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Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre

ADRC
 

Contact Details

Address
William Gates Building,
15 JJ Thomson Avenue,
Cambridge CB3 0FD
Tel.
01223 763 500
Fax
01223 334 678
Email
departmental-secretary@cl.cam.ac.uk
Website
http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/

Access Issues

Contact
Ms Lise Gough
Tel.
01223 334 656
Fax
01223 334 678
Email
lise.gough@cl.cam.ac.uk

Location, Services and Transport

West Cambridge Site. See separate entry for West Cambridge Site.

General Information

Building opened in 2001 with good access. A proximity card security system allows out of hours access, and access to some teaching and research areas. First year undergraduates are mainly taught on the New Museums Site (see separate entries as required), but lectures and teaching can be moved to more accessible locations if necessary.

Smoking

No smoking anywhere in the building or on the surrounding paths.

Medical facilities

Several first aiders in the department. First aid room.

Emergency procedures

Evacuation chairs fitted. Orange areas of the building denote fire escapes and refuges.

Physical Access

Entrances

Level access at main entrance through two sets of automatic doors. Reception with low counter. Level side entrance.

Number of floors

Three floors in total, including ground floor.

Lifts and stairs

Two large lifts to all floors. All stairs have continuous handrails.

Lecture theatres

Level access to both large and small lecture theatres. Both are tiered, with soft fold-down seats and a designated wheelchair space at the front. First year lectures take place in the New Museums Site, Mill Lane Lecture Rooms, the Arts School and the Centre for Mathematical Sciences.

Seminar/teaching rooms

Teaching laboratory is large and spacious, with level access by lift. Moveable chairs. Individual workstations can be adapted according to need and reserved. MPhil teaching room and seminar room also fully accessible.

Library

Ground level access, carpeted and spacious inside. Plenty of workspace. Sufficient space between shelves, with some rolling stacks. Low issue desk, staffed office hours. Disabled toilet outside.

Computer facilities

Many computers in teaching lab and MPhil teaching room, all accessible and adaptable according to need.

Toilets

Six modern disabled toilets, clearly signposted in various locations around the building.

Common rooms

Level access to main common room from lift. Carpeted and spacious, with low tables and chairs. Other furniture could be acquired if needed. Kitchens on every floor and most corners of the building for staff and PhD only.

Other

  • Cafeteria on ground floor serving drinks, snacks and light lunches. All level and accessible, with a disabled toilet nearby.
  • Titan and Phoenix teaching rooms on New Museums Site used for undergraduates — see separate entry for the Computing Service.

Visual Impairments

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs welcome.

Computer facilities

Various software and hardware can be made available, including speech recognition software — discuss your needs in advance. Computers can be adapted and reserved if needed.

Large print, Braille and audio

Large print information on prior request. Touch readable buttons and audio information in lift.

Library and magnification equipment

Good lighting in library, with large windows and extra lights on individual desks. Automatic lights in bookshelves. Photocopier available.

Signs and wayfinding

Clear white-on-blue signs all round the building.

Other

  • Large windows and good lighting generally in all areas of the building, particularly the teaching lab.
  • Dual projectors and very large screens in lecture theatres.
  • Stairs are all marked and have continuous handrails.
  • Glass doors have been a problem in the past, but extra frosting has recently been put in place to increase their visibility.

Hearing Impairments

Induction loops

Induction loops in both lecture theatres.

Other

  • Building is fairly open plan, so public areas can be noisy when lectures change over.
  • Most of the building is carpeted and softly furnished, however, so individual rooms and teaching areas are quiet.

Specific Learning Difficulties and Mental Health Issues

Various pieces of equipment available to help students with Specific Learning Difficulties. Other arrangements in conjunction with the ADRC. Discuss your needs with the Disability Liaison Officer.

Planned Access Improvements

Automatic door openers may soon be installed in some areas, such as the library and teaching rooms.

Other Useful Information

  • Equipment to help with repetitive strain injury can be provided, such as different types of mice, templates, writing boards and speech recognition systems. Please ask if you need anything.

The information on this page is the responsibility of the Department of Computer Sciences. The ADRC updates information as it is recevied from the Department. To ensure the information contained here is current, please check with the Department of Computer Sciences.