I try to bring up both to my uni - but even so there are times that I have
held back. At the moment I'm trying to decide whether I want to take part
in someone's research into the experiences of disabled OT students. The
issue for me is that unless the comments are not linked to a description of
my multiple disabilities, then it may as well not be anonymous, which puts
me off.
I've definitely found this during other 'anonymous' feedback processes -
when someone can't access a room or is complaining that powerpoints weren't
put on blackboard prior to a lecture so they couldn't follow, there's only
one person in my year that that is likely to be.
Quoting Emma Wright <[log in to unmask]>:
> I raised this issue at an RNIB workshop on the Disability Equality
> Duty and they seemed amazed at the idea that students might not want
> to comment if the institution is the one doing the asking! It seems
> common sense to me, although I personally try to speak up about both
> the good and bad things my institution does I know a lot of students
> aren't so confident.
>
> Emma
>
> On 03/04/07, Amanda Kent <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > Dear Maragret and Adele,
> > It is often difficult to speak out or express an opinion about an
> > organsiation, especially when you are relatively lowdown in any
> heirarchy
> > of power/authority (real or imagined). It would be interesting to know
> what
> > the response rate is for non-disabled students with regard to surveys
> and
> > feedback that is potentailly critical of institutional practice.
> >
> > In my own experience I would say it's the disabling attitudes that are
> > hardest to describe and pin-point. Sometimes it means describing
> behaviours
> > of people who may be in senior positions. The hardest bit though is
> finding
> > the right language -it can be difficult, if not impossible, to tease
> out
> > what would be considered 'personal', what might be considered a
> reasonable
> > response to any student, and what might just be down to the fact that
> the
> > filler-in of the survey misunderstood the situation or comment in the
> first
> > place.
> >
> > Social networking on the internet is a very interesting activity in
> terms
> > of writing but also in terms of identity. If a contributor is anonymous
> or
> > uses a persona or an avatar then are they still the same person who
> > inhabits the 'real-time-space' world of the HEI?
> >
> > Use of word like 'expose' and 'contest' - quite combative and
> potentially
> > threatening? (although i recognise the language of the academy
> > there)....what about 'explore' , 'discover' or 'play'???
> > Amanda Kent
> > DSA Assessor (sometimes ;-) )
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, 3 Apr 2007 14:29:57 +0100, Margaret McKay <m.mckay@RSC-SW-
> > SCOTLAND.AC.UK> wrote:
> >
> > >Hi Adele
> > >
> > >Interesting theory, you mean students were reluctant to speak honestly
> > >about their experiences because of perceived repercussions on them as
> > >individuals?
> > >
> > > I suppose this is why the option to articulate thoughts, concerns and
> > >experiences in a more organic (and anonomised) way via web 2.0
> > >technologies such as community Blogs etc, might allow students to feel
> > >they can say what they feel and would allow an institution to be clear
> > >about the true experiences of their disabled users.
> > >
> > >Thanks for your feedback!
> > >
> > >Margaret McKay
> > >eLearning Advisor: Accessibility & Inclusion
> > >JISC Regional Support Centre - Scotland South & West
> > >
> > >Tel: 0141 585 0022/0023
> > >Fax: 0141 585 0020
> > >
> > >Textphone or Typetalk users:
> > >18001 0141 585 0022/0023
> > >
> > >
> > >[log in to unmask]
> > >www.rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk <http://www.rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk/>
> > >
> > >Privileged/Confidential Information may be contained in this message.
> > >If you are not the addressee indicated in this message (or responsible
> > >for delivery of the message to such person), you may not disclose,
> copy
> > >or deliver this message to anyone and any action taken or omitted to
> be
> > >taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. In such
> > >case, you should destroy this message and kindly notify the sender by
> > >reply email. Please advise immediately if you or your employer do not
> > >consent to Internet email for messages of this kind. Opinions,
> > >conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate
> to
> > >the official business of the University of Glasgow shall be understood
> > >as neither given nor endorsed by it
> > >
> > >
> > >________________________________
> > >
> > >From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> > >[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Adele Laing {PG}
> > >Sent: 03 April 2007 12:47
> > >To: [log in to unmask]
> > >Subject: Re: Disability Equality Duty - Involving Disabled People and
> > >Gathering Information from Users
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Hello Margaret,
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Sorry this is a bit late! I am currently finishing off my PhD thesis
> > >reporting praxis using VLE's as a mechanism for supporting the
> > >institutional members to explore, expose and contest disabling
> practices
> > >and procedures in Higher Education. I am currently working on a second
> > >development (including other mechanisms of social networking) which,
> as
> > >you identify, in light of legislative changed can provide material to
> > >feed into the DES and promote more profound organizational change.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Interestingly the way the problem is posed suggests that the problem
> to
> > >be addressed is the confidence deficit of students, however the work I
> > >have been involved in was informed by the concerns of a steering group
> > >of University students who suggested that people would be hesitant to
> > >speak out, not because they lacked confidence or skills, rather
> because
> > >of the dangerous nature of the organizations and the potential
> > >repercussions this might have for themselves.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Best wishes,
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Adele
> > >
> > >
> > >________________________________
> > >
> > >From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> > >[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Margaret McKay
> > >Sent: 26 March 2007 16:01
> > >To: [log in to unmask]
> > >Subject: Re: Disability Equality Duty - Involving Disabled People and
> > >Gathering Information from Users
> > >
> > >
> > >Thanks Claire,
> > >
> > >Yes I have contacted Sian and been in discussion with her. She was a
> > >great help!
