Hi Erin
If the supplier refuses to foot the bill, strictly speaking, they're
breaking the DDA, 2005.
Of course, this may not help the student very much! Whether or not the cost
of supplying a BSL signer can be met as part of the educational need/NMH of
the student may be justifiable may seem a fair approach to adopt,
especially if it can be argued that to not have a BSL signer would prevent
a barrier to that students entering and continuing in education. Whether or
not a LEA will accept that is a moot point.
It may help in future to advise students/assessments centres to get quotes
from companies where it's clear that any additional adjustment costs are
covered within the cost of the equipment, and apply across the board to all
recipients of their goods and services, irrespective of any impairment.
That would hopefully avoid getting to the point where a student's needs are
not being met because of unfair treatment by their equipment supplier. The
person who bears the most strain here is the student.
Of course, a formal complaint could be registered with the Equality and
Human Rights Commission against the company's practices, on
www.equalityhumanrights.com . I appreciate this could present a burden, not
necessarily on the student, but on any organisation who represents students
with auditory impairments, but I do feel that the students human rights in
these situations are being manipulated, at least, and that this one student
is unlikely to be alone.
Hope that is of some help.
Best wishes
Chris
"Jackson, Erin"
<E.A.Jackson@BOLT
ON.AC.UK> To
Sent by: [log in to unmask]
"Discussion list cc
for disabled
students and Subject
their support Re: BSL Interpreter costs
staff."
<DIS-FORUM@JISCMA
IL.AC.UK>
04/12/2008 15:27
Please respond to
"Discussion list
for disabled
students and
their support
staff."
<DIS-FORUM@JISCMA
IL.AC.UK>
Hi,
Yes, that is right - they are awaiting their DSA equipment. I felt that
the supplier should foot the bill as a reasonable adjustment to be
honest.
So where should the student go from here?
Thanks
Erin
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Chris Dunlop
Sent: 04 December 2008 15:09
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: BSL Interpreter costs
Hi Erin
Strictly speaking, the cost, or potential cost, of BSL interpreters in
the supply
and training on equipment should be factored into the cost of the
equipment
and training. The suppliers of goods and services have a legal
responsibility to
make 'reasonable adjustments' to the goods and services they provide,
which
shouldn't discriminate, i.e. cost, one person more than another.
However, where they haven't done so, it may be covered by DSA. But not
as
part of the assessment. I'm presuming this student has been granted DSA
and
is now being supplied with equipment?
Hope that helps
Chris
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