It would appear from recent postings that many members of the list are
very unhappy and concerned about the way in which they are treated by
their respective institutions. Experience has demonstrated that a
great many posts are part-time, but the workload is at least a
full-time one. Even where the post is full-time, it is often only
temporary with little sense of security. Grades are at a level more
associated with junior staff, but where the holder carries full
responsibility for their own actions. Staff are usually alone in
executing their responsibilities and feel isolated. Individuals are
usually located in student services and are often marginalised by
academic staff, yet they may need to confront them over their most
sacred cows, such as teaching styles and arrangements for academic
assessment. Line managers are frequently ignorant of what the job
entails and fail to provide suitable backup and support.
Responsibilities are often ill defined and largely defined by others,
who have little understanding of the job. The powers that might cramp
an academic's actions are withheld, while responsibility for clearing
up their mistakes is not. The post holder might be the last to hear
about a disabled student but be the first when difficult issues are
encountered. The disability officer is expected to know absolutely
every thing about every disability and associated issues, yet
appropriate training is almost non-existent.
Resources to support the post are frequently arranged and paid for by
charitable monies. Furthermore, because of the creative way many use
the DSAs to provide services and offset departmental running costs,
this could cloud the view of the university in seeing what their real
obligations are.
Due to the newness of the role there is often ignorance on the part of
universities in appointing, training and supporting staff.
As long as the post is treated in this way it is hard to see how
disabled students can be fully absorbed into the mainstream of student
life.
For some time now a group of us have been discussing the formation of
an association of disability officers. To this end, a couple of weeks
ago we arranged an initial meeting that is to take place in the very
near future to discuss this matter. We shall inform list members as
to the proceedings of this meeting early in the New Year, where we
hope colleagues will express their opinions.
The purpose of an association of disability officers would be to act
as a professional organisation working to improve the contractual,
salary, status and working conditions of its members. This would not
only benefit members, but would serve to improve the quality of
support for students with disabilities.
Dave Laycock, University of Westminster
Patrick Mulcahy, UCL
Steve Metcalfe, ULH
Steve Metcalfe
Division of Assistive Resources and Technology
University of Lincolnshire & Humberside, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1482 440550 ext. 4029
Fax: +44 (0)1482 441411
EMail [log in to unmask]
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