Whilst we have not used an audio typist in the way in which you mention
to work with a student with hearing loss, we have bought in the services
of an electronic notetaker. There are two people locally (1 x FT and 1
x PT) who work as a small company, but no other qualified people between
here, in Norwich, and Peterborough. They have the appropriate CACDP
qualification in electronic notetaking. They are recommended by the
local organisation for D/deaf people and also work with a member of
staff when he has to attend meetings.
However the service is expensive - £20.00 per hour with a minimum of a
two hour booking plus travel and equipment hire. DSA does not cover for
all lectures and seminars on most courses to be covered.
As far as the practical aspects are concerned, I do know that the
electronic notetakers use Microsoft Word and have a number of short
forms (presumably in 'auto correction')that they use to maintain the
degree to which it is a verbatim record. They input additional subject
related short forms prior to each session. They type in Ariel bold size
14 font and download the information typed onto a floppy disk at the end
of each session and give it to the student. They do not retain a copy
of the information.
The students who have had this type of support have very much
appreciated it. We hope to do the same with a further student this year,
although we will not be able to cover the whole of his timetable due to
the cost involved.
I would have similar concerns to yourself as to whether a suitable,
competent audio typist could be recruited. In addition to subject
knowledge, there are also the considerations of the spaced out nature of
most timetables. In addition I would question whether the outcome for
the student is intended to be an almost verbatim record of the session
for the student to follow at the time, rather than lip reading, or
simply a typed set of lecture/seminar notes as there is a lot of
difference and different levels of skill are needed.
I have also read Byran Jones' response to your e-mail and I would echo
it one thousand percent.
Pat Ramsey
Disability Co-ordinator
University of East Anglia
Norwich NR4 7Tj
Tel: 01603 593693
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Susan Butler
Sent: 25 July 2003 15:23
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Note taking support for Hearing Impaired students
We have a HI student due to start a Multi-Media course in September. He
wears hearing aids in both ears and relies on these and lip reading for
communication. He has already had an Access Centre assesment, which
recommends a note taker who is able to audio type, whom he could sit
next to and read notes they are taking directly onto his lap top.
Apparently he used to use this sytem at school. Our usual method of
providing note taking support involves a Learning Support Assistant
taking notes by hand and later typing these up for the student, making
a separate note in class of any other information given out. The Access
Centre assessor feels that this is less likely to enable his full
participation across the range of teaching sessions, as there is no
guarantee that lecturers will be strict about organising group
work/discussions effectively (although we would arrange deaf awareness
training for staff involved).
We are certainly prepared to investigate the possibility of proviing an
audio typist, although we have some concerns about likely familiarity
with the subject area. One of our LSAs has already worked with students
with other disabilities on the same course, becoming familiar with the
course content/vocabulary. Whilst she is not a speed typist, she is an
experienced note taker and is working towards the CADCP note taking
qualification. We wonder how likely it is that we will find someone
who can type quickly enough who also has relevant subject knowledge.
We would value your views. In particular, does anyone provide "audio
typist" note taking? If so, where do you recruit people from, what
typing speed is required and what is the going rate (£15 per hour is
suggested in the report, but the assessor is happy to support a higher
rate if need be - up to the NMH limit).
----------------------
Susan Butler
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