skip to content

Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre

ADRC
 

Contact Details

Address
Madingley Road,
Cambridge CB3 0ES
Tel.
01223 337 694
Fax
01223 337 610
Email
enquiries@vet.cam.ac.uk
Website
http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/

Access Issues

Contact
Ms Judith Drinkwater
Tel.
01223 337 632
Fax
01223 337 610
Email
jad39@cam.ac.uk

Location, Services and Transport

Location

Clearly signposted off JJ Thomson Avenue, on West Cambridge Site. See separate entry for West Cambridge Site.

Parking

Large car park outside main entrance with designated disabled bay. Disabled students and staff can obtain a permit, and space can be reserved in advance.

General Information

General

Site consists of the Department of Veterinary Medicine, the Queen's Veterinary School Hospital and various research centres. Note that the first three years of an undergraduate Veterinary Medicine course are not taught on this site — see separate entries. Severe disabilities may restrict your ability to complete the course, but every case is decided on an individual basis.

Smoking

No smoking in any building.

Medical facilities

First aiders in the main building and all round site, contactable by mobile phone. First Aid room in main building. Regular manual handling courses and risk assessments.

Emergency procedures

Evacuation chair stored in first aid room. Safety and evacuation information is given to every visitor on arrival.

Physical Access

Entrances

Several shallow steps, with handrail, to main entrance of main building. Level access through back and side doors, but please arrange in advance. Most other buildings have level or ramped access.

Number of floors

Three floors in main building. Two floors in Teaching Block. All other buildings on one level.

Lifts and stairs

Large goods lift with manual door in main building. All stairs have continuous handrails. Teaching Block currently has only stair access to the upper floor, but a lift may be installed in the future.

Student Resource Centre

Disabled toilet and shower on ground floor. Lift access to first-floor common room.

Lecture theatres

Two lecture theatres, both on ground floor of main building. Steep tiered fold-down seating, with space for a wheelchair or other chair at the front. Heavy double doors, clipped open when in use.

Seminar/teaching rooms

Two seminar rooms upstairs in the Teaching Block, spacious inside but currently accessed only by stairs. Teaching laboratories on ground floor, with high benches and moveable stools. Facilities can be adapted for individuals if necessary.

Library

Ground floor of main building, through heavy double doors. Spacious and carpeted, with rolling bookstacks. Plenty of workspace, and some computers and laptop points. Upper floor accessed only by stairs. Staffed 8am–4.30pm and staff will help.

Computer facilities

Large computer room on ground floor of main building. Spacious and carpeted, with moveable chairs.

Toilets

Five disabled toilets located around the site, including one on the ground floor of the main building.

Common rooms

Portacabin currently in use as student common room, with two or three steps up. Small kitchen inside.

Other

  • Queen's Veterinary School Hospital, Post Mortem room, Neurosciences and other commonly used buildings and centres all have level or ramped access.
  • Practical teaching often involves trips in minibuses to farms around the area, and work with large farm animals.
  • Severe physical disabilities may prove to be a bar to the course. Potential applicants should approach the department's Director of Teaching initially.

Visual Impairments

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs welcome.

Computer facilities

Currently no special hardware or software for visually impaired users. Some could be acquired if necessary, and has been in the past.

Large print, Braille and audio

Large print information on prior request.

Library and magnification equipment

Excellent lighting in library. Photocopier available in library for text enlargement. Other magnifying equipment could be acquired if needed.

Signs and wayfinding

Good, clear white-on-blue signs around site. A small map is available, as the site is large and many buildings are scattered around, but it is best to ask.

Other

  • Very good lighting in lecture theatres and laboratories.
  • Risk assessments are undertaken for individuals with visual impairments, and the appropriate adaptations are made.

Hearing Impairments

Induction loops

Induction loop in main lecture theatre. Two more induction loops, plus a portable loop, are due to be acquired, for use in the other lecture theatre and seminar rooms.

Other

  • The main lecture theatre is fairly small and has acoustics tiles and a PA system installed.
  • Library is very quiet.

Specific Learning Difficulties and Mental Health Issues

Discuss your individual needs with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre and with your Clinical Adviser. Lecture notes and other information can be provided in advance or in different formats if needed.

Planned and Currently Ongoing Access Improvements

  • Improved side entrance to main building.
  • Some heavy doors are being replaced.
  • Ramps are being fitted to the Neurosciences building to improve access.
  • More hearing loops are being installed.
  • Other adaptations can be made as and when needed.

The information on this page is the responsibility of the Department of Veterinary Medicine. The ADRC updates information as it is received from the Department. This page was last updated on 18th December 2012. To ensure the information contained here is current, please check with the Department of Veterinary Medicine.