Dear Kirsteen, 
We provide accessible accommodation for our disabled students which we
have converted to meet their needs. This last year we converted an extra
six units that are suitable for physically disabled/sensory impairments.
Unfortunately some have not been taken up by disabled students because
some of the students expected did not enrol in the end.  We would not
charge extra as we recognise our duty to make RA for the students. When
the institution is providing accommodation as opposed to private
provision, in view of the anticipatory duty under the DDA,   I think it
is helpful to think ahead and have a range of accommodation that is
suitable for different needs where ever possible.   

Hope this helps

Regards
Anne

-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kirsteen Coupar
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 3:27 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Accommodation for student with visual impairment

Would like feedback on the accommodation provisions for students with
visual impairments.

 

A visually impaired student started with us last year and would have
opted for our cheapest accommodation option, but all units were with
shared kitchens and for health and safety reasons it was important that
she had full control of environment, particularly where kitchen
implements were involved. She therefore had to opt for the more
expensive option of a studio flat in another hall of residence.  This
has been a financial struggle, but the situation has now changed as over
the summer she was supplied with a guide dog and her studio flat was not
large enough to house them both.

 

 The only option was moving into a twin studio room (with own kitchen),
which she did, and originally was being charged a single occupancy rate
for it. Recently the accommodation office realised she was being charged
single rate for a twin room and have amended her rent and she is now
expected to pay double.

 

She has spoken to the accommodation office, and our disability team and
they have advised her to look at DSA and ALF, however she feels that
this is an issue that the University should be dealing with and
providing access to students with visual impairments, rather than
relying on external government funding.  She has spoken to her local
authority about the DSA and they have advised her that the part of the
DSA for care would not be likely to be supplied for accommodation and
would not in any case be enough.

 

I need to provide information to our accommodation service as to what
other universities do in this situation.

 

It is not normal practice for our accommodation service to subsidise
rent, as they tend to expect the individual with different needs to use
other sources of funding.

 

Can anyone supply any information about their practices that might help
me in tackling this issue?

 

Kirsteen

 

In addition - she did look at our 'accessible' rooms but they were
geared towards wheelchair users, with low ovens and grab bars and were
actually a barrier to her rather than a help.

 

 

 

Kirsteen Coupar

Equality and 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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University of Greenwich, a charity and company limited by guarantee,
registered in England (reg. no. 986729). Registered office:
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