Conversely I have a student who has phoned me requesting a laptop because
he has bad handwriting. The author of the report recommending extra exam
time has stated quite clearly that there is no evidence of a Specific
Leaning Difficulty yet his university have informed him he should have no
trouble qualifying for DSA.

We seem to be reaching a point where the definition of disability is
being constantly redefined in order to provide DSA funded support. Given
the ever expanding boundaries of what qualifies for DSA and the plethora
of experts willing to provide evidence of such, I'm starting to feel that
99% of the student population would qualify for DSA if only we probed
hard enough! Since the definition of disability varies wildly depending
on where you look and what you are trying to get out of it (try comparing
the dictionary definition, DDA, DSA, Social Model etc etc), perhaps we
ALL need to take a more responsible stance when it comes to determining
what is and what isn't a disability related need. At the moment DSA is
seen as an endless supply of ready cash and shoe-horning as wide a range
of needs as possible into it allows institutions to absolve themselves of
a large proportion of their own responsibilities towards funding disabled
students. They can then spend their own meagre funding on, what they
would consider to be, more worthwhile causes. However, given the
government's current financial predicament, both generally and
specifically in the area of Higher Education funding, there is a very
real danger that if DSA continues to grow exponentially, the matter will
be taken out of our hands and far more Draconian controls introduced at a
national level.Do any of us really want to see the reintroduction of
means-tested DSA?

The one problem with gravy trains is that eventually they run out of
track!

St.John Skeates
Awards Section
Bedfordshire County Council
Direct Line 01234 316300



 -----Original Message-----
From: Ekaterina Barakhta [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, November 28, 2002 11:40 AM
To: [log in to unmask]; Skeates,St.John DEAL Awards Tm
Subject: Re: Variation to assessment for non-dyslexic students




Hi Kirsty,
I apologize for the late reply. I have a student coming for an assessment
today who has similar problem that was described by you. He was assessed
by
Chartered Psychologist who clearly stated that 'his academic difficulties
cannot be ascribed to dyslexia, as he shows good reading and spelling
skills.' However this student has a specific impairment in cognition -
namely in the ability to perform even the simpleast tasks at speed.
Obviously this is an effect of his longstanding epilepsy. It is
interesting
that this student was assessed by Dyslexia Institute. However they
clearly
helped to identify what he would need to successfully complete his
studies.
Therefore the assessment was very useful.
My point is, maybe your student has some other health problems which are
totaly dyslexia unrelated however neurological in nature? Because in this
case a student definitely requires extra time in exams, dictaphone in
lectures, maybe voice recognition software etc.

Regards
Ekaterina Barakhta
Development Officer
CATER
Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

 -----Original Message-----
From: Kirsty Mackenzie [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 26 November 2002 11:31
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Variation to assessment for non-dyslexic students


Hi,

How do other HEIs deal with the issue of students whose Educational
Psychologist states that they do not have a specific learning difficulty
but
do require extra time in exams due to slower writing speed (for example)?

If you action these recommendations, is there then an issue of inequity
to
(non-dyslexic) students who have not had an EP assessment? Are you then
in a
position where, in fairness you should then be offering EP assessments to
all students at the institution? (with nigh on 20,000 students, I don't
think our Hardship Fund could stretch to this, let alone our admin
systems!)

Any feedback or advice would be welcomed!

Kirsty

Disability Coordinator
Student Services
University of Brighton
(01273) 642885

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