For information
Trotman & Co have justed published The disabled students' guide to
university.
ISBN 0 -85660 -704 - 5 priced at £14.95. www.careers-portal.co.uk
There is a personal interest for me in that the editor, Emma Caprez, is a
student I
taught at university, and I also worked with her on a research project after
she graduated.
This book serves a wider function than perhaps the publishers realise.
For intending students it provides a breakdown of facilities across
universities and colleges. For example, if you want to know which
instituitons provide specialist software for students with dyslexia/visual
impairments, or which provide induction loops, it is very easy to find this
information. [Note that this section is based on information submitted by
institutions so there are some surprising ommissions].
Another section, the longest by far, lists institutions alphabetically and
this information has been gleaned from disabilities statements,
prospectuses, ect. This provides fasinating reading.
For example, Brunel University provides an 80 page Disability Statement [a
handbook] which contains a welcome from the VC and much more. [NB It really
is excellent - I've seen a copy]. You can then turn straight to the
University of Buckingham and read that 'The university will be under no
obligation to make specific provision for students who declare or have their
needs identified at a later date'. [[p 49].
It is this comparison across institutions that will enable DO's and others
to better press the case for improvements in facilities within their own
institutions. It is also helpful to have quotations from QAA reports re:
disability supoort [e.g. The University of Sunderland - very positive and
detailed. For example you learn that they offer a dyslexia module called
'Get Sussed']
I would suggest that it can help with staff development by enabling staff to
identify institutions they would like to learn from, and whom to contact to
arrange a visit. I have learnt so much from visiting different institutions
and see this as probably the most effective form of staff development.
There are also some good case histories told in the words of students
themselves.
£14.95 is a good investment. A braille version is available.
And well done Emma.
David
David Grant, PhD., Chartered Psychologist
dyslexia diagnosis - a specialist service for students
3 Rosebank Road
Hanwell
London W7 2EW
Tel: 020 8579 1902
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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