Dear Disforum
When I carry out needs assessments....The questions on the forms do follow
the medical model ...what students cannot do as a direct consequence of a
disability...but there is no need to phrase like this...I ask instead
e.g., 'Tell me about reading books...'...and what do the students
reply?...e.g., 'I can't it takes ages, because the print jumps...and I
can't make sense of it anyway...what's best is when someone or something
reads it to me...then it's fine'...again...I see reports from Medical
people saying e.g., ' XXXX suffers from XXXX'...and what do the students
say?...e.g., ' I suffer from xxxx...I can't do xxx or xxxx'...medical
model breeding medical model?
I talk about 'adjustments' and 'equal opportunity'...because that's how I
feel about this.....
Just some thoughts....
Kindest regards
Rhun
--
Rhun ap Harri
Swyddog Anabledd /Disability Officer
Prifysgol Cymru Aberystwyth University of Wales
Adeilad Cledwyn Building G7 Penglais Campus
SY23 3DD 01970 628537 07971 818 993
> Hello Bryan,
> Thanks for your email - I for my sins have also been at the cutting edge
> - I was the SWD officer at East London University - there Welfare Sabb
> for 2 years doing case work including disability case work - whilst at
> university I worked as a part time day centre officer working with the
> disabled - I have been on the NUS SWD committee for 4 years - and I have
> a disability myself. I will post my address to the page on the
> 29.10.2002. With my background I fully appreciate the issues and will
> look to highlight these in my address. The reason I say that I will be
> more controversial is that Marie Eagle MP will not be critical of
> government policy in her address for example Whereas I believe that the
> DDA which judges someone by what they cant do rather than by what they
> can do - grounded in the medical model of disability is far from ideal
> as civil liberties legislation for people with disabilities and I can
> say so as an example - hope that clarifies. Regards
> Barry
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "BRYAN JONES" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 4:53 PM
> Subject: Re: Address to Universities UK SENDA Conference
>
>
>> Hello Barry
>>
>> We are indeed at the cutting edge and do know what is going on.
>> Perhaps you might want to share your thoughts with us, before the
>> conference, as to what it is you feel that people in the sector may
>> not want to hear.
>>
>>
>> On 10 Sep 02, at 11:30, Barry Farleigh wrote:
>>
>> > Hello everyboby,
>> >
>> > On the 29th of Oct I am addressing the conference organised by
>> Universities UK and The Equality Challenge Unit in London
>> >
>> > 'The SEN and Disability Act 2001; Promoting Inclusion for All' my
>> address will be specifically on 'The Rights and Needs of All
>> > Students'
>> >
>> > You guys are at the cutting edge - the coal face dealing with
>> students on a daily basis as the NUS speaker I can be more
>> controversial than the other speakers telling it how it is - not
>> what people want to hear.
>> >
>> > If anyone wants to contact me confidentially off this page or on if
>> you want to open up the debate with your views as to what I should
>> specifically address. I will probably already have it covered in my
>> rough notes - but I welcome your views as you have the direct
>> contact with students who have varying levels of disabilities and
>> you are fully aware of the issues.
>> >
>> > You can contact me off this page via email
>> > [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] and by mobile my
>> numbers are 07930 556058 or 07967 479227.
>> >
>> > Kindest Regards
>> >
>> > Barry Farleigh
>> > NUS - SWD Officer
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> Bryan Jones
>> Disability Support Services Manager
>> Tel: 020 8411 5367
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