Don't 'Dis My Ability
18th-22nd February is AWARE and the ACCESS Group's Disability Awareness Week.
Raising awareness about disabilities, access to support for disabled students, accessibility of campus and the ACCESS group.
The ACCESS group is a group for those students who self-define as being disabled or having a learning support need or sensory impairment. The group is free to join and can provide the opportunity for support and information as well as the chance to meet with other disabled students whilst at university.
Check out their website www.bathstudent.com/organisation/7403
Alternatively contact them at access@bath.ac.uk for more information about the group.
Tuesday 19th February Have a go at painting with your feet - not as easy as it looks! On the Parade opposite 2 East at lunchtime 1-2pm.
Wednesday 20th February Come along to the SORTED training session raising awareness of disability and access requirements.
Thursday 21st February RAG are doing a sponsored disability day. You will be given a wheelchair or sight impairment glasses to use for a day on campus and at the same time raise money for charity. Find out more from RAG.
Friday 22nd February AWARE Volunteers and ACCESS will be out on the Parade giving out information about disabilities. You will have the opportunity to try out the wheelchairs and sight impairment glasses on the Parade navigating your way around a simple route. You will also have the chance to find out how to spell your name in sign language and enter a quiz to win a prize.
AWARE staff advertised a session with SORTED. Unfortunately no students took up this offer of training. If you would like training in disability issues please contact aware or sorted.
AWARE Volunteers invited students to complete a quiz form on the parade as part of their activities on Friday 22nd February. Students with the highest scores were put into a prize draw with the chance to win a meal for two and a bottle of wine at Cafe Rouge, a restaurant in town which has been found to have lots of accessible features including braille menus.
Answers to the quiz are as follows:
1. Over one in five out of the adult population in Great Britain is disabled and covered by the Disability Discrimination Act. True or False ? TRUE
2. ?% of disabled respondents in a recent survey had been turned down for a paid job with the reason told to be their disability. 5% 13% or 24%? 13%
3. Disabled people are more likely to suffer sexual abuse at work. True or False? TRUE it is 4 times more likely
4. How likely is it for an 18 year old with a disability or other health problem to enter into higher education in comparison to another young adult of the same age but without a disability or health problem? 10% more likely, 34% less likely, 60% less likely? 60% less likely
5. British Sign Language is an official British language. True or False? TRUE
6. Which of the following are hidden disabilities?
a. Asthma
b. Autism
c. Dyslexia
d. HIV/AIDS
e. B and C
f. All of the above
F
7. People with dyslexia will not be able to take a driving test. True or False? False - candidates can listen to the test on headsets and have double the standard 40 minutes time upon request when applying.
8. Blind and partially sighted people watch TV. True or False? TRUE
9. When is the upcoming Mental Health Awareness Week for the University of Bath?
Next week, 2 Weeks from now, 1st week after Easter? 2 weeks from now week beginning 2nd March.
10. What is the name of the student group in the University of Bath for students who are self-defined as having a disability, sensory impairment or learning support need? ACCESS
A member of the Students' Union has done an access audit of venues (large venues, bars, pubs, restaurants) in Bath. This can be downloaded by going to the Ents page. If you find any other venues then please let us know as this is a document which will be updated as more venues become accessible. This list is not exhaustive and groups/individuals are advised to visit venues before booking an event to ensure it meets all their access needs.
The University has a Learning Support Centre which can provide advice and information on academic, financial and personal support. They are based in Lodge 1 Eastwood A and can be contacted by:
learningsupport@bath.ac.uk
01225 383241
AWARE can provide advice and information about various issues including those relating to disabilities. AWARE is based in 1East Level3 along the Students' Union corridor and can be contacted by:
aware@bath.ac.uk
01225 386906
SKILL is the National Bureau for Students with Disabilities and can provide lots of advice and information for disabled students.
info@skill.org.uk
0800 328 5050 this is a free helpline