Larry
There is no such thing as "alternative assessments" where you study? Here in
Australia, part of the support (or accommodations its sometimes called) is
to assess in ways which are fair to the student but while still being
equitable to other students. An example would be that a student with
dyslexia sometimes cannot transfer properly, the answers in a multiple
choice exam to the computer sheet where students need to fill in the circle
a, b, c or d in pencil. They may know the answer is "C" but may pencil in
"B". They might do a short answer exam instead. Another example is where
the anxiety caused by exams is so bad that it causes a student to experience
hallucinations. The student is assigned an essay instead.
I am aware that while these policies exist concerning alternative
assessment, some lecturers do not believe in it and can make it difficult.
Comprimise is often the case here. Do you have a person employed to liaise
with academic staff about the needs of individuals with a disability?
I have found resistance to alternative assessment to be rare but it does
happen. The biggest potential problem and one that has been mentioned here
already, is the requirement to finish a research degree in a certain time.
This is because the student is funded and the University does not get
payment until completion of the research degree. Payment is lessened if it
goes over that assigned time. That is something new and troubling in
Australia.
I have an article on acadaemia and marginalisation that is excellent but I
don't have it here. I will send it to the list if I remember.
Best regards
Laurence Bathurst
School of Occupation and Leisure Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
University of Sydney
PO Box 170
Lidcombe NSW 1825
Australia
Ph: 61 2 9351 9509
Fax: 61 2 9351 9509
Email: [log in to unmask]
See School Website www.ot.cchs.usyd.edu.au
Home Ph: 61 2 9818 2050
Mobile Ph: 0407 069 441
----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Arnold" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2003 8:11 AM
Subject: Re: is academia oppressive to disabled people?
| Well I find it oppressive, particularly within the context of studying a
| course about my own "disability" which IMO fails to acknowledge our
| different cognitive style when it comes to assesing wotk.
|
| I do not expect to do well,
|
| I will lern, but that lerning will not be socially validated.
|
| The academic tradition defined the medical profession through its role in
| there training and acculturation, it also defines notions of "disease"
which
| is mediated through the progeny of academia, the lawyers and the doctors.
|
| It does not take kindly to divergent thinkers and Iconoclasts.
|
| It was clear in my converstaions that even if you had written a book that
| was the standard textbook on a subject, the paradigm by which the subject
| was taught, unless you could pass the standard exams, in the standard way
| you still would not get a degree from the institution that made free use
of
| your work unless you also had popular celebrity status in which case yo
| might get an honorary degree to add to your OBE or whatever.
|
| Larry who admits to being resentful so don't remind he is being so.
|
| > -----Original Message-----
| > From: The Disability-Research Discussion List
| > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of LILITH Finkler
| > Sent: 05 March 2003 17:36
| > To: [log in to unmask]
| > Subject: is academia oppressive to disabled people?
| >
| >
| > From recent posts to the list re: the PhD opportunities at Leeds, I
| > understand that folks think academia is oppressive to disabled
| > people. What
| > is true, is that within an oppressive society, academic institutions can
| > also be oppressive. After all, social structures reflect the values
within
| > which they are created and maintained. We live in an ableist society for
| > sure!
| >
| > It is also true that academia reflects the class interests of those in
| > positions of power. By controlling the production and reproduction of
| > knowledge and even deciding what constitutes "knowledge," the academy
| > marginalizes many poor and working class people.
| >
| > However, having said all of that, my own academic expereriences have
been
| > very liberating. Faculty and staff in my department are aware of my
| > psychiatric survivor status and are incredibly supportive. Because of my
| > rather public approach in advancing disability rights, I have
| > been fortunate
| > to also connect with other disabled students in my program. We provide
| > informal support to each other. That has meant so much to me.
| >
| > So, it seems to me that while institutions are oppressive, individuals
| > within those institutions can also be supportive. This is one of the
| > inherent contradictions residing within the academy. If anyone is aware
of
| > articles on this subject, I would be keen to read them. Thanks, Lilith
| >
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