Information for people with visual impairments
Information about the
Broadstairs Campus
Orientation
Mobility and Safety on Campus
Access to Learning and Teaching
Personal Computing
Library
Examinations and Assessment
Guide Dogs
Useful websites
Students may find that it is helpful to come and visit the Campus for a few days before Freshers’ Week and their studies begin. Orientation is usually offered in conjunction with the Kent Association for the Blind. Prospective students who wish to take up this option should contact the Disability Team as soon as their place is confirmed in order to arrange this.
Visitors to the Campus should contact their group leader or person organising their visit to establish their requirements for orientation or guidance around the Campus.
Mobility and Safety
The Broadstairs Campus has a fairly simple layout, but there are
still areas shared by vehicles and pedestrians, low walls,
changes in level and other features that you need to be aware
of, in order to ensure your safety. Orientation sessions will
help to achieve this, but please do not hesitate to request
assistance from the Disability Team or Reception Staff if you
need guiding to a part of the Campus you have not yet visited.
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Access to learning and teaching
Teaching is carried out in lectures, seminars, tutorials and
practical sessions, depending upon the type of programme you are
following. In order for the content of these sessions to be made
accessible to you, you should inform the Disability Team as
soon as possible of your preferred format for written
information. Lecture notes are often made available via the BlackBoard Virtual Learning Environment, or sent via email to
students.
Some students may be provided with a note taker or a recording
device for note taking in lectures, funded by their Disabled
Students Allowances. The Disability Team is able to assist
students to recruit a note taker from the pool of academic
support workers used by the university.
The university has the following facilities, to assist students
to access written materials via their preferred format:
Brailling facilities at the Canterbury Campus, which are used to
transcribe information for students studying at all Campuses.
Assistive software such as JAWS and Lunar Plus will be made
available to students who require it.
Scanners (Open Access areas in the Library)
Personal reader service (contact
Disability Team)
Personal Computing
The
Computing Department’s web pages provide information about
support for disabled students.
The Library’s web pages provide information about support for disabled students.
Disabled students are entitled to reasonable adjustments for examinations and assessments. For blind and partially sighted people, these may include:
Examination papers in Braille or large print.
Use of a scribe
Use of a PC with assistive software
Consideration for spelling
Extra time.
Contact the Disability Team to discuss your needs.
A relief area will be provided at Broadstairs on request. Students in halls of residence or houses may also be accompanied by their guide dogs, following an assessment of the most suitable accommodation for both dog and student.
