Hi

Stephen's response has inspired me to dig up an old chestnut.

At UCW, we carry out almost all diagnostic assessments for dyslexia on campus.
The assessments are carried out by RSA Diplomatists.  Apart from the advantages
to the student of low cost (actually - nil at the moment) and convenience, there
are simply no Ed Psychs or Occ Psychs available locally to carry out these
assessments.

I assessed a student a while ago, and was insufficiently confident about my
diagnosis so I referred him for further assessment.  In the event, he had to
travel to Coventry (Dyslexia Institute) - a round trip of about 100 miles, where
his assessment was carried out by the same Ed Psych who, until about 18 months
ago,  carried out assessments for us at UCW.  The DI cost was almost three times
what the same Ed Psych charged as an independent.

So: we now do our own.

I raise this issue after hearing Ginny Stacey (Oxford Brookes and National
Working Party Member) speak at the BDA conference in York.  She gave the
impression that she disapproves quite strongly of anything not carried out by an
Ed Psych.  Some delegates took issue with this - pointing out that the DfEE
guidelines state that RSA Dip assessments are acceptable for DSA applications.

I would argue that they are also quite good enough on which to base study
strategies and support.

Chris Singleton assured the delegates that RSA Dip assessments were deemed
acceptable according to the findings of the National Working Party.  However, I
feel the working party were, in reality, paying lip service to the concept -
they recommended BPS accreditation in psychometric testing as an additional
condition. Further, the only assessment instrument available to
non-psychologists which was recommended in their report is the WRAT.

I sense also that the BDA are non too keen on diplomatist's assessments.

My point is that there is a real credibility issue which needs to addressed
quite urgently.  Suggesting that Diagnostic assessments for adults should all be
carried out by Ed Psychs is naive.  It may be true that, in some parts of the
country, there are so many Ed Psychs that they are used as hatstands and garden
ornaments (sorry!).  However, in other areas - including ours -  they are in
very short supply and are, for the most part,  committed to working with
children, rather than adults.

I believe it would make sense to have some agreed standards of competence to
underpin the professionalism of non Ed Psychs who carry out assessments in HE.
I'm not sure that the BPS should dictate terms on this one though - given that
things need to happen sooner rather than later.

Maybe a further working party could look at this issue - perhaps under
advisement of (but not under the control of) the BPS, with a view to
establishing a code of practice AND identifying test instruments which should be
made available to tutor assessors.

NADO?  Skill?  Anyone?

Regards

Peter

--
Peter Hill

Disability Coordinator
University College Worcester
Henwick Grove
Worcester
WR2 6AJ

Tel 01905 855413
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