Hello all
thank you for ideas and comments so far both on and off list. No-
one so far is saying that (where the DSA is obviously going to be
insufficient) the problem will be spelt out to the student at the offer
stage.
It sounds as though offers go thru and everyone is juggling
creatively with the problems once the student has arrived. We have
to date done pretty much the same thing, but given some students
may find themselves 'substantially disadvantaged' even after
reasonable adjustments, I think we need to be transparent at the
offer stage.
anyway thanks again
mary

Date sent: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 10:13:27 -0000
Send reply to: "Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff." <[log in to unmask]>
From: "Baxter, Chris" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: 'reasonable adjustments' for student with insufficient DSA
To: [log in to unmask]

> This is quite a hot potato subject and one I feel sure we can debate at the
> CHESS meeting in Leeds on 3rd March.
>
> There are five deaf students studying at NTU with varying degrees of 'class
> contact' hours, however due the cost of providing interpreters from an
> outside agency as well as local freelancers two of those students have
> already used up their entire allowance (and one is £2,000) over in the first
> term.
>
> We are just going to have to use Disability Mainstream funding to 'top up'
> the deficit.
>
> What isn't helpful is that one students DSA assessment, done outside of NTU,
> has quoted her as 'requiring' something like 6 hours of interpreter support
> a week where 4 or 5 hours a day is more like it! I hope lots of LEA officers
> are reading this!
>
> If we accept that a deaf student does not have access to the spoken word
> except via an interpreter then wherever spoken instruction is used an
> interpreter should be provided, having just a notetaker will not meet the
> needs of many, although, as ever, the student should be consulted.
>
> Remember you will need to show why it is not reasonable for the institution
> to meet the additional costs involved in supporting such students. And lets
> start campaigning again for a raise for NMH allowance specifically for Deaf
> students, looking at the real costs!
>
> Chris
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lloyd Richardson [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 12 February 2003 09:45
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: 'reasonable adjustments' for student with insufficient DSA
>
> Hi Mary
>
> You are right, 'none of the options seem satisfactory'. I am currently
> dealing with someone who is completing an HND and who assures me that
> her BSL interpreter and note-taker costs are entirely covered by her
> DSA.
>
> Yet with the transition to univeristy, she will (apparently) need
> support costing around £22,000 (a local agency can provide a BSL
> interpreter at £30 per hr. x 19 hrs. per week x 30+ weeks per year;
> then there is the additional cost of the note-taker).
>
> I have informed the applicant that the university is not turning down
> her application but that it has no additional funds for support, of
> which I am aware, to top up her DSA allowance.
>
> At the same time I have asked the applicant to send me a copy of the
> recommendations made when she had her Access Centre assessment, so that
> I may see these for myself. The purpose here is to establish clearly
> whether or not she has fairly and accurately represented the support
> needs described in her assessment, rather than her own understanding of
> them. (It is the historian in me...I have not yet seen an original
> document, only someone else's interpretation of one, therefore I feel I
> must be cautious. What a way to have to carry on!)
>
> I realize this does not help, but you did invite comments on the
> experiences of other institutions. That said, I wish you luck.
>
> Lloyd Richardson
> On Tue, 11 Feb 2003 17:28:16 +0000 Mary Norowzian
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > hello all,
> >
> > We are currently considering a number of applications from deaf
> > students who require a full range of communication and notetaker
> > support- with estimated costs of £22,000 per year- way over the
> > DSA available. This is because the particular courses applied for
> > have high contact hours, and the nature of the courses means full
> > support is needed at all times.
> >
> > Grappling with 'reasonableness' what offer decisions are other
> > insititutions making in such sitiuations?
> > For example:
> > 1)rejecting such applicants on the basis we cannot meet their
> > support requirements even after making reasonable adjustments-
> > enabling them to re apply thru UCAS
> > or
> > 2) making it a condition of offer that the student funds their own
> > specialist support costs - ( meaning they pay the support costs
> > after the DSA runs out) This on the basis that the support cost per
> > student is not 'reasonable' for the HEI to pay.
> > 3) as option 2 but with the University paying an amount( how
> > much!) towards specialist support costs.
> >
> > None of these options seem satisfactory- any advice or
> > expereinces from other insitutions is gratefully received.
> > regards
> >
> > Mary Norowzian
> > M.Norowzian
> > Disability Coordinator/Counsellor
> > Kingston University
> > email [log in to unmask]
> > 020 8547 7902
>
> ----------------------
> Dr.Lloyd Richardson
> Disability Adviser, Learning Support
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Student Support Services
> Anglia Polytechnic University
> East Road
> Cambridge
> CB1 1PT
>
> 01223 363271 ex 2434


M.Norowzian
Disability Coordinator/Counsellor
Kingston University
email [log in to unmask]
020 8547 7902