In 2018, a survey of disabled staff and students in the Faculty of English highlighted that events organised outside of 9 West Road are not always accessible. 

This particularly effects events organised in colleges and post-seminar socialising, where the only access to the pub or restaurant is via steps. 

There are some simple things that can be done to make sure all staff and students feel welcome.

If you are organising an event, please:

• consider how accessible the venue is to anyone with a mobility issue and whether the event can be moved if the only access is via steps;
• add accessibility information to the event invitation – this need only be brief and many venues supply this information on their website.  

The DRC provide access information for most Colleges, Departments and Faculties.

CUSU have created an ‘Accessibility statement generator’ that will provide clear and concise access information for events.

Access Cambridge provides access information for eating/drinking in Cambridge. This is in the process of being updated. CUSU also list a small number of accessible pubs and cafes you might consider using.

‘You might think, it doesn’t take long for someone to just send an email to ask [about accessibility] – but if someone has to send an email to ask about every conference panel, meeting, social event, and talk that they attend, that actually does take a lot of time and energy. Even if you can’t make your event accessible, you can actually help just by publicising the fact that it isn’t! Publically accessible information is so helpful. Bear in mind that if no one comes to your seminar or events who seems to you to have a disability, this doesn’t mean that you don’t need to publicise this information because no one needs it – you can’t be sure that someone isn’t coming *because* of this lack of information or accessibility.’ (Respondent to survey, 2018)