Here at Middlesex University I have a full-time post funded by
the University, I am supported by a .75 internally funded admin
assistant.
I also run an externally funded (internally supported!) Sign Language
Bureau which is staffed by a full-time post ( which is job shared) and
a .5 admin assistant on a one year contract. This is renewable as
long as the project covers salaries from earnings.
The University also has a specialist Dyslexia support unit, launched
at the beginning of this academic year. Over eighty students have
already registered with the unit, NOT including existing students!
As the position (mine) carries management scale,I am able to (I
think?) influence many areas that would normally be very difficult
for an adviser/counsellor. This seems to be a very common state (lack
of status/recognition) and possibly a reason that many institutions
have not made the progress that HEFCE would have hoped for with the
investment of several millions over the past 5 years.
As long as staff with the wide range of skills and knowledge
necessary to support students (or staff) with disabilities is not
recognized or understood, there is not likely to be a great deal of
change.
It appears that Universities who insist on tagging a .5 to the back of
an overworked Student adviser or P/T academic appear to have no real
will in developing or encouraging the development of disability
support and are perhaps, doing what they do with an eye to the DDA
/ marketing and the phrase " making reasonable accommodation"
Sorry folks but that bit of bile has been building up for a while!!
I have seen too many talented and committed people coming in to this
work with high hopes and then disappearing at the end of a ONE YEAR
BLOODY CONTRACT!
I must thank my lucky stars that the past and present Vice
Chancellors of Middlesex have taken the disability issue very
seriously!
Alan Muller [log in to unmask]
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