Dear all
I am not a computer expert, I meet with and assess disabled students
needs, these, as I am sure we are all aware, are not simply answered by
'throwing technology at the impairment'. But we do have an advisor who
can suggest the best equipment.  I know that here and at other
institutions assessors and advisors are extremely careful not to make
outlandish claims on behalf of students for wild equipment which' would
be nice' but is hardly essential for equality.

Equality is what we are striving for, to redress the imbalances caused
by institutions being unprepared for students who will need to use
computer technology to fully access their course.

We are making recommendations on how to spend an equipment allowance and
it is our duty (I believe) to advise them wisely.  So that the equipment
they receive does not turn into a dinosaur mid course.

THe allowance is the students OWN, when they have bought the equipment
we have suggested and it works and they are happy, it has nothing to do
with us what they do with it then or at the end of their course.

I believe our adviser here gives our students fair advice based on
knowledge of the hardware and software currently in use on the course,
the students particular needs and with an awareness of what to expect in
the near future.  We have little problem getting this supported by LEA's
as we represent  a fair and thoughtful assessment.

What we are not able to do is to spend our time making up money saving
do-it-yourselves from the hi-tech version of the washing up liquid
bottle and some sticky backed plastic.

These latest postings are fascinating, but hardly very useful
information for LEA's, as they may expect us all to start doing such
wonderful things with wax and strings and goodwill.

Thank You

Chris Baxter
The Nottingham Trent University

>----------
>From: 	[log in to unmask][SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: 	12 May 1997 16:37
>To: 	[log in to unmask]
>Subject: 	Re: Hardware - the future, the past and
>
>
>Nice one Anne-Denise I would have thought that this would be of interest to 
>SKILL.
>
>Andrea
> ----------
>From: regadw
>To: dis-forum
>Subject: Re: Hardware - the future, the past and the
>Date: 12 May 1997 14:13
>
>I was interested in what Andrea Elliott had to say about using DSAs
>for upgrades on computers.  Does this discussion not come back to the
>same point about what students WANT as opposed to what they NEED.
>Should we not all be recommending equipment to fulfill the need.
>
>But I like the idea of a computer graveyard.  I wonder how it could
>be arranged that students "handed in" a computer at the end of their
>degree.   May be this is an idea for SKILL to take up,.
>
>Anne-Denise
>
>


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