Physical, hearing, or visual impairment

We will work with you to establish the support you require. This may include:

• advice and guidance on the requirements of your course to help identify where difficulty may occur and how to accommodate this
• liaison with your department regarding your impairment and adjustments they can make to help you access the course
• advice on the assistance provided by student support workers
• your named adviser can give you more information on learning support and examination arrangements
• liaison with local agencies eg social services (if appropriate)
• Possible further support via Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA)

In addition to the general support available, we can also provide:

• information regarding accessible accommodation
• advice on how personal care requirements are met
• guidance for students using personal care assistants and/or requiring individual room adaptations (.pdf)

Colchester Campus

The Colchester Campus is largely accessible for most people with a mobility impairment. The teaching buildings are interconnected and as a result, there are multiple lifts to all floors. The campus is built on the side of the hill so there are some slopes. The car parks are a little distance away from most of the main buildings. There is a large amount of residential accommodation on site.

There is detailed information on physical access including access guides, information on parking and a step-free map of Colchester Campus.

Loughton Campus

The Loughton Campus consists of a number of different sites and buildings with variable and sometimes limited access. There is parking at Hatfields House. Your Student Services Hub can advise you on accommodation in the local area.

Southend Campus

The Southend Campus has accessible purpose-built teaching facilities at the Gateway Building and learning space at The Forum. The ground floor of the Clifftown studios is accessible although first-floor studios have no lift for access. Accommodation and public parking are a short distance from the buildings.

In addition to the general support available, we can also provide:

• liaison with Accommodation to provide a vibrating fire alarm for your room or facilities for an assistive dog
• information on how to access the audio induction loop system available via the Audio Visual Services helpdesk
• liaison with local agencies to provide sign language interpreters or lip speakers
• information on how to access to the University's Type Talk account which communicates with minicom users

In addition to the general support available, we can also provide:

• information regarding accessible accommodation including facilities for guide dogs
• information on physical access including orientation
• advice and facilitate the transcription of course material into alternative formats

Physical access

The campuses are physically accessible and a Braille map is available of the Colchester Campus. Practical Support Assistants can provide an induction to the campus or we can liaise with provisional agencies to provide specialist orientation.