Provision for Students with Disabilities

As a part of the University of Cambridge, the Faculty subscribes to the University's Disability Statement.

The Faculty welcomes applications from students with disabilities or chronic illness and treats them on the same academic grounds as those from other candidates.

There is an Access Guide available which outlines the provision for wheelchair users and those with sensory disabilities in departments and Colleges, and is intended as a preliminary guide. There is in addition a Support Scheme run by Bridget's Hostel (see below) to provide personal assistance where required - from part-time to 24-hour personal care. Further information about access to the Faculty is given below in the Faculty's own Disability Statement.

You are urged to contact both the University Disability Adviser and the Faculty to discuss any particular requirements in more detail before you submit an application, so that the best possible arrangements can be made before you come to Cambridge.

Similarly, you should consult Colleges regarding their facilities; Colleges which do not normally accommodate graduate students are often able to make an exception for graduates with a disability. Alternatively, Bridget's Hostel also provides purpose-designed accommodation and 24-hour care for students who do not wish (or are not able) to live in College housing.

To discuss the range of support available in Cambridge for students with particular disabilities, please contact the University Disability Adviser, Silver Street, Cambridge CB3 9EW, telephone +44 1223 332301, e-mail: ucam-disability@lists.cam.ac.uk

For further information about the Support Scheme or Bridget's facilities, please contact the Manager at Bridget's, telephone +44 1223 354312, e-mail: bridgets-admin@lists.cam.ac.uk

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Statement of Good Practice

Aims

It is the aim of the Faculty of Economics and Politics to enable all students to participate in the academic and social life of the Faculty and University to the fullest possible extent, regardless of disability. To achieve this the Faculty relies on the advice of the University Disability Advisor, Disability Resource Centre staff and other specialist advisors. It has a designated member of staff, currently Craig Peacock, email craig.peacock@econ.cam.ac.uk, who is responsible for monitoring the Faculty's performance against this statement, and advising the Faculty Board of issues that need to be addressed.

Access

The Faculty will make every effort to ensure accessibility to the physical environment of the Faculty and to facilities and equipment, such as computers and library resources, for individual students if they make their needs known. The main floor of the Library is accessible to wheelchair users, and staff are available during opening hours to fetch books from other areas which cannot be made accessible. The Faculty building itself, including offices, is accessible by lift to all floors except the top floor which contains offices, one seminar / meetings room and the coffee room used by Faculty and DAE staff, research students and occasionally for social functions involving graduate students. Disabled students have access to the Faculty computer network, and the Disability Resource Centre (DRC) can be contacted to give advice on specialised software and/or hardware.

Information

The Faculty will make every effort to provide information in a medium suitable for each individual. The Faculty has a web-page (on which this statement appears) publicising programme and general information which also appears in print. Information can be produced in large print (16 point Arial Bold) if required, or on disc. Taped versions of Faculty publicity are not yet available.

Admissions

The Faculty will ensure that admissions procedures in the Faculty (these apply to graduate students only) are equitable. This is achieved by accessible information (see above), and clear entry criteria, placing emphasis on academic achievement and other objective testing, but also taking note of references which indicate specific disability-related reasons for under-performance, and allowing discretion. Two admissions officers at least are involved in the assessment of any individual application. Admissions officers are given a copy of this statement as part of their briefing pack at the beginning of each admissions round.

Special Provision

The Faculty does not solicit information about specific support needed due to disability at the time of application, but relies on the applicant to ask for this if necessary, at the appropriate time prior to application and/or arrival. It will then make every effort to meet specific needs, in co-operation with colleges, the University central administration and the DRC. Disabilities which have been accommodated in the past include visual impairment and restricted mobility. Support is available through the DRC for dyslexic students and others. Guidance on specific types of disability is given by the University's Advisory Committee on Disability. This is available on the web at http://www.cam.ac.uk/CambUniv/disability/guidance/.

Directors of Studies for graduate students on taught courses and supervisors of research students will consult with colleagues in the Faculty, central administrative bodies and college tutors to support students who need special consideration for examining purposes or for participating fully in teaching programmes.

Where study is interrupted due to disability-related circumstances, the Faculty will take these into account in its recommendations to examinations authorities and other central bodies. The Faculty may require evidence from a college tutor, medical practitioner or other professional in some circumstances. All personal information is kept completely confidential amongst those members of Faculty who need to be informed.

Induction and Training

Faculty teaching staff all receive copies of this statement, and will be given opportunities to increase their disability awareness through induction and training provided by DRC staff or by information circulated within the Faculty. Induction should stress the importance of clear communication of practical needs to the staff involved, as well as the central resources available to provide advice and help.

A confidential file is kept in the Graduate Office into which copies of records of solutions to disability-related problems are placed, in order to create a reference file for future use, and to monitor the Faculty's response in relation to graduate students.