Physical Access in TCD

osd

Hey all...
I've written a webpage highlighting the various access issues for people with disabilities in TCD.

http://www.tcdsulive.org/access

I've tried to be as thorough as possible but I may have missed one or two items so please PM me if you can think of others!

From Quinn's weekly email...

Access Issues on Campus

The SU is currently in the processes of highlighting and addressing a long list of accessibility issues on campus. The Union has put together a website (http://www.tcdsulive.org/access) to highlight all these accessibility issues. These are things that we currently fighting to get rectified, but it’s a long drawn out battle. If you have any further issues that you would like flagged, please send us an e-mail at osd AT tcdsu DOT org. We are going to compile everything and then raise this campaign up a gear or two because at the moment we are not getting the results we need

Comments and debate please!

Cheers!
Ross

It's not Quinn's weekly e-mail, it just happens to be sent from the e-mail account he has access to this year.

But well done Ross. Especially since the job of the Deputy President is to maintain the website.

King.Penguin

Oh that's what OSD stands for.

I think it's important for it to be said, that not all, and probably only a minority (no idea of actual figure) of students with disabilities have mobilities issues. The extreme cases would be the students in wheelchairs (I'm only aware of 1).

However I do agree that all buildings should be accessible to all students. The science buildings, Zoology, Botany, Chemistry for example, as far as I know, are completely inaccessible for wheelchair users.

paperclip

Just thought of another area-- the door in the hamilton beside the su shop. It's very heavy and would be difficult for wheelies to use.

osd

paperclip wrote:

Just thought of another area-- the door in the hamilton beside the su shop. It's very heavy and would be difficult for wheelies to use.

Heya,
That door is actually automated already... You know that metal post that is about 2 meters from the door, well that swipe card device allows for the two leafs of the door to open up. There's a similar swipe to the right hand side of the inside of the door too.
The swipe system only works for the students on the disability list with a physical disability.

King.Penguin wrote:

Oh that's what OSD stands for.
I think it's important for it to be said, that not all, and probably only a minority (no idea of actual figure) of students with disabilities have mobilities issues. The extreme cases would be the students in wheelchairs (I'm only aware of 1).
However I do agree that all buildings should be accessible to all students. The science buildings, Zoology, Botany, Chemistry for example, as far as I know, are completely inaccessible for wheelchair users.

There's over 30 students registered with the disability service with a physical disability a majority of whom are wheelchair users. I can definitely vouch for there being more than one (I know a few of their names personally)! Also note that if someone is temporarily physically disabled (ie in a cast from a rugby, football, cricket, basketball, climbing, etc sport related injury or from a car accident) they'll require access to their classes too! This as far as I'm aware is far below the statistical average for universities and the nation at large!

The Chemistry large lecture theatre is accessible but requires security to remember to unlock the side door each day (which may not happen all the time). The rest are inaccessible certainly.

I realise money doesn't grow on trees but the aim for this type of campaign is to make the HEA and college seriously invest in our old buildings.

Finally imagine, if you will, some legendary physicist (who's also a wheelchair user) decides that they might like to spend some time in an Irish University and Trinity is the obvious choice... Can you imagine the embarrassment of not being able to let them use the Old Physics Building to give lectures? A place where some of the finest scientists in the world have given guest lectures. Getting the picture? This isn't a silly what if situation, rumours flew about that the SNIAM would be opened by Stephen Hawking. College must be in a position to facilitate employing staff with physical disabilities too or they violate equality laws...

Edwardius

Hawkings? Sure he could use ther service elevator to get up to the top floor and dole out his popular science warblings. he might have to ...errr... duck when in it cos it's small. Alternatively he could use the theatre in the IAMS.

osd

Dead Ed wrote:

Hawkings? Sure he could use ther service elevator to get up to the top floor and dole out his popular science warblings. he might have to ...errr... duck when in it cos it's small.

I'm unsure if you're being slightly sarcastic or not but it's pretty much what happened to one wheelchair user not so long ago! They were to give a talk and the only way up was to be lifted out of their wheelchair, put in a service elevator and then man handled back into their wheelchair again.

Edwardius

osd wrote:

I'm unsure if you're being slightly sarcastic or not but it's pretty much what happened to one wheelchair user not so long ago! They were to give a talk and the only way up was to be lifted out of their wheelchair, put in a service elevator and then man handled back into their wheelchair again.

Yeah, I'm messin' (probably). That's mad though!

King.Penguin

Fair enough. I like osd I wish he was a sabbatical officer.

osd

King.Penguin wrote:

Fair enough. I like osd I wish he was a sabbatical officer.

Thanks. So would I...

xebec

King.Penguin wrote:

Fair enough. I like osd I wish he was a sabbatical officer.

Me too... Oh well!:rolleyes:

Crash

Actually, it was quite interesting trying to get around arts block lecture theatre with a crutch today -added a very real feeling to the concept of accessability. Its something which is very far removed for most of us, and needs to be more realised.

osd

&#231 wrote: »

Actually, it was quite interesting trying to get around arts block lecture theatre with a crutch today -added a very real feeling to the concept of accessability. Its something which is very far removed for most of us, and needs to be more realised.

Sorry to hear you were injured. I hope you recover soon.

One thing I've always steered clear of is placing able bodied students in wheelchairs or giving them crutches but maybe it's time to change that a bit. Unfortunately only those who actually are injured get to 'experiance' the problems with day to day access issues in TCD. I'm seriously thinking of making the sabbatical officers (via mandate) go around TCD for a day in a wheelchair during the summer. I know when we got Mannion and Dónal in one it became very real to them what life was like for a student wheelchair user. Maybe also make them do another day blind folded just like the medical students do.

Crash

I banjaxed my right foot in a danceoff/table quiz spot prize stunt(THANK YOU DAVE BYRNE) gone wrong. Its not too bad, just this morning walking was really sapping the strength out of me thanks to pain.

The wheelchair idea is quite interesting, however I'd generally steer clear of the blindfolded one, for the simple fact that certain people react very badly to it - i.e. get quite distressed and disturbed. I know some of my family did a similar thing when my cousin was younger (she's blind) and a number of them got very freaked out.

osd

&#231 wrote: »

The wheelchair idea is quite interesting, however I'd generally steer clear of the blindfolded one, for the simple fact that certain people react very badly to it - i.e. get quite distressed and disturbed. I know some of my family did a similar thing when my cousin was younger (she's blind) and a number of them got very freaked out.

Unfortunately those who go blind have no option. I am hoping that by making someone do it for even 15 minutes it should make them want to help as best they can in making college a little easier to get around and work in!