Hello John,
Our university campus is planning to relocate to another part of the city
in 2003 (new location requires refurbishment of old buildings and
constructing new buildings) so the sorts of concerns you mentioned in your
email are ones that we have been nutting through over the last 18 months.
Fortunately we have an Access Consultant on board who works very closely
with the architects. This has been very useful in identifying access
concerns and finding solutions.
There are two documents that have provided a useful frame of reference for
me. Although they are specifically written for Australian universities
(hence references to Australian building standards), I am sure that they
might provide some useful guidelines for good practice.
They are:
1. "Providing Equity in Access to Tertiary Institutions" - this is a manual
to assist higher education insitutions in developing Action Plans for
complying with the provisions of the Commonweath Disability Discrimination
Act (1991)- University of Queensland
written by John Deshon (he is an independent consultant who advised our
architects re disability concerns-he is very good), and 3 other people.
You would probably need to contact a Disability Adviser from the University
of QLD to see if they have any more copies in print. i.e Laura Duggen or
Anne Berquier ([log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask])
2. "Access- Facility Management Action Plan Manual "- Deakin University
You could email someone in their Buildings and Grounds Dept. They employ
two Access consultants. Terry Osborn, Access Advisor:
[log in to unmask] & LyndaWilem, Access Project Officer:
[log in to unmask]
Information is on the website below:
http://www.deakin.edu.au/bg/security_parking/access_menu.php
Hope this is useful
Cheers
Trudy
John Bennett <[log in to unmask]>@JISCMAIL.AC.UK> on 12/06/2001 04:04:55
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Subject: Models of good practice
Hi all
Here is University College Dublin we have an extensive building
programme in progress involving the construction of many new
buildings and the refurbishment of existing buildings. I am part of
the project team for many of the projects and we are fortunate that
we have an overall willingness amongst the team - architects,
university building dept, etc on inclusive design for people with a
disability.
However as many of you know, it isn't until the designers, etc see
first hand what we mean by inclusive design practices for people
with a disability, that they finally get a real appreciation for what it
is. So that is where my quest begins.
We have secured funding to visit higher education establishments
in Ireland and the UK and to view models of good practice in the
construction of facilities that proactively include the needs of
people with a disability. It is with this in mind that I seek your
assistance.
Can people advise me of any facilities in Universities, especially
with regard to University residences, lecture theatre access and
general campus accessibility, which could be classed as models
of good practice. Ideally these facilities would include the use of
assistive technology coupled with use of inclusive design
principles.
For example with University residences, the use of automated
entry systems, adjustable height kitchen and bathroom appliances,
integrated fire and emergency alert systems, automation of internal
doors, windows, lights, aircon, etc, provsion for visually impaired
and blind students (tactile, colour contrasting, way finding
systems).
It is rare to find all this in one University campus and I fully
recognise this. But any help that people can offer would be
greatfully appreciated.
Regards
John B
John Bennett
Disability Officer
John Henry Newman Building
University College Dublin
Belfield,
Dublin 4.
Telephone: + 353 1 716 8350
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