I have to agree with Chris, can we really divorce getting 'the job done' from the political and ideological frameworks within which getting
the job done operates?
Madeleine
-----Original Message-----
From: Baxter, Chris [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 26 July 2002 11:12
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: generalist/specialist assessors
I wonder if you don't give a wet slap because the terms used are not used to
define YOU?
-----Original Message-----
From: Skeates,St.John DEAL Awards Tm
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 26 July 2002 10:06
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: generalist/specialist assessors
Language and terminology may reveal much about our attitudes but they do
not define our attitudes nor determine our actions. Language is a means
of communication, not an infallible indication of an individuals belief
system. Would you similarly berate an individual who's first language is
not English or who's vocabulary is not as extensive as yours simply
because they lacked the means to communicate using socially acceptable
terminology? Would you go further and make a judgement regarding their
attitude and, by implication, the beliefs they hold based solely on their
use of language?
Some of history's greatest tyrants have also been some of it's greatest
orators, carefully structuring every phrase to ensure receptive ears hear
nothing that may betray the speakers underlying attitudes. Such reliance
on the use of language to determine (and manipulate) attitudes is almost
Orwellian in it's scope - this constant tinkering with the English
language, the banishing of unacceptable words and phases, the rational
presumably being that if you can't say it, you can't think it!
I for one don't give a wet slap what you call things so long as the job
gets done and the people who need support get it. If that means
unintentionally causing offence or invoking the wrath of the disability
(sorry impairment) thought police along the way then so be it.
Damn I love Fridays :)
St.John Skeates
Awards Section
Bedfordshire County Council
Direct Line 01234 316300
-----Original Message-----
From: claire wickham [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2002 5:58 PM
To: [log in to unmask]; Skeates,St.John DEAL Awards Tm
Subject: Re: generalist/specialist assessors
Peter et al,
Language and terminology are important and they can reveal
much about our attitudes. For example, if someone referred to BSL as
"deaf and dumb language", I would consider this indicative of a
non-acceptance of BSL as a language in its own right. As I have no
evidence concerning the writer's behaviour, I concluded that he/she
probably did not understand the social model of disability. Naturally I
would change my mind should I have evidence that indicated that they
place d the locus of disadvantage within society and its structures
rather than in the individual.
However, as you, I think, were noting, the distinction between
disability and impairment is fundamental And yes, of course the social
model can, and should, be criticised constructively...but simply
talking about people with disabilities" is neither criticism nor
constructive.
And, to add to the thoughts about an assessor, an assessor who works
within the social model is more likely to effect institutional change
and make demands of service providers rather than construct a programme
of individual adjustments.
ATB
Claire
On Thu, 25 Jul 2002 16:04:46 +0100 Peter Hill <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> Hi
>
> The Social Model of Disability is a philosophy, not a book of rules and
> regulations. I would suggest that too pedantic an approach (eg jumping
> on the writer's use of disability v impairment) leads to a 'cast in
> stone' mindset - which, in turn, leads to harmful inflexibility. The
> writer may well be au fait with the Social Model - his/her use of the
> term 'disability' is not a disqualifier. (Note: I am aware of the
> difference between 'disability' and 'impairment').
>
> Many on this forum read Oliver and others many years ago. Been there,
> done that, bought the t-shirt, bought into the concept, - and are now
> prepared, even, to be constructively critical of that concept.
>
> Regards
>
> Peter Hill
>
> ----------------------------------
>
> claire wickham wrote:
>
> > My point of view:
> >
> > I presume that the writer means impairment and not disability. I am
> > taking issue here with a use of language that suggests the writer is
> > not on board with the social model of disability where disability is
> > "conceptualised as social oppression experienced by people with
> > impairments and manifested in discrimination and consequent
> > disadvantage." (Priestly, 2001)
> >
> > I would comment that a DSA assessor whose work is underpinned by the
> > social model of disability is more likely to be empowering and to
> > examine the situation in terms of institutional barriers and
> > discrimination.
> >
> > ATB
> >
> > Claire
> >
> >
> > On Thu, 25 Jul 2002 11:37:31 +0000 Eileen McCabe
> > <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>"Specialising in one disabiilty makes better DSA assessors as
> >>they are more likely to have an in-depth knowledge of that disability
> >>and be better able to understand the student's requirements than
> >>generalists (those who assess for a range of disabilities) who will
> >>have superficial knowledge of the disability."
> >>
> >>Does anyone agree/disagree or have any point of view on the above
> >>comment?
> >>
> >>Regards
> >>Eileen
> >>
> >>
> >>CCPD
> >>University of Westminster
> >>email [log in to unmask]
> >>tel: 020 7911 5163
> >>fax: 020 7911 5162
> >>
> >>This e-mail and its attachments are intended for the above named
> >>only and may be confidential. If they have come to you in error you
must
> >>not copy or show them to anyone, nor should you take any action based
on
> >>them, other than to notify the error by replying to the sender.
> >>
> >>
> >
> > ----------------------
> > Claire Wickham
> > Director: Access Unit - Short Courses and Outreach
> > University of Bristol
> > Union Building
> > Queen's Road
> > Clifton
> > Bristol BS8 1LN
> >
> > Tel: 0117 954 5710
> > Textphone: 0117 954 5715
> > Fax: 0117 954 5714
> >
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> 01527 500324
> [log in to unmask]
> www.study-pro.com
>
> Dyslexia Consultancy and Resources
>
----------------------
Claire Wickham
Director: Access Unit - Short Courses and Outreach
University of Bristol
Union Building
Queen's Road
Clifton
Bristol BS8 1LN
Tel: 0117 954 5710
Textphone: 0117 954 5715
Fax: 0117 954 5714
[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 receive this e-mail by mistake, please advise the sender immediately
by using the reply facility in your e-mail software.
Please also destroy and delete the message from your computer.
Any modification of the contents of this e-mail is strictly prohibited
unless expressly authorised by the sender.
*********************************************************************
|