Physical Disabilites and Mobility Difficulties

The University offers a range of assistance for students with mobility difficulties:

• You can apply for extra funding for mobility and learning aids and support workers. Applications are made directly to Student Finance England (or equivalent) for the Disabled Students’ Allowances.
• Alternative arrangements can be made if you feel you may have difficulty using the libraries, photocopiers etc.
• Reasonable adjustments can be agreed to ensure you can access your learning, teaching and assessments.
• Most buildings are now accessible to wheelchair users and plans are in place to ensure all buildings will be accessible in the near future. However, some lifts are not wide enough to accommodate chairs that are wider than 33cm.
• Every effort is made to ensure that students are timetabled to have classes that are accessible.
• There are clearly marked parking spaces for Blue Badge holders at various locations available on both campuses.
• There are eight bedrooms accessible to wheelchair users in the campus accommodation at Bishop Otter, six en-suite and two with shared shower rooms. There are two wheelchair accessible rooms at Bognor Regis. Further wheelchair accessible bedrooms are available at the accommodation at Stockbridge and Fishbourne. These are under two miles from the Chichester campus and approximately seven miles from the Bognor Regis campus.
• The University has a policy for evacuation of students with mobility difficulties from above the ground floor in an emergency. If you would like to receive a copy of this, please phone the Disability and Dyslexia Service on 01243 812076 or email disability@chi.ac.uk.
• The University does not offer a Personal Assistance Service for students who require personal care. Students requiring Personal Care Support should discuss this with their home Social Services Department.
• We have accessible toilets on both campuses.
• We welcome your comments on how to make our campuses more accessible, and to indicate any areas that are difficult. Students are encouraged to join either the Disability Equality Group or the Students’ Union to ensure their voice is heard.

The University operates on two sites, one in Chichester at the Bishop Otter campus, the other at Bognor Regis. Both campuses are fairly compact, and are situated on generally level ground with some sloping areas.

Both campuses are within a mile of the town centre. The route from the Chichester campus to the town centre is uneven in parts and there is a slight hill. The route from the Bognor Regis campus to the town centre is flat.

Physical access to every area of both campuses is currently not possible for wheelchair users and for those with mobility difficulties; however, central services are accessible.

For example, the Learning Resource Centres, Student Support and Wellbeing, the Registry, Academic Services, Reception, Chapel, Health Centre, Students’ Union and both Refectories are all accessible. The university has embarked on a series of works to ensure all areas will be accessible in the near future.

Where buildings or classes are not accessible, the university makes a commitment to reschedule classes to more suitable locations. There are accessible toilets located on both campuses. As with any institution, applicants are advised to visit the campus before applying for a place.

We advise all our students to familiarise themselves with the university’s health and safety policy. Copies are displayed in all buildings on both campuses.

The university has a policy for evacuation of students with mobility difficulties from above the ground floor in an emergency. If you would like to receive a copy of this, please phone the Disability and Dyslexia Service on 01243 812076 or email disability@chi.ac.uk.

There is a regular bus service between the two campuses run by the local bus company; these buses are accessible to most students with mobility difficulties.

Students and staff who wish to park on campus are required to apply for a permit. However, blue badge holders can park free of charge. There are clearly marked disabled parking bays for blue badge holders.

Please note, students living on campus are not allowed to bring their cars to the university. The only exception to this will be holders of a blue disabled parking badge. Some of the off-campus accommodation allows students to park cars for an annual fee.

There are two Learning Resource Centres, one on each campus, both accessible to wheelchair users. These centres include a full range of library services. Your choice of subject may determine which library you choose to use. However, you don’t need to travel if the book you want is stored on the other campus. There is an integrated computer system that covers all the library’s services, and provides a valuable information system to students. If you require regular help to use the resources in the library, please contact the Disability Coordinator and they will inform the subject librarians.

All first-year students receive an induction on how to use the library services, including I.T. and the University Moodle (the student learning platform). In addition, individual sessions can be arranged with subject librarians if necessary.

The majority of computer and study tables are of a standard height, and may not be suitable for all wheelchair users. However, adaptable study tables are available at each campus library and there are suitable wheelchair computer tables in the ground floor computer room in the Learning Resources Centre. This centre also has some specialist software and equipment, useful for students with a visual impairment and some students with dyslexia.

Once you have joined the library you can access the computers, internet and intranet. Specialist technical help is provided in the computer rooms.

There is a loans service for multi-media equipment. Quiet study areas are available, and both group and individual study rooms can be booked. Videos and audio tapes can be reviewed on open access equipment. Opening hours are extended during the academic year in order to be flexible enough to meet the needs of students.