Hi Michael
Over the years I have had a number of students on my caseload with a
severe to profound hearing loss & studying similar subjects. I have
never come across a student in this position choosing non-attendance as
an adjustment. My personal view is that non-attendance is not
reasonable. There is normally a great deal of visual information -
slides, handouts etc - available in lectures. Pre-lecture information
from the department might also help & the student himself may wish to
read course materials in advance. The student's issue is perhaps to do
with quality and/or type of notetaking. Some one-to-one back up tuition
with a postgraduate student or peer might also be helpful to address
gaps but should not be considered the main method of course delivery.
Regards
Julie Summers
Disability Adviser
University of Glasgow
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michael Woodman
Sent: 10 November 2008 10:55
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Accessibility of lectures for student with hearing loss
Dear All:
Wonder if anybody could offer any advice re: supporting a Biomedical
Sciences student with profound hearing loss who doesn't use BSL, but
relies entirely on lip-reading.
Despite our attempts to make lectures as accessible as possible, the
student finds it extremely difficult to get anything of use from
lectures. He uses a radio mic to support what hearing he does have, but
this clearly isn't enough. He has requested that he no longer attends
lectures, and that his note-taker support attends instead, as he feels
this will be a better use of his time.
Academic staff have actually agreed to this in the short term while we
figure out a different solution, but it isn't ideal. His note-taker is
uncomfortable with this, and it's clear he is missing out on any student
/ lecturer interaction that take place in these lectures.
One suggestion was that lectures are recorded for the student, and then
subtitled. This would be a large undertaking but might it be
reasonable? Does anybody else have any other suggestions?
Thanks,
--
Michael Woodman
Disabilities Coordinator
Registry, Hunter Wing,
St. George's, University of London,
Cranmer Terrace, Tooting,
SW17 0RE.
www.sgul.ac.uk/disability
Tel: 020 8725 0143
Fax: 020 8725 0841
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