The skill of the assessor is to determine, with the benefit of of all other
information available...he most appropriate package of supoort...
Surely there is no-one still out there who considerers themselves to be so
expert in such a huge range of difficulties that they are prepared to take
them all on them selves....we need to encourage an environoment where the
best people for the job are always on hand ...not those best placed to
profit....
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michael Trott
Sent: Sunday 27 June 2004 21:38
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [DIS-FORUM] Asperger Syndrome: post-16 statements[Scanned]
In a message dated 27/06/04 17:00:39 GMT Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<< Am I the only one who is perturbed by the number of EP's who claim an
inability to diagnose a range of specific learning difficulties? >>
No, you're not alone. I thought an educational psychologist's role was to
diagnose and help children / adults with a range of cognitive and
behavioural difficulties.
I saw a lad the other day who had a detailed report diagnosing dyslexia and
failining to mention any other problems, yet he reported that he had been
diagnosed with Aspergers 8 years ago and his brother had what he described
as "more severe Aspergers".
The LEA asked me to assess his needs in respect of dyslexia as that was all
the evidence they had available.
Many assessors report being extremely 'unimpressed' by the brevity and lack
of information in EP reports and their frequent inclusion of recommendations
that a) show little awareness of higher education and b) contain lists of
recommended equipment that they have not demonstrated to the student and
appear not to have tried themselves.
I do not want to criticise them unfairly. I am sure that many are trying to
do the best for their client and I have no idea how we reach these people to
explain what information would be helpful and how HE teaching works - which
may well be very different from when they attended university.
Confused and frustrated of Birmingham
Mick Trott
|