communications update 11/19
With building inspections and data evaluation for the Barrier-Free at ETH Zurich project now complete, we are moving ahead with the fifth and final sub-project: What measures should be proposed for a barrier-free university? And how should these measures be implemented?
The assessment of the situation in 41 teaching and research buildings at ETH Zurich is almost complete. Only the building housing the Paul Scherrer lecture hall, which has been under refurbishment since 2017, remains to be inspected. The doors, stairs and wheelchair-accessible toilets, for example, must be checked to ensure that they meet the statutory standards in place. The surveys sent to selected groups of people regarding the current level of accessibility, for example for teaching materials, the ETH website and the situation in canteens and cafeterias, have now been completed. We must now draw appropriate conclusions from the data gathered. The team from the sub-projects “Mobility Restrictions” and “Other Restrictions” are taking on this task. The areas where there is a need for action are currently being identified.
The sub-project “Institutional Approach” was running in parallel and concentrated on the following questions: What kind of culture do we want to have at ETH? At ETH, how can we make people who have a hearing impairment, use a wheelchair or identify as transgender feel welcome and more visible? This task has also been completed and the resulting proposed measures have been put forward to the “Action Plan/Implementation” sub-project.
Two workshops to discuss the proposed measures
The fifth sub-project now involves getting down to business: based on the results from the other sub-projects, a list of proposed measures is to be developed and a means of implementation proposed. At the first workshop in mid-November, representatives from the relevant departments discussed the proposed measures for non-infrastructure issues with persons concerned. The measures proposed for infrastructure issues will be discussed at a second workshop in mid-January.
Main entrance to the main building to be made wheelchair accessible
There is certainly plenty of demand for greater accessibility: the project team have received a number of enquiries asking whether operational support can be provided in the immediate future. Before the semester began, for example, a specially appointed taskforce investigated the extent to which a student using an electric wheelchair can gain barrier-free access to all relevant buildings, rooms, canteens, etc. Small obstacles were removed immediately. The Rämistrasse entrance to ETH’s main building is also due to be made wheelchair accessible as part of this initiative in the coming weeks.