Dear Alex,
I would like to endorse Karen's comments and to say that my complaint to the
list owner was not in relation to an email from you.
I do think it is important that everyone who posts to disforum uses language
that is considered and considerate. I would certainly not want this to
stifle genuine discussion (or controversy) and information sharing, because
that's what disforum is all about. It is an invaluable 'virtual staff
room'. I hope that the list owner will now think it sensible to provide
some useful guidance for contributors.
kind regards,
Caroline
----- Original Message -----
From: "Karen Farmer" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 2:23 PM
Subject: Re: use of language - apology
Dear Alex
Being one of those named in your message - thank you for the courteous
apology.
While I may occasionally have not appreciated the form in which you have
expressed your opinions, I have never doubted that you are committed to
supporting students, which is after all what we are all here for.
Personally, I look forward to your continued contributions to this list, and
it would be a shame if any of us felt that we could not properly air a
genuine concern, or make reasonable enquiries - particulary if the topic
under discussion is likely to be perceived by others as contentious or
sensitive.
Regards
K
Karen Farmer
DSA Needs Assessor
Learning Support
University of Bedfordshire
Park Square, Luton
LU1 3HZ
Tel: 01582 74 3422
Internal ext: 3422
Fax: 01582 489349
>>> [log in to unmask] 18/04/2007 13:31:55 >>>
Dear Colleagues,
apologies for cross posting this message...
I would like to apologise to Karen, Caroline and any other colleagues who
may have found my messages offensive or inappropriate. They are not intended
to be and my intention is purely to find out whether students are receiving
the best possible service and are being given value for money and the
excellence of service which they deserve and should be entitled to. The
feedback I receive from many students I work with, and I work with a lot of
students, is that they often feel let down by the systems in place to help
them. That's not to say that a lot of them aren't also grateful, thankful
and appreciative - they are. My starting point was to ask for evidence from
students and those who work with students, and take that forward to an
appropriate authority. This seems to have been met by a combination of
appreciation and praise off list, and sometimes animosity and discouragement
on list from service providers, assessors and access centre managers. I am
not saying that my opinion is the only opinion and that I am right. I am
just saying that I feel that there is room for improvement in any sector and
that the way to achieve that improvement is through encouraging and
gathering feedback, which is seriously considered and acted on and not just
binned and dismissed as ill informed and just a few complaining students. I
believe I can, as any competent disability officer / practitioner should be
able to, tell the difference between substance and distraction. I also find
that the students who don't complain or make little or no noise at all are
the ones often most in need of help. I am copying this message to several
forums as I want my apology and my own opinion to be available to anyone who
wants it, needs it, deserves it etc. This is likely to be one of my last
on-list postings for a while on this subject as I intend to take my concerns
and evidence elsewhere. I am still very happy to receive on-list or off-list
messages with comments, concerns and criticisms. I will also participate
where appropriate in disussions where I feel I have something positive to
contribute, as I feel and believe is the spirit of these lists.
I would also be happy on this occasion for this message to be forwarded to
the ASASA list as I no longer have rights to post to that list
unfortunately.
Thank you. Alex Alex [log in to unmask] 561 877 or 07916 175
077Freelance Assistive Technology TrainerFreelance study needs
assessorFormer Disability Officer
MNADP
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