Clare,

We have had similar requests from students (though not in the form of a
3 page list!!). Here is what we did in those situations:

> 1. The student has asked for a hospital bed and special mattress.  Has
> anyone had a similar request?  Should institutions normally be
> expected to purchase such items?
> 
In our case, the student required an electrically operated bed (movement
up/down, and feet/head movement) and a mattress to prevent bed sores. I
got advice from the students' local social services department by
phoning the same Occupational Therapist who provided the equipment for
the student at her home. I felt that this was the only way to make a
successful purchase - far too many models of bed out there and too easy
to get it wrong. In our case the student also required a electrically
operated hoist. The DSA was used successfully to pay for these pieces of
equipment (c. £2900). As a university, we paid for the necessary
adaptations to the infrastructure of her room in halls - a lowered sink
with 'paddle' taps, extra power points, a lowered desk with easy access
underneath, a custom lowered wardrobe etc.

> 2. Personal care will be required when getting up and going to bed,
> with cooking, shopping, washing, ironing and bathing, with physio,
> when night sweats occur, and provision for over night assistance is 
> needed.  How would this care normally be funded and who would cover
> the cost of what would appear to be two extra bed sits for carers, as
> it would appear he needs round-the-clock assistance?
> 
Swansea hosts four students with similar needs to these, and we use the
organisation CSV - community service volunteers. I am entitled the "CSV
Project Supervisor" in all this as well, which basically means that I
look after the CSVs on site (10 of them). The CSVs live in adjacent
rooms to the student, and provide all the support services that you
mention. The costs of these are enourmous - each CSV is paid £53.50 per
week for expenses, plus accommodation (£2000 p.a.), plus £300 p.a. for
travel. The CSVs always work in pairs or threes for our students,
depending on need, to ensure that we don't have "burnout". The cost,
around £11,500 per year for two CSVs, is paid for by the social services
department of the students home county. It can be a bit of a struggle to
get the social services to pay, as we have found in one case, but most
have been very helpful and supportive. As a university, I arrange for
the weekly cash payments to be made for the CSVs, and then I invoice on
a six-monthly basis to replenish our funds, and pay for the
accommodation

I hope this sheds some light on it all. If you want any more details,
please feel free to phone (I will be out of the office on Wednesday
(after 12pm), Thursday and Friday, but you can call me on 08701 13 63 63
on Wednesday afternoon as I will be sat on the train!).

Regards,

Richard.

Richard Edwards,
Special Needs Officer,
Department of Planning and Marketing,
University of Wales Swansea,
Singleton Park,
Swansea SA2 8PP.

Tel: 01792 295336
Minicom/Text: 01792 295089
Fax: 01792 295336
Email: [log in to unmask]

> ----------
> From: 	[log in to unmask][SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To: 	[log in to unmask]
> Sent: 	26 January 1999 17:15
> To: 	[log in to unmask]
> Subject: 	Any suggestions!
> 
> A prospective student has recently given me a list of his needs if 
> he is to study at this institution.  The list runs to 60 requests, 
> ranging from personal care to major modifications to bathrooms, 
> bedrooms and kitchens.  As the list runs to 3 pages I have not 
> reproduced it here, however I would appreciate advice on the 
> following points:
> 
> 1. The student has asked for a hospital bed and special mattress.  
> Has anyone had a similar request?  Should institutions normally be 
> expected to purchase such items?
> 
> 2. Personal care will be required when getting up and going to bed, 
> with cooking, shopping, washing, ironing and bathing, with physio, 
> when night sweats occur, and provision for over night assistance is 
> needed.  How would this care normally be funded and who would 
> cover the cost of what would appear to be two extra bed sits for 
> carers, as it would appear he needs round-the-clock assistance?
> 
> 
> 
> Clare Horrocks
> Disability Services Co-ordinator
> Disability Access, Resources & Technology (DART)
> University of Lincolnshire & Humberside
> Tel: + 44 (0)1482 444550 ext. 3300
> Fax: + 44 (0)1482 463531
> E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
> 


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