Dear All,
I have a particular bee in my bonnet about the phrase 'level the playing field' as if our reasonable adjustments can wave a magic wand and the student's disability will no longer be a burden. Let us imagine a person with a broken leg needing to cross the 'level playing field', our reasonable adjustment would be the walking stick/crutch - however the individual still has to cross the field and will, additionally, need extra time.
There are many students who have to put considerable extra time into their studies just to keep level with their peers and those staff who do not have such issues to contend with simply do not understand the considerable extra effort made and needed.
Best wishes,
Margarita Moscoso
Disability Officer
Central Saint Martins College
10 Back Hill
London EC1R 5EN
020 7514 7143
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jayne Mayers
Sent: 08 July 2011 13:42
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Reasonable adjustments versus unfair advantage
Dear Colleagues
Our team recently discussed how the institution could support a
student's progression to her third year. One of the options was that she
be permitted extra time to complete her work for the third year - it's
likely that she will not complete all work within the one year period,
because of limitations on the amount of time she is able to spend at her
studies. She has several co-morbid medical conditions/impairments, one
of which is musculo-skeletal and has been diagnosed within the last six
months - SFE have kindly agreed a top-up Needs Assessment for her.
SFE have also provided us with the relevant extract of the regulations
which show that this is a reasonable adjustment.
However, one of the senior academics has queried whether this student
is now being given an unfair advantage because they have an extended
period to complete. A "level playing field" has been mentioned!
Any thoughts or experiences to share?
I have a meeting with the Academic on Monday morning so any responses
gratefully appreciated! Although I realise Friday pm has to be the
worst time to ask a question!
Many thanks
Jayne
Jayne Mayers
Inclusion Officer
Student Information Centre
Edge Hill University
St Helens Road
Ormskirk
L39 4QP
Direct Dial 01695 584190 / 01695 584793
Extension 4190/4793
Or email [log in to unmask] (
mailto:[log in to unmask] )
Based on an award-winning 160-acre Campus near Liverpool, Edge Hill
University has over 125 years of history as an innovative, successful
and distinctive higher education provider.
• Shortlisted for Times Higher Education University of the Year 2007 and
2010
• Top in the North West for overall student satisfaction (Sunday Times
University Guide 2011)
• Second in England for graduate employment (HESA 2009, full
universities, full and part-time, first and foundation degrees)
• Top 20 position, and the highest ranked university in 'The Sunday
Times Best Places to Work in the Public Sector 2010'
• Grade 1 'outstanding' judgements made in all 33 inspection cells,
Ofsted Initial Teacher Education inspection report 12/5/2011
-----------------------------------------------------
This message is private and confidential. If you have received this
message in error, please notify the sender and remove it from your
system. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author
and do not necessarily represent those of Edge Hill or associated
companies. Edge Hill University may monitor email traffic data and also
the content of email for the purposes of security and business
communications during staff absence.
-----------------------------------------------------
In summer 2011 we'll be moving to our new home at King's Cross. The move to this extraordinary state-of the-art space will mark a new era in arts education.
FIND OUT MORE:
www.csm.arts.ac.uk/kings-cross-move
|
