While we're on the subject of assessment, can anyone give me definitive guidelines on 'suitable qualifications' for assessors of students with physical disabilities, hearing impairment and visual impairment and learning needs other than dyslexia? Would the Diploma in Social Work be considered suitable? My apologies to the forum if this question has been thoroughly aired!
Colette
>>> Katherine Henderson <[log in to unmask]> 08/04/03 17:01:07 >>>
Hi Mary and everyone
As an LEA Officer administering DSA I at least try to follow the Student
Support Regs and the DfES Notes of Guidance that relate to those
regulations. The latest version of these notes for 2003/04 clearly state
that students with dyslexia need to have had a full WISC or WAIS and, if
this is more than 2 years old, a top up Assessment of Performance
Attainment regardless of the student's age. It also says that this is part
of the diagnosis and the cost should be met by the student. The current
version of these notes has 56 pages on DSA alone and as such they can go
into rather more detail than the Aim Higher booklet on any aspect of
Student Support.
I suspect the Department have put things differently in the Aim Higher
booklet because they are rather more positive in their language when
addressing students than when addressing LEA Officers. They also don't want
to confuse students by overloading them with information. Or maybe they
just like confusing administrators. But when it comes to establishing
eligibility for DSA the Student Support Notes of Guidance take precedence
over the Aim Higher booklet. Or at least they do in Manchester....
Kath
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kath Henderson
Team Leader - Student Support
Education Department
Overseas House
PO Box 191
Quay Street
Manchester Tel. No: 0161 234 7076
M3 3ST Fax No: 0161 234 7004
"Dixon, Mary"
<mary.dixon@OLDHA To: [log in to unmask]
M.AC.UK> cc:
Sent by: Subject: New guidelines for assessment of dyslexia
"Discussion list
for disabled
students and
their support
staff."
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IL.AC.UK>
08/04/2003 15:17
Please respond to
"Discussion list
for disabled
students and
their support
staff."
Hi All,
Following recent forum discussions, I've just acquired a copy of the 'Aim
higher' booklet 2003-2004 and I quote:
"If you have a specific learning difficulty, your LEA (or OU) will need
evidence of this from a suitably qualified person. When students with a
specific learning difficulty apply for DSAs, it is recommended that LEAs
(or OU) accept any full diagnostic assessment that has been carried out
since they were 16. As part of the needs assessment process, LEAs (or OU)
may ask for an update of a previous diagnostic assessment to see what the
likely effect of your specific learning difficulty will have on the skills
you need for higher education."
There is no mention here of any specific IQ test only available to
psychologists that has to be performed as part of the assessment. The
guidance also states clearly that the update of any previous assessment
should be classed as part of the needs assessment process, presumably
therefore fundable through the DSA.
I would be interested in any comments that others may have.
Mary
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