Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre Newsletter: November 2023

Latest news, events and opportunities for disabled students.

Get support and advice

Students chatting and relaxing outside

 

  • Talk to the Student Advice Service for free, confidential, and impartial advice about any problems you may have.
  • Find out about counselling groups and workshops that offer therapeutic support and the opportunity to meet other students.
  • Take a look at the careers website for information and advice about workplace adjustments, talking to employers about disability and more.

Get library support and training

Online drop-in sessions with the Disabled Students Campaign

Ask us about libraries and library support: 

  • Wednesday 8 November 2023 from 11am to midday on Google Meet.
  • Thursday 9 November 2023 from 3pm to 4pm on Google Meet.

Online training

Learn about electronic resources, accessibility tools and ways to listen to text:

There’s no need to sign up in advance. Follow the links to join a session.

Participate in research

Students studying in a booth


Test our new ADRC website and get paid

Help us understand if our new website meets your expectations. We want to know what works and what doesn't, and how we can improve the website for you.

In the session we'll ask you to complete a list of tasks. We'll observe how you interact with the website and what you think and feel about the task.

We'll write up our observations into a report that we can use to improve the website. All responses will be anonymous and only shared with the website project team.

  • Get £15 voucher per session.
  • Sessions are 1 hour and take place on Microsoft Teams (or similar if you can't access Teams).
  • Email Sujani Natarajan sk2020@cam.ac.uk to take part or ask questions.

Take part in dyslexia studies and get paid

We're looking for students to take part in two different dyslexia studies at the Centre for Neuroscience in Education. 

You need to be an English speaker between 18 and 40 years of age who has a diagnosis of developmental dyslexia.

All studies take place at the Department of Psychology, Craik Marshall Building, Downing Site, CB2 3EB.

Paid dyslexia music study

Take part in research into how dyslexic people perceive music and other sounds.

  • Get at least £20 for the 2 hour session.
  • Email Dr Manon Couvignou mc2474@cam.ac.uk to take part.

Paid dyslexia EEG study

Take part in electrophysiological research into how dyslexic people perceive speech and rhythmic sounds.

  • Get at least £25 for the 2 and a half hour session.
  • Email Mahmoud Keshavarzi mk919@cam.ac.uk to take part.

Come to events, meet-ups and groups

Students having fun playing table football


Take part in the ThinkLab Hackathon

The University of Cambridge ThinkLab is excited to introduce a unique hackathon. Competing research teams from Cambridge, BBC and Google will tackle challenges related to workplace accessibility and inclusion.

Take part in student discussion groups

The Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) is looking for disabled students or academic representatives to take part in online discussion groups about issues that affect students the most. 

Discussion lasts around 1 hour and there are usually 6 to 8 students in the group, along with two facilitators.

Come to weekly autism meet-ups

The Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) runs a weekly meet-up group during term time for autistic students. Everyone is welcome, you don’t need to have a diagnosis.

It's a relaxed and friendly space for everyone to share their experiences and interests and get to know other students.

The meet-ups take place during term time only:

  • Thursdays from 1pm to 2pm on Microsoft Teams (we'll send you a link to the event).
  • Fridays from 1pm to 2pm at the Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre, ground floor of the Student Services Centre, Bene’t Street, CB2 3PT.
  • Email disability@admin.cam.ac.uk to come along or ask questions.

Get involved with the Sign Language Society

The Cambridge University Sign Language Society promotes d/Deaf awareness and British Sign Language (BSL). 

Ria, who is on the committee and is Deaf herself, and a couple of other Deaf friends would like to create a forum where Deaf students can share their experiences and voice their thoughts.

Join the Hope and Healing group

The Hope and Healing support group is a space for self-identifying women who have experienced sexual harassment, assault or violence at any time in their lives.

It provides a safe space to discuss topics and impacts around sexual violence. We'll also explore coping strategies that people have found useful in the past.

Try Goalball with the Cambridge Dons 

Goalball is a Paralympic team sport for people with a visual impairment. Watch a YouTube video about Goalball.

Goalball is fully inclusive. You can take part if you are fully sighted, partially sighted and blind, or if you have additional disabilities.

  • Every other Saturday from 11am to 2pm at the Cherry Hinton Leisure Centre, Colville Rd, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge CB1 9EJ.
  • First 3 sessions are free, then it's £5 per session.
  • Bring indoor training shoes, long trousers and a long-sleeved top.
  • Email cambridge.dons@gmail.com to find out more.