Before leaving TVU last October I signed off TVU's new 'Disability
Statement'. I recognise the concerns of both Paul Dilley and Deb Viney, and
offer below - in case it is helpful - some comments.
1] The disability statement is a document/handbook you give the student.
You don't need to do something different for hefce, or for your senior
management. Many of you are already producing a Disability
Handbook/Special Needs Handbook for students. My advice is to revise that
in line for hefce guidelines, and under a section in the handbook which
refers to your university's disability statement, say that this handbook is
THE disability statement.
2] You won't get it completely right the first time [and details will
change as soon as you go to press]. Treat it as an evolving annual
exercise. Include a feedback form [a tear-out page] so that students - and
staff - can offer comments. That will provide you with one means of
ensuring as many of the key people as possible have an opportunity of offer
comments, and as part of the evolution process.
3] I found the most productive and willing contibuters to the Handbook
were support staff. For example, in devising emergency evacation procedures
we brought together for a workshop the porters, receptionists and security
staff. We finished up with procedures we could be confident would work
[it's usually the porters/security staff who have to help when a chair-lift
breaks down, or a diabetic student goes into a coma]. I asked each area
[e.g. student services, couselling, careers, exam units] to nominate someone
to write copy for the Handbook, and I then acted as editor to ensure an
overal consistency of style.
4] If you ask any committee or Board meeting to approve the overal
Handbook/Disability Statement you will never complete it. It is important
to ensure that key sections have the approval of certain groups [e.g Health
& Safety]. Don't ask academics to comment on the advice to students about
disabled parking bays. Let them fill in the feedback form if they wish to
comment.
5] Variations in sources of financial funding is a nightmare. TVU has FE
students. Health Authority students, HE students, International students,
Socrates/Ersamus/Tempus students, EU home students. I tried to offer
advice via a rough & ready guide called Sources of Funding. Included in
this were the names/phone numbers of staff who could provide more detailed
advice.
One problem you will encounter is the lateness with which annual guidelines
are produced by the DfEE on Access funds. In my experience they are
published long after you have to go to press.
6] Most advice, for example, on disabled parking, selection procedures, and
exam/assessment accommodations, should hold true for all students
irrespective of funding. This means that one Handbook should serve all
students.
7] The big black hole is the question of franchise students, both within
the UK and overseas. If anyone has solved this then they deserve high
commendation. [It would be useful if hefce could provide guidance for there
is a real danger of students taking the same qualifications receiving
different treatments at different sites].
8] At TVU we took a decision to take care of the design of the Handbook re
choice of typeface, colour contrasts, layout, etc, to enhance readability.
As lecturers are quite capable of claiming that they haven't received
it/lost it, can't find it, we choose a bright yellow for the cover. This
means when you phone a lecturer up to discuss a matter, you can say, just
look around your room and see if you can spot the yellow Handbook. It
really does work!
9] Credibility with students is important. Writing this Handbook is a
form of audit. Advise students of where there are weaknesses in provision,
and of how they can contribute to strengthening provision. This is a
Handbook for students, not to please management. [Another reason to avoid
approval by committees].
10] I learnt a great deal from Handbooks produced by other universities,
both in the UK, the USA and Australia, so borrow freely. TVU has agreed
to supply copies of its current Special Needs Handbook if anyone wants to
critically dissect it and take ideas from it, or learn what not to do.
Garry Smith [it is two r's in Garry] of TVU's University Information Centre
will post copies on, on request to:
[log in to unmask]
I enjoyed producing the Handbookk, but I did enjoy the luxury of having many
great contributers and an excellent designer, and avoided the hassle of
committees. As USA colleagues would say, enjoy.
David Grant, PhD., Chartered Psychologist
dyslexia diagnosis
3 Rosebank Road
Hanwell
London W7 2EW
Tel: 020 8579 1902
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