at Newman. This could prove very difficult for students performing or audience members who are attending a show or practising pieces for a performance where they might not be able to hear what is being said or they do not feel comfortable wearing hearing assistance devices. Studies have proven that students who engage with extra-curricular activities will be more likely to remain in University, which subsequently could reduce retention rates (Davalos, Chavez, and Guardiola, 1999). There has been issues regarding students with their timetables and being placed in rooms without hearing loops. To our knowledge these issues are still ongoing in certain rooms around campus.

The main door to the library – This is a barrier to students as there are three detectors on the opposite side of the doors, which people who need to use mobility aids could struggle to get through. This was noted by students and brought to our student forum in a motion to try and rectify this issue. This motion was passed [Appendix 2].

Baby changing facilities – There are a lack of baby changing facilities on campus as there is only one space to change babies which is in the lower atrium accessible toilet. There are a number of parent students and staff who may need to bring their children onto campus and therefore may need to use the baby changing facilities and only having one can cause serious issues regarding people waiting to use them, if all babies are using one changing table then there may be excess waste on the table for others to have to move [Appendix 3].

Library accessible toilets – These need signs stating ‘not all disabilities are visible’. By adding these signs to the doors means that students who may have hidden disabilities will feel comfortable using these accessible toilets without prejudice.

Lack of clinical waste bins in accessible toilets – There is a clear lack of clinical waste bins around campus and in those accessible toilets where these bins are placed will mean that students are confined to using a specific toilet which they may have to travel across campus to use. There are currently only 3 accessible toilets across campus with clinical waste bins placed in them [Appendix 4]. The accessible toilets, which do not contain clinical waste bins are as follows: EL101, DW001, The accessible toilet by the sanctuary (no room code), ED013, DA113, CH103, Accessible toilets in the library. By making students who require these clinical waste bins carry their clinical waste around until they can locate an accessible toilet, which has a bin in it, could be very degrading for any individual and a breach of the Equality Act 2010 as there are not reasonable adjustments for these individuals - (section 20.4. “The second requirement is a requirement, where a physical feature puts a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage in relation to a relevant matter in comparison with persons who are not disabled, to take such steps as it is reasonable to have to take to avoid the disadvantage”). This could also have a huge detrimental impact on the student experience at Newman and have an impact on lecture time as they are trying to find a clinical waste bin near their lecture/seminar room.

Macaulay building – There are no accessible toilets within this building and the nearest accessible toilet is located next to the sanctuary, however to access this toilet they need to go through the Hilda building in which the pathway between Macaulay and the back of Hilda is not wide enough for students with wheelchairs to enable them to access to the pass swipe for the doors to automatically open. The doors open outwards onto the path creating a smaller area for students to be able to re-arrange their wheelchair to get through the door. For fully able individuals or students with walking aid equipment this could also pose as being potentially dangerous if they were to slip or fall backwards as they could either hit their head off the railings or the pass swipe box.

Faculty offices – Both faculty offices have a small reception area in which some students would have major issues in trying to get in and out of the office if they were mobility aid users, students who suffer from hidden disabilities or illnesses or students who require walking assistance products (walking sticks, crutches etc). One solution the Students’ Union could make for the faculty of education is to make the door automatic which would help students who need to visit the faculty. A recommendation the Students’ Union could make for the FASPS office is either to re-arrange the office so it is more accessible or to relocate the office to a more accessible room.

Lack of auxiliary aids – There is a major lack of auxiliary aids around the University campus such as brail or colour schemes. Students with vision impairments may require colour coded zones to make it easier for them to find their way around the University. Brail may be required for those who have no vision or minimal vision as this will help them identify rooms or buildings. The simple idea of coloured lines on the floor that can you follow by foot which enables you to find locations in a very easy way will help students and staff who require this assistance. These changes will enable both staff and student’s to be independent around the University campus and not rely upon others to assist them.

Emergency red pull cords – In some of the accessible toilets located around the campus the red emergency pull cords do not meet regulations (Building Regulations 2010). Section 4.3.E states:

“Pull cords for emergency alarm systems are coloured red, located as close to a wall as possible and have two red 50mm diameter bangles, one set 100mm and the other set between 800mm and 1000mm above the floor”.

In line with these regulations, the University have breached this in some of the accessible toilets. The accessible toilet situated outside the Sanctuary has a red pull cord, but it only falls halfway and does not meet the requirements of it falling to the floor. This could have a detrimental impact on an individual’s health as if they are lying on the floor after a fall they have no way of contacting anyone for help in an emergency. Another accessible toilet which does not meet these regulations is EL101, which does not have a red pull cord situated in the toilet. Again this could affect someone who is requiring emergency assistance. Furthermore, the accessible toilet in the Lower Atrium does not have an emergency cord situated in it. This accessible toilet is located in the Main Atrium of the University, which has had previous situations where the door has broken and cannot be opened and has been required to get fixed. This left a student stuck in this toilet and the student had to use their mobile phone to call for help rather than pulling the emergency red cord which should be situated.

