We have students with differing degrees of hearing loss doing medicine, two of whom have a note taker, which enables them to give full attention to presentations and lectures, and they also have amplified stethoscopes. Another student has an amplified stethoscope but doesn't wish to have a note taker.
In no case have any of the LEAs objected to these recommendations - nor could I see how they could. Notes and hand outs are often provided but they can not replace the first hand experience of lectures/discussions/demonstrations etc - note taking is standard practice for deaf or hard of hearing students, so that they can share as closely as possible the experience of their hearing colleagues.
Amplified stethoscopes are the only way for such students to be able to develop the skills required by the GMC to become qualified doctors. Does the LEA think that universities provide these, or that they should? There are several models available, and each student has to find a model that will work best for them and their particular hearing levels. It is therefore a piece of equipment essential to their studies because of their hearing loss - I can't see how the LEA is interpreting this!
Hope you can get them to see reason,
best wishes,
Lynne Farquharson
(Newcastle university)
________________________________
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. on behalf of Christina Din Wong
Sent: Wed 30/01/2008 10:51
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Hearing impairment and note-taker
The local authority of one of our hearing impaired medical student
rejected the Needs Assessment recommendations for an electronic
stethoscope and a note-taker as they are "reasonable adjustments for the
university to make to enable you (student) to access the course."
The LA has accepted all the other recommendations for computer equipment
and general allowance.
We have never had note-taking support for hearing impaire students
rejected before. Has anyone else had a similar rejection?
--
Christina Din Wong
Disability Adviser
Rm 2.37 Francis Bancroft Building
Queen Mary University of London
Mile End Rd
London E1 4NS
Tel:020 7882 2760
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