I have recently completed an assessment for a student of a major LEA
in the midlands. This in itself was unusual as they normally just
give a standard system with set software for any student who has
specific learning difficulties. On this occasion I was somehow
refered to and my assessment was very different to their own non
assessed recomendations. After much anguish on the part of the
student and effort by the family the LEA eventually agreed to
purchase the software and peripherals etc that I recommended. With
regard to the computer they asked the student to get three quotes and
chose the cheapest. Unfortuantely this was from one of the high
street national suppliers whose reputation for reliabilty, quality,
after sales support and technical skill is poor to say the
least. Due to the LEA's prevarication and complete indiference to the
needs of students with Specific Learning difficulties, support to the
individual was delayed by many months, the course work suffered and
an already fragile confidence was damaged further. To make matters
worse the student now has a system that has little chance of lasting
the duration of the course and will certainly cause the them
more problems when they least need them.
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