That's excellent, thanks - i'll have a read of all the documents.

Simon

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mrs E.A.Draffan [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 25 September 2003 20:58
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Careers in AT - apologies for length
> 
> 
> This is the page set up by the DFES which has all the 
> information about the
> working parties. 
> http://www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport/administrators/dsp_secti
> on_4.shtml
> 
> The round table meetings have been happening for nearly two years as a
> result of a Skill (National Bureau for Students With Disabilities
> http://www.skill.org.uk)  report which was a review 
> concerning the way the
> Disabled Student's Allowance was being handled from 
> assessment through to
> the supply of equipment and support strategies. 
> 
> Best wishes
> E.A.
> 
> Mrs E.A.Draffan 
> TechDis, Sussex School of Education
> The Sussex Institute
> Brighton BN1 9QQ
> Tel: 01273 873600
> http://www.techdis.ac.uk
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Simon Judge
> Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2003 19:30
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Careers in AT - apologies for length
> 
> 
> By the way: i'd be really interested in any more info on the 
> "Quality Audit
> Group" (website?!) - it sounds just the ticket.  Is there any 
> way that we
> can influence its proceedings?
> 
> Cheers.
> 
> Simon
> 
> >The DFES are working with a Quality Audit Group to set up a 
> system for 
> >licensing assessors and Assessment Centres across the country to try 
> >and develop standards but I have doubts that this will lead to a 
> >professional body that will encompass both the needs of rehab and 
> >educationally based assistive technologists.
> 
> On Wed, 24 Sep 2003 20:15:34 +0100, Mrs E.A.Draffan 
> <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
> 
> >What a lovely thought you pose......I started life working 
> in the NHS 
> >as a speech therapist working with AAC and then assistive technology 
> >first with children with learning disabilities and some with 
> >difficulties resulting from thalidomide and then with Adults who had 
> >had strokes.  I then jumped ship and went into education to 
> find a lack 
> >of AT in the schools I worked in, but starting to appear for some 
> >dyslexic students and of course
> students
> >in specialist colleges.  I moved up into university at the 
> time of the 
> >Disabled Students Allowance and ended up working with 
> students who had 
> >all kinds of disabilities - assessing for their study skills and 
> >strategies
> that
> >might involve AT.  This career has been unexpected but has 
> proved very 
> >interesting and now I am working with a national team 
> specialising in 
> >supporting FE/HE students and staff with disabilities.
> >
> >I think if you speak to Assistive Technologists in education 
> you will 
> >find that they also have a very varied career.  So to answer your 
> >question... it is possible to have a career but in the past 
> it took one 
> >into unchartered waters. This is not so much the case now 
> days as the 
> >profile of Assistive Technology has been raised with 
> Inclusion, DDA,  
> >Access to Work etc and other chances for gaining access to AT.
> >
> >The jobs available seem to be divided into Rehab and Education and 
> >rarely
> do
> >the two meet! Hence you may be attending very different 
> conferences from my
> >colleagues in education.   I remember when the engineering arm of the
> >profession was investigating the idea of a professional 
> body. I wanted 
> >to belong but found I probably did not have the credentials 
> to screw on 
> >a DaeSSy mounting system to hold the laptop that had the required 
> >software to support the student's study skills!
> >
> >The DFES are working with a Quality Audit Group to set up a 
> system for 
> >licensing assessors and Assessment Centres across the country to try 
> >and develop standards but I have doubts that this will lead to a 
> >professional body that will encompass both the needs of rehab and 
> >educationally based assistive technologists.  The RITE project (DARE 
> >Foundation) have been highlighting the problems our clients have as 
> >they move between the systems and in our local area we have tried to 
> >look at how we can all link up. Not easy as funding tends to 
> drive how 
> >assistive technology is supported and
> yet
> >it may be students in universities who are using your PowerTalk!
> >
> >Educational mail-based forums are often used for the posting of 
> >vacancies and local word of mouth etc seems to complete the task.
> >
> >Hope this helps your quest and apologies for the length of 
> this reply.
> >
> >Best wishes
> >E.A.
> >
> >Mrs E.A.Draffan
> >TechDis, Sussex School of Education
> >The Sussex Institute
> >Brighton BN1 9QQ
> >Tel: 01273 873600
> >http://www.techdis.ac.uk
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals. 
> >[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Simon Judge
> >Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 16:33
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Careers in AT
> >
> >
> >Thought i'd start a non-tech conversation for a change (gloves on!):
> >
> >I'm interested in people's opinions of the state of the Assisstive 
> >Technology field in the UK... Is it possible to have a career in this
> field?
> >If so, why are there no sites dedicated to AT jobs in the UK 
> (e.g. the 
> >equivalent of RESNA in the US).  Are the prospects for the 
> field going 
> >up (i.e. better funding & more recognition of the need) or 
> down? What 
> >should be/is happening to make the field better recognised?
> >
> >Cheers.
> >
> >Simon
> >
> >Simon Judge
> >Electronic Engineer MEng
> >(Clinical Scientist)
> >
> >[log in to unmask]
> >020 8770 8283
> >
> >http://www.meru.org.uk/interfacecentre/
> >http://www.meru.org.uk/aac-london/
> >MERU
> >8 Damson Way
> >Orchard Hill
> >Carshalton
> >Surrey
> >SM5 4NR
> >020 8770 8398 (fax)=3D20
> >Registered Charity Number: 269804
> >Company Limited by Guarantee Number: 1214125
>