Dear all
Although it is fascinating to learn the number of students
with disabilities that are attending various institutions I
would suggest caution in making any great conclusions from
them, especially if these figures are being used to compare
staffing levels to student numbers. Should not the total
number of students attending the institutions also be
considered? Are we talking 50% of the total student body
having disabilities or .005%, it makes a difference. Also
how many are part time or full time? What is the nature of
the institution? Is it compact, modern and on a campus or
is it spread over a few sites several miles apart?
I would also question the accuracy of the figures based on
self declared enrollment details - including my own. Many
students seem to claim a disability/special need, when in
our terms they would not be so. How many of the students
claiming to be partially sighted simply wear glasses? I
picked up on two such UCAS applicants last year. How many
of those claiming dyslexia have actually had this
confirmed, or just think they are? How many of your "deaf"
students require support? At this institution last
year last year 33 students declared that they were
deaf/partial hearing, I am supporting five.
And what did the Russell group of institutions meet at the
Russell Hotel for anyway?
Bryan Jones
Equal Opportunities Adviser
London Guildhall University.
On Mon, 10 Nov 1997 10:37:54 GMT0BST ": MARY FOLEY"
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > From: Deb Viney <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: staffing re disability
> > Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 09:13:24 -0500 (EST)
> > Priority: NORMAL
> > Reply-to: [log in to unmask]
>
> >
> > Dear All
> >
> > Apologies for the delay - being new in the job I didn't know that
> > Southampton was one of the Russell group.
> >
> > There are approximately 400 students with disabilities here, 150 of
> > whom have a specific learning difficulty (usually dyslexia).
> >
> > We have two disability members of staff - I am the disability
> > co-ordinator for both Univ. of Southampton and University of
> > Southampton New College (formerly La Sainte Union CHE) on an 0.8FTE
> > contract. There is also a learning differences specialist for the
> > main campus, currently 0.2FTE but that is to be revised shortly, we
> > understand, to an 0.6FTE position. UoS New College has just agreed
> > to fund an 0.4FTE post in learning differences support.
> >
> > In addition to those, we have a designated person in Admissions & one
> > in the Accommodation Office,each of whom handles all disability
> > related requests (as well as other work).
> >
> > Regards, Deb
> >
> > ----------------------
> > Deb Viney
> > Disability Co-ordinator
> > University of Southampton
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> > Tel: 01 703 595644 (Highfield, Mon Wed & Fri)
> > or 01 703 216200 ext. 518 (Tu & Thur, UoS New College)
> >
> Apologies also for a delayed reply from Nottingham. Our computer has
> counted 877 people with disabilities 569 of whom give an unseen
> disability,diabetes epilepsy asthma, most of whom I would not expect
> to see. 118 give dyslexia. The others are fairly evenly spread
> around the other HESA/UCAS categories, with the expected
> under-reporting of mental health difficulties (of which any acute
> manifestation, if it should arise, would be referred to the Health
> Centre or the counsellors, rather than to us).
> >
> For these we have 6 person days (two of them paid for by DSA)
> per week in the Learning Support
> Unit, dealing mainly with dyslexia, me as a half time Officer for
> Disability Issues, and a driver for our vehicle which is available
> for those who have permanent or temporary mobility problems.These
> figures exclude staff on our current HESA-funded project.
>
> Mary F
> Mary Foley, Officer for Disability Issues
> Universiry of Nottingham
> tel0115-9514377, fax01159514376, minicom01159514378
> e-mail Mary.Foley@nottingham
----------------------
Bryan Jones
[log in to unmask]
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