Development of a Universal Design policy & action plan and customised accessibility training for the University of Galway.
University College Galway is one of Ireland’s largest educational institutions and is one of the National University of Ireland colleges. O’Herlihy Access Consultancy (OHAC) partnered with the University of Galway to develop a Universal Design approach to enhance the overall staff, student and visitor experience.
Co-Design of Accessibility Policy and Action Plan
Incorporating a process of consultation and engagement, we partnered with the University to enable the delivery of improved accessibility for education and services within the University. The project focused on all the touch points of accessibility including, the development of policies and action plans, Access Audits, University of Galway campus buildings, Estates, Facilities and Health & Safety, Teaching and Learning as well as Curriculum development, Student Services, Specialist Student supports, Human Resources and Reasonable Accommodation, procurement of Goods and Services and Staff Training.
Bespoke Training and Awareness Raising Programme
OHAC developed and delivered a customised classroom-based training programme for the University of Galway to raise awareness and increase understanding of the barriers faced by people with an emphasis on the higher education sector. The training incorporated: the legislative context of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and Disability Act and Employment Equality legislation; exploration of own attitudes towards disability and accessibility, creating a disability-inclusive environment beyond compliance, developing an awareness of practical measures in relation to equality and diversity issues and identify and address any potential inequalities in systems, procedures and practices in service delivery, roles and responsibilities of staff in supporting the implementation of accessible policies and procedures and supporting reasonable accommodation.
Follow-up was provided after all training sessions with additional feedback and resources provided to all delegates.