Dear Levi
Thank you so much for such a considered response - that is incredibly
helpful.  I think I will be recommending a similar system to my colleague.
Many thanks
Kirsteen

Kirsteen Coupar
Diversity Manager
Flat 40B, Catherine of Aragon Court
Southwood Site
Avery Hill Campus
University of Greenwich
Eltham
London SE9 2UG

Direct line: 020 8331 8817


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  |       To:       [log in to unmask]                                                                                      |
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  |       Subject:  Re: Disability and parking provisions on campus                                                              |
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Hi Kirsteen,

Here at Leeds, we are just in the middle of revising our policy/procedures
for
allocating parking permits to disabled staff and students.  Whilst things
may
still change, I'm happy to bring you up-to-speed with our current thinking
on
this.

We do allocate parking permits to disabled people who do not have a 'blue
badge' - since we are clear that the DDA duty to make reasonable
adjustments would go beyond 'blue badge' eligibility criteria.  (For
example, we
have had cases where people with Asperger Syndrome are unable to use public

transport to travel to the University.  Local authorities are generally
unable/unwilling to award a blue badge to someone with an autism spectrum
condition, but there remains a strong case under the DDA for us to award a
university parking permit.)

At the moment, if someone has a blue badge, they simply take this to our
car
parking team, along with a few other bits of info (staff/student ID card,
etc.),
and receive a university parking permit.

If someone does not have a blue badge, then, at present, the Disability
Team
(within the University's Equality Service) generally gets involved in
considering
the merits of an application and liaising with car parking to determine
eligibility.

In the interests of speeding up the process - and mainstreaming the
responsibility for making more decisions within the car parking team
without
Disability Team involvement - we have recently drafted a new application
form
for people to use to apply for a permit if they do not hold a 'blue badge'.


I've attached a copy of this form - although it is only the first
draft...(any
comments welcome!).  This same application form will also be used to apply
for
a key fob to access our new 24-hour 'campus access route' through various
buildings.

The plan is that a member of staff or student who does not have a 'blue
badge' will complete this form and return it to car parking.  We will agree
some
basic criteria with car parking, so that they will be able to agree some
applications without referring the cases to the Disability Team.  In more
complex cases, or in situations in which the car parking team is
considering
refusing a request for a permit, then we will have a procedure by which
they
must refer the case to a member of staff in the Disability Team (in most
cases,
the Disability Co-ordinator with lead responsibility for supporting
students with
physical or mobility impairments).

To respond to a few of your other questions:

-  Here at Leeds, we are moving towards referring to a "disabled person's
parking permit" and "accessible parking (spaces) for disabled people".  The

word "accessible" on its own is probably not enough, particularly as we are

now considering setting aside other accessible spaces in our new car parks
-
e.g. spaces for people with young children.

- Parking permits issued to disabled people at Leeds are issued
free-of-charge
(although we did have a case where a member of staff insisted on paying the

standard fee, which was fine)

- Disabled visitors are asked to show their 'blue badge' on arrival and
then
they are given a temporary one-day permit to park (again free-of-charge).
If
a disabled visitor requires a permit but does not have a 'blue badge', then
it
would normally be the responsibility of the department hosting the visitor
to
make prior arrangements with the car parking team.

I hope this is helpful.

Levi

____________________

Levi Pay
Head of Equality Service
University of Leeds
Leeds
LS2 9JT

Telephone:  0113 343 3779
Fax: 0113 343 3944
Textphone/minicom (voicemail): 0113 343 2616
Email:  [log in to unmask]





(See attached file: draft application form for Parking Permit or Access
Route Key Fob.doc)