While there has been a lot of discussion around legislation and the need to improve digital accessibility across our campus, we also have a big responsibility in terms of the physical structure of our university and making the physical environment more accessible and inclusive.
Accessible campus
The Buildings and Estates Department (B&E) plays a central role in ensuring the physical infrastructure of the campus is accessible and continues year on year to provide staff, students and visitors with a more inclusive campus.
Examples of these inclusive initiatives include the new accessible pavement in the main plaza between the concert hall, the main building and the library. This provides better access for people using wheelchairs or prams and also allows cane users to receive tactile feedback. Another facility to improve accessibility in the area, is the installation of an external lift connecting the Plaza level to the lower park level leading to the Computer Science Building.
Changing Places
Other enhancements to physical accessibility include the new changing places toilets located at the back of EG-010. Changing Places toilets are specifically designed to provide more spacious sanitary facilities that cater to individuals with complex care requirements and assist them to participate in daily activities such as family outings, shopping trips, concerts, or sports events.
Concert Hall
Staff in the concert hall are also exploring innovative ways to provide a more inclusive listening experience for attendees requiring hearing accommodations.
For braille users, the university is offering braille support in newer buildings to align with more inclusive and universally designed approaches to our buildings. Examples of this can be seen in buildings like the Gluckman ºÚÁÏÉç and the Analog Devices Building.
Lecture Theatres
Staff and students have also witnessed improvements in lecture halls. The Jean Monnet is an example of this. The Jean Monnet saw the inclusion of new seating, including dedicated wheelchair user spaces with specific writing tablet facilities. The ERB Geography Laboratory was also refurbished to include fully accessible furniture. Laboratories within and the main building also received upgrades in the form of accessible furniture. B&E has also been busy upgrading important lifts and improving bus stops and the Postgraduate Students Union Unit (SCG-028).
Looking to the Future
B&E are also conscious of the continuing need to embed more inclusive practices in plans and future developments. They work closely with staff and students from across the campus to identify needs in this space. The team also works in partnership with staff on funding applications to promote more cohesive approaches to their work. Examples of this include the accessibility audit that is currently underway on campus with support from a third-party vendor. This audit is designed to address some of the key challenges to accessibility by working with students living with a disability and staff from areas including Disability Support Services and the Educational Assistive Technology Centre.
If you are interested in hearing more about initiatives such as these, please keep an eye out for communications from the B&E Department.