Disabled Access Guide for Aitken

The Vale Village is around a 15 to 20 minute walk from the main campus and approximately 3km from the Birmingham city centre. The Vale is set in a relaxing conservation area with its own lake.

It is home to over 2700 students of mainly undergraduates, although there some rooms available for a small number of postgraduates in our new apartments at Mason and the existing studios and apartments at Shackleton. It has a mixture of both self catered and meal plan flats.

At the heart of the village is The Hub which boasts fantastic facilities for all the Vale and non-Vale residents to use. It compromises of Fusion (a dining area and venue space); Bar One (main bar & nightclub); Costcutter and The Vale convenience store, and a 24 hour cash machine.

It has recently been confirmed that Block A of Aitken will be designated to Undergraduates on a 42 week Meal Plan option, and Blocks B & C are to be allocated to Postgraduate students on a 50 week self catered option.

Aitken is a complex of 23 six and eight bedroom self catered flats, housing a total of 147 students.

• 20 minutes walk from main campus [map]
• Shared kitchen and bathroom facilities
• 42 week Meal Plan contract for undergraduate students (September 27 2010 to July 15 2011) - residence fee £5,265
• 50 week Self Catered contract for postgraduate students (September 27 2010 to September 9 2011) - residence fee £4,695
• All flats are fully furnished. For more information about the full inventory.
• Cooking utensils and bedding are not included
• Utility charges, insurance, data connection and internal calls are included in the rent. For more information on these services and facilities.

Aitken forms part of the Vale Village development of Student residences. The Village accommodates over 2700 mainly undergraduate students. At the heart of the Village is the hub which boasts fantastic facilities for all University of Birmingham students, (both residents of the Vale village and elsewhere). The hub comprises of Fusion (a dining and social space), Bar One, (main bar and nightclub), shops and a 24-hour cash machine.

Aitken consists of 3 blocks, block A being designated to Undergraduate students on a catered 42-week mealPlan option, and blocks B & C are allocated for Postgraduate students on a 50-week self-catering option.

The block surveyed was B block.

The venue is approximately 1.5km, (20 minutes walk) from the centre of the University

The venue is not on a road with a steep gradient.

The nearest mainline Railway Station is University.

There is a bus stop within 150m (164yds) of the venue.

This venue does have its own car park.

Parking is not free for all users.

Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.

The car park is at the side of the venue.

The car park type is open air/surface.

Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders do not need to be booked in advance.

There are 0 designated parking bay(s) within the car park.

The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.

Assistance may be required because there is/are slopes/ramps.

The car park surface is tarmac.

There is a dropped kerb/non stepped access from the car park to the venue.

The dropped kerb does not have tactile paving.

The patron does not have to cross a road.

The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.

There is not a designated drop off point.

This information is for the entrance located at front of the building.

There is not level access to the service.

The main doors open away from you (push).

The doors are single width.

The doors are heavy.

The door opening is 77cm (2ft 6in) wide.

There are steps to access this area/service.

The steps are located on the path leading down to the entrance.

There are 15+ steps to the area/service.

The steps are not clearly marked.

The steps are deep.

The steps do have handrails.

The handrails are on both sides.

There is level access to the service.

The lighting levels are varied.

The floors which are accessible by stairs are G-1.

There are 15+ steps between floors.

The steps are not clearly marked.

The steps are deep.

The steps do have handrails.

The steps have a handrail on both sides.

There is a landing.

The services on the floors which are not accessible are additional flats.

This information is for the stairs in front of the flat entrance.

There are a set of stairs inside each flat leading up to additional rooms and additional communal toilets.

Room Information

Adapted Bathroom

Bath and Shower

Wheel In Shower

Colour contrast and lighting in adapted rooms

Colour contrast and lighting in adapted bathroom

Auxiliary Aids - general

Standard Rooms

There are no accessible toilets within this venue designated for public use.

Availability and Location of Standard Toilets

Standard toilets are available.

Access to Standard Unisex Toilets

The unisex toilet is located on the ground floor.

The unisex toilets are 10m (11yd) from the flat entrance.

Inside the venue, there is level access to the unisex toilet.

Lighting levels are medium.

Standard level access shower facilities are available.

The showers are located on the ground floor.

There is level access to the services from the shower facilities.

Staff do not receive disability awareness / equality training.

Documents can be requested in Braille.

Documents can be requested in large print.

A member of staff trained in BSL skills is not generally on duty.

This service can be requested.

Staff are not Text Relay aware.