Graduands and guests with additional health requirements
Arrangements for graduands and guests with additional health requirements (AHR) during the ceremony
(Additional health requirements/disability/Blue Badge holders)
Please see below for information on:
- AHR Usher services
- The Turner Sims – with media stream
- Graduand arrangements during the ceremony
- Guest arrangements during the ceremony
Welcome:
Ceremonies for December graduation will take place in the Turner Sims Concert Hall. Please invite family and friends to participate in your special day, two of whom will be able to accompany you into the ceremonial hall. All further guests will be accommodated in further venues with live link plasma screens, please see the Venues section on this website for full information. To make arrangements for you or your guests with additional health requirements/disability/Blue Badge holders please email gradar@soton.ac.uk before the closing date of 31 October.
Additional Health Requirements Ushers - AHR Ushers:
The AHR Ushers are a specialist trained team, who are there on the day to assist all graduands and guests with additional health requirements. Therefore, if you require assistance in the ceremonial hall please find an AHR Usher. You can identify the AHR Ushers as they will be wearing sky blue robes.
The base for AHR Ushers in the Turner Sims Concert Hall is in the main foyer, between the guest and graduand doors.
If you have informed the Graduation Team of an additional health requirement and you have been informed of your guests designated seat numbers (all other guest seating is ‘free seating’), it is important that you or your guest reports to the AHR Ushers for seat allocation and to be assisted.
During the ceremony two AHR Ushers will remain in the ceremonial hall to provide any further assistance during or after the ceremony. They are also there in the event of a fire alarm going off and have been trained on the correct procedures on assisting people with additional health requirements in vacating the ceremonial hall.
In the event of the fire alarm going off during the ceremony:
It is important to remain calm and make your way out of the ceremonial hall via the closest exit. There will be staff in the ceremonial hall to direct you to your closest exit and provide you with any assistance. If you have an additional health requirement that affects your ability to vacate the ceremonial hall, e.g. mobility or wheelchair user, please remain calm as the AHR Ushers will be aware of your whereabouts in the ceremonial hall and they will make their way to you to provide assistance.
The Turner Sims Concert Hall:
Virtual tour of the Turner Sims Concert Hall
Location/distance of ceremonial hall from graduation car park and Uni-link bus interchange:
The Turner Sims Concert Hall is roughly 150 meters from the main car park and Uni-link bus interchange.
The link below shows a map with suggested routes for wheelchair users. However, if you or your guests have any concerns about accessing the Turner Sims Concert Hall please contact the Graduation Team gradar@soton.ac.uk.
Please see Map of disability route around campus.
Description of this venue as a ceremonial hall:
The Turner Sims Concert Hall is designed with the stage at the bottom of the ceremonial hall. The rows of chairs slope downwards towards the stage. There are roughly 20 steps to reach the stage in the ceremonial hall and these are considered quite steep. For further information on seating please see the map of the Auditorium Turner Sims Concert Hall. Please refer to our media stream of a ceremony held in the Turner Sims Concert Hall for a visual presentation of this ceremonial hall. For a 360 visual tour of the Turner Sims Concert Hall please click here and select the appropriate clip 360 tour of Turner Sims.
Graduand with additional health requirement/disability/blue badge holders:
For all graduands with additional health requirements the Graduation Team would like to reassure you that on the day you will be greeted by an AHR Usher or one of your school marshals once you reach the ceremonial hall venue. They have the list of names by ceremony for whom they are looking out for and they will take you to your reserved seat. Also, the two Additional Health Requirement Ushers who remain in the ceremonial hall during the ceremony will be aware of your requirements and your location if you are seated away from the other graduands. The staff in the ceremonial hall will ensure you are in your correct order to go on the stage when your name is read out, so please do not worry. The Graduation Team arranges this so that you have nothing else to think about apart from enjoying your day.
Mobility difficulties:
In the Turner Sims: The usual way for graduands to access the stage is by using the stairs. For wheelchair users or those with mobility difficulties a wheelchair lift is available backstage. If you are unable to sit with your fellow graduands you will be allocated a seat at the edge of the stage with level access. Upon your name being called you will take your place in the natural call order of the ceremony. Then you will have a return seat on the opposite side close to the stage. If you require any help in descending the stairs in the ceremonial hall the AHR ushers will be more than happy to provide assistance.
If you require a place for your carer to assist you on the day please inform the Graduation Team and we will make the appropriate arrangements, please email Gradar@soton.ac.uk.
Wheelchair users:
In the Turner Sims: Upon reporting to the AHR Usher base you will be escorted to the side of the ceremonial hall where a stair lift is available. The stair lift is able to transport you whilst staying in your wheelchair, and will take you to the lower level where the stage can be accessed. This stair lift is operated by trained staff provided by the Turner Sims. In the ceremonial hall your wheelchair space will be assigned on the front right hand side. Once your name is called during the ceremony you will be able to move from your space straight along to the Presiding Officer to receive your congratulatory handshake (palms together), carry on to the other side of the stage and place yourself in the wheelchair space reserved for you opposite. At the end of the ceremony you will then exit the ceremonial hall via the stair lift with the assistance of the AHR Ushers and trained Turner Sims staff.
Visual impairment:
Upon receiving your additional health requirement details the Graduation Team will contact you to discuss the nature of your impairment in more detail to help decide what seat would be most suitable for you during the Ceremony. An extra seat can be arranged for any carers or guide dogs.
