Disabled Students

The request was partially successful.

Dear Southampton Solent University,

I would like to make the following Freedom of Information request:

Can you tell me how much money the University has spent/invested in access for disabled students during the years 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010? (Include what the money was specifically spent on)

Can you tell me how much money the University has budgeted for disabled student access/improvement for the academic year 2010-2011?

What is the University’s procedure/requirements in supplying student accommodation to a disabled student? (To clarify: what forms do they need to fill in, what do they have to state in the application, do they have to show various disability forms)

What initiatives have the University created in supporting disabled access/wheelchair friendly use in the years 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 for students?

How many disabled students have attended the University in the periods 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 ? (If possible include this year’s academic figures).

What wheelchair supervisions (ramps, signs) are in place for disabled students at the University? (state specifically there deployment around the University)

Can you also provide me with a form of the University's official policy for disabled students

Thank you for your time

Kind Regards

Stuart

Freedom of Information, Solent University, Southampton

Dear Stuart Appleby

Re: Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

Thank you for your request for information, received by Southampton Solent
University on 4 October 2010, requesting information on disabled student?s
access provisions, numbers and University Policy.

Your request will be considered and you will receive the information
requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days, as defined by
the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information
Regulations 2004, subject to the information not being exempt.

The Act defines a number of exemptions that may prevent release of the
information you have requested. Should this prove to be the case after
your request is assessed, you will be formally informed of this, including
your right to appeal.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, a fees
notice will be issued to you which you will be required to pay before we
proceed with your request.

Yours sincerely

Naomi Notman
Information Management & Compliance Officer

cc. Zita Eckett MBE
Head of Planning

Fax: 023 8023 3475
E-mail: [Solent University request email]

Freedom of Information, Solent University, Southampton

3 Attachments

Dear Stuart Appleby

Re: Request for Information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

Thank you for your request for information, received by Southampton Solent
University on 4 October 2010, requesting information on disabled student?s
access provisions, numbers and University Policy.

Please find the University?s response below.

1. Can you tell me how much money the University has spent/invested
in access for disabled students during the years 2006-2007, 2007-2008,
2008-2009 and 2009-2010? (Include what the money was specifically spent
on)

Southampton Solent University has undertaken works to maintain and develop
access for disabled users of the University continuously over a number of
years, including access ramps, disabled toilet and washing facilities.
However, these works have been undertaken as part of the University?s
standard maintenance and development of the campus and therefore,
individual figures for specific work in relation to access for disabled
students is extremely difficult to ascertain.

In order for the University to retrieve the data in the way it has been
requested, all individual invoices over the last 4 academic years would
have to be examined to retrieve the specific items and expenditure. With
this in mind, the University has undertaken the Public Interest Test in
respect of your request and has concluded that it would be manifestly
unreasonable for the University to incur the significant cost of
allocating the necessary resources to undertake this activity.

The University can however provide a summary of its total spend per annum
on Capital funded DDA (Accessibility) Project works for the period 2001-02
to 2008-09 inclusive which amounts to a total spend of £2,028,080.00.

Year
2001/02
2002/03
2003/04
2004/05
2005/06
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09
Total
Value
£55,430.
£314,450.
£286,650.
£513,880.
£307,070.
£182,010.
£334,090.
£34,500.
£2,028,080.

(Please note the values provided are not inclusive of the DDA
(Accessibility) items that are generally revenue funded and have been
undertaken as an integral part of standard maintenance and refurbishment
development work, for which separate values cannot be provided for the
reasons stated above.)

In addition, a list of typical types of works undertaken as part of these
Projects is listed below:

· Lifts upgrade DDA
· Tactile paving
· Steps and ground approach modifications
· Ramps and stair/platform lifts
· Bollards
· Improved signage
· Security locks (adaptations)
· Access doors (improvements and adaptations)
· Refurbish stairs and landings nosings
· Electrical modification for doors
· Reception desk modifications
· Handrails around site
· Disabled toilets (created)
· Computer trolleys and software
· Wheelchair access and charging
· Residential Halls works for disabled student access. Lifts.
Bathroom, Bedroom and Kitchen adaptations.
· Vehicle and pedestrian surface works and access Warsash
· Parking facilities and access improvements
· Millias Gallery ramp access and doors
· Loops and Deaf alerters for fire alarms
· Automatic door openers
· Entrance improvements
· Stair nosing improvements
· Guide Dog pen construction

2. Can you tell me how much money the University has budgeted for
disabled student access/improvement for the academic year 2010-2011?

Southampton Solent University incorporates work to improve disabled users
access of the University as part of its standard maintenance and
development works across the University?s estate, therefore no separate
budget is allocated specifically for disabled person access/improvement
for each academic year.

