Katherine,
I would like to support what you have said. Awards decisions are made on the
basis of what is recommended within a Needs assessment Report and it is the
LEA which has the ultimate audit responsibility for the awards made, and
no-one else. A common misconception is that this means we err on the side of
caution at all times, and refuse support that students may well be entitled
to. The reality is that we are equally concerned that students do get their
entitlement, but we can only do so if a very clear, unambiguous case is made
for each recommendation on the NAR.
We have a formal appeals procedure and we usually discover at the appeals
stage more facts come to light. Clearly if they were there in the first
place, no appeal would have been necessary.
Today I have an appeal against our decision to not award a £500 ergonomic
chair to a student which mental health difficulties where the chair is
needed "to ease anxieties". Now I have worked closely in services to
students with mental health difficulties for several years so I harbour a
good understanding of their needs. I also know that we can't make a £500
award without a bit more than that to go on. This student's expectation has
been raised unrealistically, and now the bad, beurocratic LEA (OU in this
case) is being unsympathetic and adding to the student's anxieties.
When we get a good, clear cut Needs Assessment Report is done by an assessor
who knows the boundaries it's usually plain sailing for the student (and
their NAR recommendations) as far as the OU is concerned. However, we will
question and disapprove items from time to time, as I had been led to
believe this was part of our job.
We use over 100 assessors for OU assessments, and it is our overwhelming
experience that the student gains most from their DSA where there is a good
square of communication between the student, the disability officer, the
assessor and the DSA Office.
We hope to discuss some of our findings with the Department for Education
and Skills when we meet with them next week.
You can have your soap box back now, Kath.
Steve
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Katherine Henderson [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 18 July 2002 10:48
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Fees
>
> Yes, we do "use our discretion" when we're in possession of the facts.
> Although there is a tendency to think that LEA officers come from another
> planet, we don't actually have strong psychic powers.
>
> Surely it would be better for there to be stronger channels of
> communication between disability officers, assessors and LEA officers,
> instead of this barrier that seems to lead to the suggestion of
> bureaucratic appeals and judicial reviews at every verse end. The people
> that lose out from this are, inevitably, the disabled students we're all
> supposed to be trying to support.
>
> I'll get off my soap box now
>
> Kath
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -------------------------------
>
> Kath Henderson
> Team Leader - Student Support
> Education Department
> Overseas House
> PO Box 191
> Quay Street
> Manchester
> M3 3ST Tel. No: 0161 234 7076
>
>
>
>
> Pauline Mills
> <[log in to unmask] To:
> [log in to unmask]
> .UK> cc:
> Sent by: Subject: Re: Fees
> "Discussion list
> for disabled
> students and
> their support
> staff."
> <DIS-FORUM@JISCM
> AIL.AC.UK>
>
>
> 17/07/2002 09:59
> Please respond
> to "Discussion
> list for
> disabled
> students and
> their support
> staff."
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Deb Viney, Disability Co-Ordinator at University of
> Southampton advises: "Write to them asking for their Appeal
> procedures, and detail in the letter your arguments. I
> find they often decide they can 'use their discretion'".
>
>
> ----------------------
> Pauline Mills
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
>
> **********************************************************************
> This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
> intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
> are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
> the system manager.
>
> This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept
> for the presence of computer viruses.
>
> Please contact [log in to unmask]
> with any queries
> ************************************************************
|