(Sorry, couldn't resist getting involved in this one)...
We've recommended it if the student has a mobility problem which affects
their ability to access central resource computers, and/or communication
difficulties (eg profoundly deaf) which makes email/www an extremely useful
alternative for communication between tutors/peers etc. and alternative to
other audio-visual learning aids. Also some students with degenerative
spinal conditions which makes the action of sitting at a terminal painful
(esp. after hours of lectures) - we'll have recommended they have
posture-correct seating etc at home so they should have access to
facilities. Also some blind students here have shown that internet provision
opens up a whole world of independent information gathering and development
of research skills they will find invaluable towards the end of their degree
and later, but it takes them so much longer than other students simply
because they're using speech/softbraille to access the information.
There was some debate yesterday here about this causing exclusion from
central facilities - you could argue that lack of provision of these
facilities causes exclusion in some cases. However, college's should not use
provision of access at home as an excuse not to provide accessible
workstations.
It's unlikely we'd recommend it for a dyslexic student, unless the level of
dyslexia caused a comparable effect as a visual impairement.
We're urging our institution to get it's facility for external connection to
intranet facilities going and, as soon as it does, this will be the method
of access from home we'll recommend to people who need it. In the meantime
we've identified and costed out a service provider and ask for DSA to cover
this cost.
Ian Francis
University of Central Lancashire
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