Dear Naomi,
I would've thought that is a totally reasonable request. The student
can't attend due to surgery and that relates to the disability, so I
would've thought it constitutes a reasonable adjustment for the note
taker to attend and take notes on the student's behalf. We have similar
cases here too. My query was really in relation to students who do not
attend for chunks of the course and allows the note taker to attend and
when that non attendance isn't to do with the disability. As Emma
suggested, I would always talk to the student in question to ascertain
what was going on first.
Emma - this issue - 'Not all lecturers make adjustments to their
teaching practices to enable students with certain disabilities to
follow any of what they are saying/doing in the session. This has left
some students, myself included, very reluctant to attend , and at times
I have left mid-session because of this. Also, my disabilities make it
difficult to get to lectures, I am often too ill to attend, have
problems finding a lecture room or arranging accessible transport. In
addition, I know of some students who have not attended because the
session was scheduled in a room that was not accessible to wheelchair
users or did not have an induction loop. My university never withheld
notes when I was unable to attend a session, but I always made sure I
explained why I could not be there.' -
I think some of the issues raised here would need to be raised with the
academic staff re: making reasonable adjustments so students with
disabilities can attend and participate fully. The student here mentions
sometimes she/he is too ill to attend again, I think this constitutes
reasonableness and she/he always explains when they are not there. The
issue regarding loops and inaccessibility would also be an adjustment
issue.
I know that 'For many disabled students the process of studying itself
takes much longer and requires a lot more effort, than for their
non-disabled peers' and I am aware 'Also having a notetaker isn't the
easy option some people'
My query was raised to ask about what to do in the rare circumstances
that students who have note takers are not attending and those reasons
are not related to their disability.
Thanks
Brigid
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of enable
Sent: 27 October 2005 15:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Student non attendence when they have note takers
Hi,
This question has been raised at an opportune time for us. I was just
wondering what the feeling is in relation to a student having 2 weeks
off due to surgery related to his disability, and asking his LEA to
cover the cost of a note-taker to attend lectures on the student's
behalf during this time?
Naomi Billingham
Disability Service
George Thomas Building 37
Highfield Campus
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
Tel: 02380 597726
Web: www.enable.soton.ac.uk <http://www.enable.soton.ac.uk>
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________________________________
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. on
behalf of Emma Wright
Sent: Wed 26/10/2005 17:44
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Student non attendence when they have note takers
Dear Brigid,
I think your statement on this is fairly sensible, but I really
recommend that you talk to any student who you find is in this situation
about why they are not attending. You can then make an informed decision
as to whether or not they should be allowed their notetakers notes.
You give a number of instances in which it would be acceptable for a
student not to attend, but I would add a few others from my own
experience and that of other students I have spoken to...
Not all lecturers make adjustments to their teaching practices to enable
students with certain disabilites to follow any of what they are
saying/doing in the session. This has left some students, myself
included, very reluctant to attend , and at times I have left
mid-session because of this. Also, my disabilities make it difficult to
get to lectures, I am often too ill to attend, have problems finding a
lecture room or arranging accessible transport. In addition, I know of
some students who have not attended because the session was scheduled in
a room that was not accessible to wheelchair users or did not have an
induction loop. My university never witheld notes when I was unable to
attend a session, but I always made sure I explained why I could not be
there.
I would also like to respond to your point that not attending,:
"... allows students who have a notetaker more time away from teaching
to get on with other things."
For many disabled students the process of studying itself takes much
longer, and requires a lot more effort, than for their non-disabled
peers, so I think it is unfair to talk about the time they might then
save by not attending a session. Also having a notetaker isn't the easy
option some people, often other students, sometimes imagine; any notes
that are made need to be read through carefully by the student to check
that they correspond to their own understanding of what was said in the
session, especially if the notetaker is unfamilar with the subject.
Most students who use notetakers are aware of the benefits of still
attending a session, and those that don't often have a very good reason.
Having said that, disabled students are no different from any other
students, and yes, they will occassionally not attend for reasons
completely unrelated to their disability!
Emma Wright
On 10/26/05, Callaghan, Brigid S <[log in to unmask] > wrote:
Could you give your comments please:
What do you do when you have a student who needs a note
taker but the student is not attending classes but allowing the note
taker to attend in their absence and still expecting the notes?
My feelings are:
The University is
expected to make reasonable adjustments for students with evidence of a
disability under the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) SENDA part
IV (2001) Further information regarding SENDA is available on the
student support website
An example of one such
reasonable adjustment is that some students who have been identified
through the appropriate channels, will be allocated a note taker to
attend their lectures, classes, seminars, tutorials etc to take notes
for the student .
Students who are
allocated a note taker are expected to attend teaching as well as their
note takers. It is not considered a reasonable adjustment for note
takers to attend this teaching in the absence of the student they are
working for. The work of note takers is centralised and notes are
delivered to the Student Support Office. Note takers are requested to
let us know when students are not attending and caseworkers within
Student Support will monitor this.
There are some
circumstances when note takers will continue to attend and take notes
for students with disabilities when the student is absent. Examples of
when this is the case are, when students are absent due to necessary
consultant, doctor or hospital appointments and some other
circumstances and issues relating to the individual's disability. This
will be monitored by the caseworker within the disability team.
Students are asked to inform us when they'll be absent and a judgement
by the disability team is made as to whether it constitutes a reasonable
adjustment to allow the note taker to continue attending and taking
notes in the student's absence.
What do others think? How do you approach this issue? I
don't think it constitutes a reasonable adjustment to allow note takers
but not the student to attend. It does not level the playing field, as
then the student who does not have a disability is at a disadvantage
compared to the student who does. It allows students who have a
notetaker more time away from teaching to get on with other things. But,
what do you all think? Maybe I am wrong on this point, I would be
interested in a debate on this matter. Depts need to monitor all student
attendance, but where do we fit in in this instance when it comes to
note takers..................... sorry it's a long one!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Brigid Callaghan
Senior Disability Adviser
Student Support
University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park
Colchester C04 3SQ
01206 87 3260
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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