Door swipe locations – Some of the locations of the door swipes are another accessibility issue. Some of the door swipes are located on a wall with the doors opening outwards. This could cause situations where students find themselves in difficult situations of trying to get through these doors before they close again after placing their pass on the swipe to grant them access to buildings. Locations for these are as follows: Both doors to St. Chad’s atrium (main door and door by security), Cofton Halls entrance, entrance between Macaulay and the back of Hilda and Dwyer doors from the quad. The issues with the Dwyer doors and the swipe is students in wheelchairs or walking aid equipment have to place their pass on the swipe, but also then have to try and get around the glass panel to gain access into the building before the doors close. The doors straight after these automatic doors are not automatic doors so the students or staff may then struggle to get through those doors also.

Lecture rooms and classrooms – In ST002 there are rows of tables but no space for students with wheelchairs to sit at a table with the rest of their cohort. This clearly indicates that these students require additional support. What the Students’ Union proposes is that this lecture room has one of the tables at the front be unscrewed from the floor so it can be adjustable; if a student requires to use this lecture theatre they can do so with the dignity and respect that they deserve without being segregated from the group. They may require assistance moving the table to help them get in and out from behind it, however this is a far better solution than placing them at the side of the room which could make them feel unworthy.

In ST111 the Students’ Union also propose the same adjustments are made for the bottom row right at the front of this lecture theatre. The reason for this is that if there is a small number of students in this lecture theatre and they are sat at the front of the lecture theatre, the student with the wheelchair or any other support they need to be mobile around campus are then segregated and made to sit at the back of the lecture room as there is no way of them sitting at the front of the room without the use of a table or their body being placed facing away from the screen.
Adjustable tables – In majority of classrooms across campus there aren’t any adjustable tables in classrooms. Adding at least one adjustable table to some classrooms across campus can make the lectures more accessible to students with disabilities.

Signage – Around the campus there is a lack of signage for water facilities and where the water points are. There are some water fountains in kitchens which students see as staff kitchens so do not know they can use them. A simple solution for this is to add more signs in areas where water points are. Also adding a sign to Starbucks indicating that students can fill up their water bottles as not many students are aware that this can happen.

Door to Edgbaston/Maryvale – In Edgbaston halls there are 2 accessible rooms which are situated right in front of this door. A previous student who has used one of these rooms was a wheelchair user who found it difficult to open this door to enter and exit the building. This student also had to make their way through 2 double doors in order to get to their kitchen which was situated in Maryvale halls. What the Students’ Union propose is to make this door automatic to ensure all students have the ability to access the building without any struggles.

Path between the Sanctuary and Sports Centre – There is an accessible path flowing between the Sanctuary and the Sports Centre however there is a dip in the path which could cause accidents. Wheelchair users could find themselves in some difficult circumstances if they were to use this path and try and get to the sanctuary doors.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE STUDENTS' UNION
There are a number of recommendations that the Students’ Union propose in order to make the campus more accessible to all students and staff.

To ensure that all classrooms with hearing loops are clearly signposted and to ensure that students who disclose they have hearing impairments are timetabled in rooms with these devices.
To add a hearing loop into the drama studio.
To remove the middle detection barrier from the main door of the library.
To Add more baby changing facilities in key parts of the University e.g. St. Chads upper atrium, Accessible toilet on the bottom floor of the Library, Accessible toilet situated outside the sanctuary, Accessible toilet in the Edwards Building (Sports centre), Accessible toilet in Darwin Building and the Accessible toilet in Julian of Norwich building.
To add “not all disabilities are visible” signs to each accessible toilet in the Library.
To add clinical waste bins in every accessible toilet across the whole University campus.
To have a review of whether the automatic door between the Hilda and Mcaulay building should open inwards rather than outwards.
To make the main entrance door of the Faculty of Education office automatic and to have a review of the layout of the FASPS office.
To create some auxiliary aids around the campus for students, staff and visitors who may require them.
To add brail signs around the campus.
To ensure that all accessible toilets have emergency red pull cords in every toilet across campus that meet regulations.
To have a review of the location of all door swipes which are next to the doors and if possible have a relocation of these to make every entrance and exit more accessible for those who require it.
To create spaces in all lecture rooms and classrooms for students with wheelchairs to ensure they can also have the best student experience in their lectures.
To create some accessible tables in all lecture rooms which reduces segregation and isolation of students in lectures.
To make the path between the Sanctuary and the Sports Centre smooth to decrease any potential incidents.

CAMPUS ACCESSIBILITY PROGRESS

Below is information of all the work which has been completed so far as a result from the recommendations within the campus accessibility report.