3. What are the University?s procedure/requirements in supplying
student accommodation to a disabled student? (To clarify: what forms do
they need to fill in, what do they have to state in the application, do
they have to show various disability forms)

A number of 'adapted' rooms are available across the University's
residences. Wheelchair accessible rooms and specially adapted rooms are
available in the Hamwic, Kimber (inc the David Moxon Annexe) and Lucia
Foster Welch residences. Provision is also provided for residents with
other medical conditions/disabilities including; blind/partially sighted,
deaf/hard of hearing, long standing illnesses, i.e. diabetes, epilepsy,
learning difficulties i.e. AD(H)D.

Information regarding provision in the residences can be found on the web
page links below:

http://www.solent.ac.uk/accommodation/di...

http://www.solent.ac.uk/welfare/disabili...

http://blade2-5.solent.ac.uk/DocMan8/OCS...
(Accommodation Booklet) Pages 13,14,17,23, 29 & 31

Applicants are asked to provide information regarding their medical
condition/disability on their UCAS form, or alternatively contact the
University's Disability Coordinator (Access Solent) directly.

Access Solent advises the Accommodation Office of any applicants they are
aware of who have requested university accommodation and a brief detail of
their requirements. Based on this information the Accommodation Office
will reserve a room for the applicant.

Applicants with additional requirements are invited by either the
Accommodation Office or the Residences Team to visit the residences to
discuss their requirements with the Residence staff. At this time the
applicant's Social Worker or Occupational Therapist may also be invited to
assess the potential rooms and advise of any further reasonable
adaptations.

Once the applicant has been given an Unconditional Offer they are sent a
Accommodation Application Form - see attached. They are asked to declare
their medical condition/disability on the form. Once received in the
Accommodation Office any declarations are checked against the information
sent from Access Solent. If there is no information regarding the
applicant, the Accommodation Office will make Access Solent aware. If the
declaration requires any further clarification a member of the
Accommodation team will contact the applicant directly.

Please find attached below the University?s Booking Form for 2010 and the
allocation guidance for returning students for 2010 entry.

4. What initiatives have the University created in supporting
disabled access/ wheelchair friendly use in the years 2006-2007,
2007-2008, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 for students?

The University?s Equality Programme 2010-11 and Disability Equality Scheme
2006-09 provide the University?s initiatives in relation to disability,
incorporating disabled access/ wheelchair friendly use. Examples of the
implementation of such initiatives are listed under part one of your
request.

Disability Equality Scheme 2006-09:
http://portal-live.solent.ac.uk/services...

Equality Programme 2010-11:
http://portal-live.solent.ac.uk/services...

5. How many disabled students have attended the University in the
periods 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010? (If possible
include this year?s academic figures).

Academic Year
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
Number of students that identified themselves as having a disability
790
829
971
1164

6. What wheelchair supervisions (ramps, signs) are in place for
disabled students at the University? (State specifically there deployment
around the University)

Please find attached a map indicating disabled user?s access routes on
East Park Terrace.

In addition to the attached map, please find listed below additional
internal ramps and lifts in place across East Park Terrace, as well the
University?s Warsash Maritime Academy.

East Park Terrace

· Millais building west end access from street
· Millais building lift access to all floors (west end)
· Millais building platform lift levels 1-0
· Mountbatten library Ramped access to main doors
· Mountbatten library to east Staff entrance
· Mitchell building and refectory ramped access from car park
· Mitchell building Lift access to all floors
· Mitchell building Platform lift floors 2-2 upper and 2 lower
· Mitchell building stair lift floor 1- Sports Hall
· Mitchell building Ramped access to Andrews building
· Mitchell building ramped exit from stair D (fire exit) floor 0
· Andrews building ramped entrance from EPT
· Andrews building Lift access to all floors
· Andrews building Platform lift to coffee shop
· Andrews building Platform lift to LT1
· Andrews Building Stair lift to LT2
· Cockerell building ramped access from car park
· Cockerell building ramped access from east end ( HC building)
· Collins building, lift access to all floors
· Student Union ramped access to main entrance
· Student Union, lift access to all floors.
· All wheelchair entrances/exits have auto door

Warsash

· Ramped access to reception building
· 2x Stair lifts Moyana building
· Ramped access to Drummond building

7. Can you also provide me with a form of the University's official
policy for disabled students?

The University?s Equality Programme can be located on the University?s
public portal pages at:
http://portal-live.solent.ac.uk/services...

Southampton Solent University also provides a disabled student induction
at the beginning of each academic year; these briefings provide guidance
on staff awareness; exam arrangements; academic support; equipment loans;
Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA).

If you are in any way dissatisfied with the handling of your request,
please contact in the first instance the University?s Director of Finance
and Resources, Southampton Solent University, East Park Terrace,
Southampton SO14 0YN, e-mail: [email address] for an internal
review. Please note that this does not affect you right to appeal to the
Information Commissioner?s Office (www.ico.gov.uk) should you remain
dissatisfied with the University?s response.

Yours sincerely

Naomi Notman
Information Management and Compliance Officer

cc. Zita Eckett MBE
Head of Planning

Fax: 023 8023 3475
E-mail: [Solent University request email]