Perhaps it would be useful to take a slightly different angle on
this...rather than asking if she, by virtue of the knowledge of and name
of her condition qualifies for DSA another way of looking at is is to
ask what assistance she needs in order to present her will the equal
access and opportunities enjoyed by her course colleagues...i.e. match
assistance to the study related consequemces of her condition - ie the
difficulties experienced...
If any such assistance is DSAable then there's the answer...
Simon Bloor
Access SUMMIT
-----Original Message-----
From: Val Morgan [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday 14 June 2004 08:39
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: What qualifies as a disability?
I had a student this year with the same condition. We did not apply for
DSA, but allowed her to take water (for re-hydration) and a towel into
the exam room, and allowed her a break to wash her hands if necessary.
val ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm wondering if anybody has come across this before. A student has just
contacted me saying she thinks she has a disability as she has
hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating on her hands and feet) which makes
writing difficult.
She claims that she can't take medication for this because of the side
effects and there is no operation for it. I know this is not the case as
there is an operation which is usually 98% effective on curing the
problem, at least on the hands.
On the basis of this condition does anyone think she would be eligible
for the DSA. My feeling it that it is highly unlikely, and, even if it
were, apart from the recommendation for pens with rubber grips on them,
any technical equipment is unlikely to be of any use as if the problem
is that bad she could end up short circuiting it!
In terms of any in house support that we have available, again, I don't
think anything would be of particular benefit apart from perhaps the
provision of a Scribe in exams but I think that even this in
circumspect.
While I recognise that it is an unpleasant condition to have to live
with my feeling is that she is chancing her arm..or am I just too
cynical...
I would be very interested to hear what other people think.
Katy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Val Morgan
Disability Co-ordinator
Queen Mary, University of London
email: [log in to unmask]
tel: 020 7882 5175
fax: 020 7882 3617
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