Disability Equality Scheme

St Stephen’s House, Oxford Disability Equality Scheme

The College Disability Equality Scheme should be read in conjunction with the University of Oxford Disability Equality Scheme which is published at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/eop/disab/des.shtml

The objectives of the College Scheme are as follows:

·  To promote equality of opportunity and eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation within the College for staff, students and visitors with disabilities and all other persons;

·  To consult and seek the participation of persons with disabilities and others in developing and administering the College Scheme;

·  To promote and foster within the College a culture of awareness and sensitivity to disability and other equal opportunity issues;

·  To adopt and implement such policies and procedures that are necessary in furtherance of the Scheme and to measure their efficacy and impact;

·  To identify and implement specific measures to improve access to the College and the services provided by it.

EQUALITY POLICY

The College’s Equality Policy is published on its website.

The College has special obligations to persons with disabilities that it may not owe to others. These include a statutory obligation to make reasonable adjustments to the College environment and the delivery of services.

The College strives to fulfil the aims of its Equality Policy by a variety of means:

·  Through seeking information on a voluntary basis from candidates for employment or College membership as well as current students and staff;

·  Through adoption of policies on grievances, harassment, bullying and victimisation

·  contained in the College Handbook and Staff Handbook;

·  Through the promotion of welfare and counselling teams with representation from both senior and junior members of College and qualified staff; through staff induction and training; and through co-operation with the University Disability Office;

·  Through co-operation with organisers of conferences and school visits and other persons responsible for supervising visitors to the College;

·  Through audit of facilities and services, seeking professional assistance where necessary.

ACTION PLAN

The College will strive continuously to develop and improve the ambience and services provided for persons with disabilities and others.

Arising from an internal audit carried out during 2006, the following measures have been implemented or are planned for implementation in the near future:

·  Information provided to potential residents, employees and visitors prior to arrival has been improved;

·  Two bedrooms have been equipped with flashing warning lights for the benefit of those with hearing difficulties in the event of a fire alert.

·  A lavatory suitable for a person in a wheelchair has been installed on the ground floor

·  A survey of a possible site for a disabled entrance into the college has been undertaken and negotiations with Oxford City Council planners are in progress.

·  A hearing loop has been installed in the Couratin Seminar Room

·  Signage, lighting and way finding have been improved;

·  The website meets accessibility standards and invites feedback on disability provision by the College