AOCM Disability Survey

AOCM has recently surveyed the provision made by theological colleges for candidates with disabilities. The aims of the survey were to highlight provision already made by institutions, and to provide candidates and Directors of Ordinands with some guidance as to the resources and facilities available at colleges.

The next stage of the process will be to survey courses. Here the situation will be somewhat different since courses often use buildings such as schools that are required by statute to be adapted to disabled use. By contrast many colleges struggle to adapt buildings designed and built in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century.

Questionnaires were sent to all theological colleges in England Ireland and Wales. Replies were received from the following:

1. College of the Resurrection (Mirfield)
2. Cranmer Hall, Durham
3. Oak Hill College, London
4. Ridley Hall, Cambridge
5. St John's College, Nottingham
6. St Michael's College, Llandaff
7. St Stephen's House, Oxford
8. Theological Institute of the Scottish Episcopal Church (TISEC), Edinburgh
9. Westcott House, Cambridge
10. Wilson Carlisle College, Sheffield (the Church Army)
11. Wycliffe Hall, Oxford

 In the following summary responses are keyed to this list by number.

The questionnaire was designed by Sarah Archer (Cuddesdon). Eve Rose (Queens) and Simon Rundell (College of the Resurrection). We also received valuable comments from Church Action on Disability (50 Scrutton Street, London, EC2A 4XQ) and particularly from its national co-ordinator Wayne Morris, and its Chair, the Revd John Naude.

College Mirf (1) Cran (2) Oak (3) Rid (4) John (5) Mich (6) Steph (7) Edin (8) Westc (9) Wils (10) Wycl (11)
Do you have a member of staff designated and trained to be aware of disability issues? No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes No No No
                       
Disabled Access Mirf (1) Cran (2) Oak (3) Rid (4) John (5) Mich (6) Steph (7) Edin (8) Westc (9) Wils (10) Wycl (11)
Entrance to Main Buildings Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes
Parking Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Accommodation Yes No Yes No No Yes No No No Yes No
Bathrooms/Toilets Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes No Yes No
Telephones Yes No No No No Yes No Yes No No No
Corridors Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No No No Yes No
Television Room Yes Yes No No Yes No No No No No No
Lecture/Seminar Rooms Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No Yes No
Common Room Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No Yes No
Laundry Yes No Yes No No Yes No No No No No
Dining Room/Refectory Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No Yes No
Chapel/Worship Room Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes
Library Yes No Yes No Yes Yes No No No Yes No
Computer Room Yes No Yes No Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No
                       
Facilities for the Hearing-Impaired Mirf (1) Cran (2) Oak (3) Rid (4) John (5) Mich (6) Steph (7) Edin (8) Westc (9) Wils (10) Wycl (11)
Visible Fire-Alarms No No No Yes No Yes No Yes No No No
Induction-Loop in Lecture-Rooms No Yes Yes No No No No No No Yes No
Sign-Language/Interpreter; Voice/Text Transcription No No No No No Yes No No No No No
Facilities for Video-Recording Lectures and Presentations No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No Yes
A textphone on a dedicated line and trained staff to use it No No No No No No No No No No No
Well-lit area (chapel, lecture rooms etc.) to support lip-reading Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
                       
Facilities for the Sight-Impaired Mirf (1) Cran (2) Oak (3) Rid (4) John (5) Mich (6) Steph (7) Edin (8) Westc (9) Wils (10) Wycl (11)
Large-Print Liturgy No Yes No No No No Yes No No Yes Yes
Audio-Recording of Lectures No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No
Braille-Service for Papers No No No Yes No No No No No No No
Reading Service for Books and Papers Yes Yes No Yes No No Yes No No No Yes
Well-Lit Areas Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
                       
Facilities for Students with Dyslexia Mirf (1) Cran (2) Oak (3) Rid (4) John (5) Mich (6) Steph (7) Edin (8) Westc (9) Wils (10) Wycl (11)
Computer Access Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Voice-activated computers with dictation No Yes Yes No No No No No No No No
Learning Support Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes No
                       
Facilities for Special Dietary Needs Mirf (1) Cran (2) Oak (3) Rid (4) John (5) Mich (6) Steph (7) Edin (8) Westc (9) Wils (10) Wycl (11)
Vegetarian Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Vegan Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Nut-Allergy Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Dairy-Product Allergy Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Low Sodium Diet Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Gluten-Free Diet Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

The answers given above reflect the current situation in colleges; many respondents made the point that resources could be provided according to need. Some Colleges, such as Ridley, Cranmer and St Stephen's House are in the process of fund-raising appeals part of which is directed towards improved access.

Colleges with close affiliations to universities (such as Oak Hill with Middlesex, Cranmer with Durham and St Stephen's House and Wycliffe Hall with Oxford) can access facilities for students with Dyslexia and sight-impairment through those institutions.

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