hi adele,
no worries - i was probing really to see what the response would be? (which
is a form of play i suppose. i can do fights if i have to but i have this
in-built desire for them to be fair fights, which of course is a complete
fantasy and leads to the equivalent of me being thumped to the floor while
still adjusting the mouth-guard). I can well understand what you have found
in the course of research . in the past, i have had an employment contract
terminated by an HEI on the grounds that no reasonable adjustments could be
made to the workplace. that was some time ago now and i do not think they
would get away with it today. i was also a postgrad student at the time and
i did not submit my thesis for disability-related reasons: (not enough
strength at the time to fight maybe, and also not DSA eligible either). and
i have fairly recent expereince of somewhat dubious treatment by an HEI
which can be partly attributed to me not disclosing fully the extent of
impairments.
writing is a form of exposure in more sense than one,
Amanda
On Tue, 3 Apr 2007 16:43:54 +0100, Adele Laing {PG}
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>Hello,
>
>Just to clarify, the work I have described did not involve
>questionnaires nor did it just involve students who the organisation
>identified as disabled. We were seriously concerned about having an open
>and frank discussion about disability practices (the bad and the good)
>in higher education. The VLE was open to all students. We were working
>collectively to 'explore' disability widely, then it became apparent
>that there was a need to 'expose' the injustices (which HEIs like to
>deny and its members do not recognise) and then we felt the need to
>'contest' these actions collectively. As I have suggested the work did
>seek to discuss the good as well as bad but unfortunately people tended
>to find more bad things to talk about than good. Good tended to focus on
>individuals, well-meaning etc. but the bad was far more about systemic
>organisational discrimination. The good people who are forced to operate
>bad practices and procedures.
>
>It's hard not to appear combative when working with people who are
>really struggling to stay in university, not because of their ability
>but, because of organisational and attitudinal discrimination. Expose,
>I'm afraid, is a word that has come up time and time again, not by me
>but by colleagues who are sick of their institutions attempting to hide
>the bad practices under the carpet.
>
>Sorry Amanda - I really appreciate your comments and I am not meaning to
>direct this combatively at you! :) However regardless of how it was
>intended, I do feel it IS appropriate to talk of 'exposing' and
>'contesting'.
>
>What would it mean to 'play'?
>
>adele
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Amanda Kent
>Sent: 03 April 2007 15:13
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Disability Equality Duty - Involving Disabled People and
>Gathering Information from Users
>
>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
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>>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
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>>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
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