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Margaret McKay
> > >eLearning Advisor: Accessibility & Inclusion
> > >JISC Regional Support Centre - Scotland South & West
> > >
> > >Tel: 0141 585 0022/0023
> > >Fax: 0141 585 0020
> > >
> > >Textphone or Typetalk users:
> > >18001 0141 585 0022/0023
> > >
> > >
> > >[log in to unmask]
> > >www.rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk <http://www.rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk/>
> > >
> > >Privileged/Confidential Information may be contained in this message.
> > >If you are not the addressee indicated in this message (or responsible
> > >for delivery of the message to such person), you may not disclose,
> copy
> > >or deliver this message to anyone and any action taken or omitted to
> be
> > >taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. In such
> > >case, you should destroy this message and kindly notify the sender by
> > >reply email. Please advise immediately if you or your employer do not
> > >consent to Internet email for messages of this kind. Opinions,
> > >conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate
> to
> > >the official business of the University of Glasgow shall be understood
> > >as neither given nor endorsed by it
> > >
> > >
> > >________________________________
> > >
> > >From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> > >[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Claire Wickham
> > >Sent: 26 March 2007 15:52
> > >To: [log in to unmask]
> > >Subject: Re: Disability Equality Duty - Involving Disabled People and
> > >Gathering Information from Users
> > >
> > >
> > >Hi,
> > >
> > >have you contacted Sian Davies who is leading the Disability Equality
> in
> > >FE Project and who has collected examples of good practie?
> > >
> > >[log in to unmask]
> > >
> > >http://www.unison.org.uk/disabled/index.asp
> > >
> > >ATB
> > >
> > >Claire
> > >
> > >
> > >Claire Wickham
> > >Senior Disability Officer
> > >Disability Resource Centre
> > >University of the West of England
> > >Frenchay Campus
> > >Coldharbour Lane
> > >Bristol BS16 1QY
> > >
> > >Tel: 0117 328 3737
> > >Textphone: 0117 32 83644
> > >Fax: 0117 32 82935
> > >
> > >Please note that this e-mail was written using speech input and may
> > >contain some small voice recognition errors.
> > >
> > >
> > >________________________________
> > >
> > >From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> > >[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Margaret McKay
> > >Sent: 26 March 2007 15:04
> > >To: [log in to unmask]
> > >Subject: Disability Equality Duty - Involving Disabled People and
> > >Gathering Information from Users
> > >
> > >
> > >I am very interested in looking at how educational institutions have
> > >used, or are thinking of using technology in innovative ways in
> engaging
> > >with disabled staff and students in order to generate feedback about
> > >policies, procedures and practices that impact on their everyday
> > >environment.
> > >
> > >In my experience, some students (in particular younger learners or
> those
> > >not used to college/university life) for example, may not feel
> confident
> > >in attending focus groups or meetings, they might not feel that they
> > >want to speak up in committees but might quite comfortably express
> their
> > >view on a social network where they have anonymity and freedom to
> > >express themselves.
> > >
> > >I am interested in hearing from anyone who has experience of use of
> > >VLE's, wikis or other social networking approaches to engage with
> > >disabled users about their experiences at college/university as part
> of
> > >their DED.
> > >
> > >Can you help or do you know of any examples of where this approach has
> > >been adopted?
> > >
> > >Many thanks
> > >
> > >Margaret McKay
> > >eLearning Advisor: Accessibility & Inclusion
> > >JISC Regional Support Centre - Scotland South & West
> > >
> > >Tel: 0141 585 0022/0023
> > >Fax: 0141 585 0020
> > >
> > >Textphone or Typetalk users:
> > >18001 0141 585 0022/0023
> > >
> > >
> > >[log in to unmask]
> > >www.rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk <http://www.rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk/>
> > >
> > >Privileged/Confidential Information may be contained in this message.
> > >If you are not the addressee indicated in this message (or responsible
> > >for delivery of the message to such person), you may not disclose,
> copy
> > >or deliver this message to anyone and any action taken or omitted to
> be
> > >taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. In such
> > >case, you should destroy this message and kindly notify the sender by
> > >reply email. Please advise immediately if you or your employer do not
> > >consent to Internet email for messages of this kind. Opinions,
> > >conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate
> to
> > >the official business of the University of Glasgow shall be understood
> > >as neither given nor endorsed by it
> > >
> > >
> > >________________________________
> > >
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> > >--
> > >
> > >The University of Stirling is a university established in Scotland by
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> be
> > >contained in this message. If you are not the addressee indicated in
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>
>
> --
> Emma Jane Wright
> School of Sociology and Social Policy
> University of Nottingham
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> www.accessingmaterials.org.uk
>
>
>
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