In the Turner Sims: It is important to note that if it is possible you will need to descend the stairs in the ceremonial hall. The AHR Ushers will be there to provide you with assistance. In certain cases the AHR Ushers may be able to find an alternative route for you to enter the ceremonial hall.
Guide/Assistance dog users:
Please inform the Graduation Team if you need to be accompanied by your guide or assistance dog in the ceremonial hall, email: Gradar@soton.ac.uk.
This is not a problem and the Presiding Officer is happy for your dog to accompany you onto the stage. To make space for your dog we will try and reserve two seats if possible and keep you in your call order for the ceremony. However, if this is not possible or you are visually impaired and require more suitable seating the graduation team will seat you either at the front on the aisle, or towards the back of the stage area so that your dog has the most room possible and you have more ease of access to the stage and the shortest distance to travel.
Hearing impairment:
Upon receiving your additional health requirement details the Graduation Team will contact you to discuss your hearing impairment in more detail to help them decide what seat would be most suitable for you during the ceremony. A hearing loop is available for use during graduation. A signer can be provided for you as a graduand of the ceremony but the Graduation Team does need time, a minimum of four weeks, to make these arrangements.
Mental health concerns:
It is important you contact the Graduation Team if you feel your condition will affect your participation in the ceremony or you require a more suitable seat. Please note that the graduation team will treat all information with extreme confidentiality and sensitivity.
If you have already been in contact with the mentoring service during your time at the University, or would like to contact them for the first time please visit their website: www.soton.ac.uk/studentsupport
Pregnancy:
If you are pregnant it is best to inform the Graduation Team so that members of staff are aware of your condition on the day, even if you are in the early stages of pregnancy.
The Graduation Team will contact you to discuss the seating which will be most comfortable for you, whether that be a seat with foot room, near an exit, or with a short distance to walk.
In the Turner Sims: You will still need to descend the stairs to enter the ceremonial hall, and climb them to exit.
Temporary health concern (e.g. broken leg):
Please inform the Graduation Team of a temporary health requirement as soon as you are able to do so and they will discuss with you how best to meet your requirements during the ceremony.
This may mean allocating you a more suitable seat nearer to the stage area. However, if it is a condition that hinders your mobility you need to allow time as you will still need to climb the stairs in the ceremonial hall, to gain access to the stage and your seat.
Unseen health condition (e.g. diabetes):
It is important to inform the Graduation Team of any unseen health condition which may affect your seating or requirements, so the AHR Ushers are aware of the appropriate first aid procedures, should anything happen on the day.
To make the necessary arrangements for any requirements please contact the graduation team on: gradar@soton.ac.uk.
GUESTS with additional health requirements/disability/blue badge holders:
Mobility Difficulties:
For guests with mobility difficulties, the Graduation Team will discuss your guests needs in detail, and will assign an appropriate seat in the ceremonial hall. Usually, it would be an aisle seat to allow for ease of access and more leg room. The other members of your party will be seated with your guest.
Wheelchair Users:
A space will be reserved for your guest in the designated wheelchair area and the rest of your party will be assigned seats as close as possible to your guest in the wheelchair area.
Visual impairment:
Once the Graduation Team has details of the extent of your guest's visual impairment they will assign the most suitable seat. These are usually in the front rows of the ceremonial hall. However, please be aware this would involve climbing and descending the full amount of steps in the ceremonial hall.
Guide/Assistance dog users:
The Graduation Team will allocate seats on the aisle to allow for enough space for both your guest and their dog. An extra seat is usually also reserved to ensure enough space is provided.
The seating most suitable for your guests will depend on their health condition. We will try and seat your guests where they would feel most comfortable in the ceremonial hall.
Hearing impairment:
Once the Graduation Team has received details of your guest's hearing impairment they will assign them seats that are most beneficial. The standard seats allocated to guests who require the use of the hearing loop is in the centre of the ceremonial hall, in the middle rows.
If the guest requires being seated as close as possible to the speaker then a seat nearer the front of the ceremonial hall would be allocated. If you need to lip-read the speaker, the seats will be opposite the reader on the front row if possible. However, both these seats would require the guest to negotiate more or all of the steps in the ceremonial hall. If your guest has their own signer then an extra seat can be allocated in these circumstances. The University does not provide a signer for use by guests.
Mental health issues:
It is important to contact the Graduation Team if you feel your guest's mental health condition may affect you during the ceremony.
Please note that the Graduation Team will treat all information with extreme confidentiality and sensitivity. There is no standard seating for this additional health requirement, as seating is based on the individual’s requirements.
Pregnancy:
If your guest is pregnant it is best to inform the Graduation Team so that members of staff are aware of your guest's condition on the day, even if they are not heavily pregnant.
The Graduation Team will contact you to discuss the seating which will be most comfortable for them, whether that be a seat with foot room, near an exit, or with a short distance to walk.
Temporary health concern (e.g. broken leg):
As soon as you are able to inform the Graduation Team of this temporary disability please do so and we will discuss with you how best to suit your guest's requirements during the ceremony. This may mean allocating you a more suitable seat.
Unseen health condition (e.g. diabetes):
It is important to inform the Graduation Team of any health condition which may affect your guest's seating or health condition on the day, so they are aware of the situation.
Staff will also be aware of the appropriate first aid procedures, should anything happen on the day.
The Graduation Team are pleased to answer any further queries you may have concerning additional health requirements, please contact the Graduation Team on: gradar@soton.ac.uk.
Good luck and we look forward to meeting you on your special day.
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