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yes, this is an ongoing quandry...the problem is that there is a much greater issue of reliability with laptops, with more down time than one would expect from a desk top..
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of James Hitchins
Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 2:22 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Laptop provision through the DSA

Laptops are essential for some students, students with organisational and some mobility problems need them and if you use them correct not sitting on the floor with the screen at an odd angle, they are fine. They are about the same price as desktops, yes they are more expensive to insure and harder to repair, but students travel around a lot and having everything in one place just makes sense. The blanket "NO" is so short-sighted. The fact that some LEAs still say yes is good, but students notice this inequality. I know LEAs spend Millions on DSA and are snowed under, but I sincerely believe giving students laptops who need them due to the nature of their impairment are on more of an equal footing with a laptop, they can take and the specialist software anywhere they maybe and this facility is so vaulable.  
 
James Hitchins
Disability Project Officer
Trinity College of Music
(020) 8305 4418
-----Original Message-----
From: alex larg [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 11 November 2004 13:45
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Laptop provision through the DSA


I have experienced some difficulties with a few LEAs, but I just wanted to make the point that there are also many excellent and very supportive LEAs out there and that shouldn't be overlooked!

Alex Larg
Freelance IT Trainer and Study Needs Assessor
(07931 561 877)

>OK i agree with you, but waht do you do when all you get from the LEA is a straight "No because we don't allow laptops" and as hard as you try you still get the moronic corporate answer.
>
>or the other wonderful answer " we only allow laptops when the student is on a placement" really what difference does it make wether the student is on placement or not, if the needs assessor considers that the student needs a laptop then it should be supplied. the LEA's seem to delight in blocking.
>
>John
>
>John Barker
>Disability Technology Manager
>Disability and Dyslexia Service
>Room L206
>Learning Resources Centre
>University of Glamorgan
>Treforest
>Pontypridd
>Glamorgan
>
>Tel: 01443 483742
>
>Email: [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. on behalf of Ian Webb
>Sent: Wed 10/11/2004 18:04
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Laptop provision through the DSA
>
>This is back an old argument that has reigned for a long time. Laptop
>versus Desktop.
>
>I believe that all students should be given a laptop and that to award a
>desktop should require a special and detailed rational. This rational  is
>in line with schools and colleges and for no other reason.
>
>However I can and do agree that it is often a better option for students in
>student accommodation to be allowed a laptop as there is often a lack of
>space for a desk top and where security is an issue a laptop can be
>locked away in a drawer. There has been some interesting work done
>on the ergonomics of laptops over desktops and yet I have seen nothing
>that would make me stop using my laptop and change to a desktop
>especially as I am not a touch typist and even after 30 years of
>keyboarding I still prefer to look at the keyboard when typing glancing at
>the screen to check from time to time.
>
>All these arguments were put to the DfES when they asked for rationales
>as to which should be recommended unfortunately it was the ergonomic
>argument that pushed the decision towards desktops as the cost of
>making a laptop ergonomic made it an expensive option. I often see
>students using their desktop on the floor as they have neither no desk or
>space for one; not sure the ergonomic argument has an answer to this
>one, except that a laptop is going to be easier to handle.
>
>Today laptops are indeed similar in price to desktops and whilst I do not
>wish to cloud the issue with a reference to the costs you quote I think
>that you have looked at high specification machines well beyond the
>needs of the average student. For most students the cost of a laptop
>would be around £525 and would buy a Celeron 2.6ghz, 256MB RAM,
>40GB, DVD-CDWRITERr, 14" TFT, 56k modem, Lan, Windows XP
>Home, this is more than ample computing power to operate a large
>range of assistive software. A comparable desktop would be the
>Celeron 2.66GHZ, 256mb Ram, 40gb Hard Drive, i810  Video Card,
>Sound Card,  DVD/CDWriter Rom, Speakers, 56k Internal Modem,
>NIC,Microsoft Mouse,  Keyboard,  Motherboard, Windows XP Pro and 17"
>CRT monitor which costs around £500. Warranties for both are the
>same and suppliers seem to have no difficulties supporting either
>machine.
>
>Given that we now have a number of cases where a student has been
>awarded a desktop as an undergraduate and then as a postgraduate
>needs a laptop (PGCE students come to mind here) the issue of a
>laptop in the first place would make it a very cheap option to having to
>replace or rent later on.
>
>Just a few thoughts and I would welcome a debate on this area.
>
>
>--
>Ian Webb
>Disability Adviser
>MNADO
>
>"We lack wings to fly, but we always have strength enough to fall"
>Paul Claudel