Welcome to the Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre Transition Event 2022
Our online transition webpage aims to help prepare you for Cambridge university life. We know transitioning to University can be a challenging time so we have organised online resources including videos, live Ask an Adviser slido events, and a live workshop. We hope these videos and events help you feel ready and excited to be joining us in October.
For the this year we have organised a live event on Teams on Tuesday 20 September at 2pm. AbilityNet will be running a demonstration of free and low cost apps that may be helpful to you in your studies. Questions are welcome during the event, and the host, Lizi Green, will try to answer as many as possible at the end. We will record the session and publish it on the website with captions. We will be sending the Teams link via email the day before the event to those who have registered via Eventbrite.
For further information and to register: University of Cambridge - Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre Transition Event 2022 Tickets, Tue 20 Sep 2022 at 14:00 | Eventbrite
We also scheduled two sessions for you to ask any disability-related questions you have. Our disability advisers will be on hand to answer them:
Ask an Adviser slido event on Friday 23rd September 10am to 3pm. Link to join: ADRC Transition Event 1 (sli.do) or go to www.slido.com and use code 1002921
Ask an Adviser slido event on Monday 26th September 10am to 3pm. Link to join: ADRC Transition Event 2 (sli.do) or go to www.slido.com and use code 2587864
Please note that these sessions are for general enquiries only (you can choose to withhold your name). Please contact us with enquiries about your individual arrangements.
We also have two sessions for you to ask any Assistive Technology (AT) questions you may have. Our Assistive Technology Manager Darran Bryant will be on hand to answer them:
Ask the AT Manager slido event on Friday 23rd September 3pm to 4pm – Go to https://www.slido.com/ and use code 9404846 or this link
Ask the AT Manager slido event on Monday 26th September 3pm to 4pm - Go to https://www.slido.com/ and use code 3056932 or this link
Please note: questions can be asked and will be answered during the sessions. You can post questions prior to the start of the slido events, and they will be picked up during the above dates and times.
Here are some short videos (with captions available) and information on topics we think could be helpful:
1. Meet a Disability Adviser - Hannah Barton, disability adviser, answers commonly asked questions that incoming students have
2. Meet our Senior Disability Advisers: Dr Helen Duncan and Eleanor Girt-Izod talk about our service
3. Introduction to funding sources available to disabled students: Deb Taylor, Disability Adviser, outline disability-related funding that can be applied for
Links to funds mentioned:
Reasonable Adjustments Fund: Reasonable Adjustments Fund (RAF) | Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (cam.ac.uk)
International Disabled Students’ Fund: EU and International Students | Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (cam.ac.uk)
Disabled Students’ Allowance:
Northern Ireland Qualification level of your course - Student Finance NI
Scotland Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) - SAAS - Funding
4. Introduction to Specialist Mentoring: John Harding, Head of the ADRC, discusses specialist mentoring with Julie Bailey, one of our specialist mentors
5. Introduction to Study-skills sessions: Catherine Malone and Deborah Woolley talk about Note-taking in lectures and from readings
6. Meet our Assistive Technology Manager: Darran Bryant explains his role at the ADRC and what he can offer to disabled students
7. Meet a College Nurse: Susie Forster, college nurse at King’s College, explains the role of the college nurse and how they support students
8. Meet the Cambridge Student Union’s Disabled Students’ Officer: Elia Chitwa explains their role and what the Disabled Students’ Campaign is
9. Introduction to the Libraries Accessibility Service (LAS): Patrick Dowson and Lindsay Jones talk about their service and how you can access it
10. Welcome to Cambridge Libraries
11. Introduction to the Careers Service: Catherine Alexander talks about their service and how you can access it.
Meet your Disability Adviser
Students are assigned a disability adviser depending on what College they are at. You can find introductory videos with them below.
Please note that neurodiverse students will meet with a member of our neurodiversity team – led by Dr Helen Duncan - instead of or in addition to a College-assigned adviser.
Ken Ewing, Neurodiversity Adviser, and Joanna Hastwell, Autism Adviser, explain more about our service in this video:
Sally Ivens is our adviser for students at Churchill College and Wolfson College
Rachel Demery is the adviser for students at: Clare, Emmanuel (UG only), Girton, Lucy Cavendish, Newnham and St Edmund’s
Aless McCann is the adviser for students at: Darwin, Gonville & Caius, King’s, Magdalene, Robinson, Selwyn and St John’s.
Deb Taylor is the adviser for students at: Christ’s, Clare Hall, Homerton, Hughes Hall, Murray Edwards, Peterhouse and St Catharine’s.
Hannah Barton is the adviser for students at: Jesus, Pembroke, Corpus, Trinity Hall, Emmanuel (PG students) and Fitzwilliam.
Eleanor Girt-Izod is the adviser for students at: Downing College, Sidney Sussex and Trinity (please see previous video: Meet our Senior Disability Advisers)
John Harding is the Head of the ADRC and the adviser for students at Queens’ College
In the Transition Event 2021 section you will find videos and information on following topics:
- An introduction to the Accessibility Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre and staff
- Information on support and things to consider before you come up to Cambridge.
- Information on other student services including the Cambridge Students' Union
- Some information on what to expect of college life and study
If after watching the films you still have some questions, please email disability@admin.cam.ac.uk using the email subject line ‘Incoming Student Question’.
Further information on the ADRC can be found via the homepage or have a look at the virtual tour
Find further advice and support for disabled students here
The Cambridge Students' Union's Disabled Students' Campaign have also set up a private Facebook page for incoming disabled students to share thoughts and to ask questions.
We would like to remind you that if you have access requirements, and have not already done so, we recommend that you complete our Student Information Form as soon as possible.
Finally we would like to wish you a great academic year ahead.
Best wishes,
ADRC Team