>hi 
>can any one help me i would like to get my collage to set up a buddie 
>system. 
>
>could any one tel me hoe they did it.
>and where to start
>
>many thanks
>emma gibson
 
Emma 
I'd start with any member of staff who is involved with supporting Students 
learning needs and their disabilities.  Do you have an induction day / week at 
the start of the year, where all the information is provided about everything? 
 That's a good moment to make contact with new students.
 
At Oxford Brookes University - we started it as a self help scheme with the 
aid of Student Services.  With their help we identified a few dyslexic 
students who were prepared to be "Buddies" to New students - 6 people in all. 
 
 A member of Staff from the councelling team gave us a talk on 
How to listen, and
How not to taken on board all your Buddies problems but to point them at the 
right expert when you could not provide the answer. 
Who is the supervisor / co-ordinator, when do you go to them?
 
Student Services run a workshop in the first week of term and this was where 
we told people that Buddies were available.  They were to meet in each of the 
first 3 weeks of term and the 6th week when our workload goes mad! appart from 
that they could meet when and where they liked. 
 
 
There are lots of choices:
 
Do your Buddies support on a 1:1 basis?
Should you all meet up together and be introduced to your Buddy or meet your 
buddy and then brave a group meeting? 
Do you only need buddies at the start of the year, in the first term, or when 
you find out you are dyslexic ...? 
Do you want Buddies to be in the same field and able to give knowledge about 
the course OR is it better to make contacts with people in other fields and 
other interests.
 
We also tried a Student Union society to improve awareness of dyslexia and to 
generally have fun, and it has certainly been a very good laugh when we have 
got together.
 
There are problems with workloads, stress and apathy.  Not everyone is 
confident enough to expose their problems to support others, even the 
extroverts!  
Getting people involved is hard work. Keeping them involved in worse but 
regular use of e-mail helps. 
 
GOOD LUCK
 
Mary ELD
Final Year Student 
(Educational Studies and Intelligent systems)
Oxford Brookes University
 
P.S. any more questions be quick I'm only here a few more weeks.


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