It has always seemed to me to be part of the assessors function to define or at least indicate the content, nature and approxiamate length of the computer training required by an individual as part of the assessment process. It is all to easy for an assessor to "allow up to X days" and only invoice for the amount used. This leaves the trainer in a position where they have little or no guide lines and no indication of the strategies that the technology and software supplied is intended to be used. Naturally this means that the assessment looses much of it's value and becomes a simple precursor to supply of supposed supportive technology introduced without any consideration of the individuals working strengths and processess etc.

Training cannot be as successful as we all want it to be until we get the strategy element of the assessment in place. That will never happen until we improve the standard of assessment, moving them away from a simply supply list of technology backed up by the briefest of descriptions of disability and difficulties experienced. The focus must change to include the strengths of the individual and the learning techniques that are successful for them, in other words they must move away from relating specific software  / technology to specific disabilities. The technology may well remain similar but the application would become better focused. When this is done both the study skill elelemnt and the technology training can be properly focused to allow the student to learn HOW to employ and exploit the technology / software to exploit thier natural skills rather than simply to opperate it.

I suppose what I am saying is that QAG / the RT or whoever is responsible,  needs to ensure that this key level of expertise and protocol is embedded in the standards that assessors must employ otherwise nothing will change - standards will remain doubtful as will the value for money experienced by the taxpayers from these not inconsiderable investments made on their behalf. What is more important is that the students, the employers and the economy will still fail to benefit from the true potential of the individual and the substantial financial investments made.

 

Terry Hart

Disability Assist Services

UOP