Breadcrumbs

Disabled access

Overview: Somerville is located on Woodstock Road near Jericho, about 10 minutes from the University Science Area, and between 10 and 15 minutes from most University departments, colleges and the city centre.

There is generally a fairly high level of accessibility to the College's facilities, and the College is happy to work with students to adapt rooms and equipment for accessibility.  Five rooms are already adapted for students with disabilities; the College has also provided equipment required by several students with visual impairments. Adapted computer software, desks and chairs can be provided on request.

College Site: The gate at the main entrance is open between 7am and 8.30pm on all days of the week and there is no step to climb. Outside these hours, there is a wicket gate within the main gate with initial +1 step to get over. The Porters' Lodge is on the right inside the main entrance and is equipped with a hearing loop. Student pigeonholes are directly accessible in the Lodge. There is an access control system in operation with automatic sliding door entry next to the Porters' Lodge.

There is also an entrance from Little Clarendon Street, which has a bicycle ramp and a gate, and is only accessible with a key. The gate has a heavy spring lock key; the gate's bottom bar is less than 0.5" high and does not impede entrance. This entrance leads to the left side of Main Quad, facing the Library. Most College facilities are on the right of Main Quad.

The College bar is in a building called ‘House' to which there is flat access. The entrance to the bar is a further +1 step. There is a telephone at the entrance to House. There are TVs in the Bar and in the JCR in Park Building: the main entrance to Park has +2 steps but a movable ramp can be made available. The main laundry room is in Park with a short permanent ramp into the laundry room. The laundry room in Darbishire has full access via ramp. There are also laundry facilities in Vaughan (basement), Penrose (ground floor) and Dorothy Hodgkin (1st floor).

The Library is on the north side of Main Quad and the main entrance has 4+ steps but the ground floor is fully accessible to wheelchair users through the side entrance to the right. The librarian and her staff are happy to retrieve any needed books from the first floor.

The Hall is accessible by lift from the ground floor of House. The Hall has moveable chairs and the self-service counter is through a 670mm door. There is a hearing loop in the main Hall. 

There are two disabled WCs; one is located on the first floor of House near the Hall and the second is on the ground floor of Hostel next to the Bursary and is directly accessible from the Traffic Quad. There are handrails on most buildings' staircases and some corridors; there are accessible toilets in all ground floor buildings.

The Chapel is equipped with a hearing loop and is fully accessible by ramp.

Accommodation: All first year undergraduates have their own study-bedrooms and all finalists can be housed in college. Some second year students also live in. All rooms are connected to the College ethernet. Five rooms are already adapted for students with disabilities. There are a total of 40 ground floor rooms in Darbishire, Maitland, Penrose, Park, Lodge House and West Lodge.  There are 6 ground floor bedrooms in Darbishire and 4 ground floor bedrooms in Maitland with disabled access. Darbishire, Penrose and Maitland are equipped with disabled showers and toilets.

Catering: Meals are available at subsidised rates and there is provision for special diets.