Following a review of  the Consortium of Higher Education Support Services with Deaf Students (CHESS )  activities, the Planning Group met and agreed some changes around how CHESS operates.  The changes to CHESS are intended to allow Planning Group members to spend more time exploring current practices and targeting any events or workshops to more focused audiences. 

 

These changes are:

1) There will be approx 6 meetings per year of the Planning Group.

2) These meetings will take place mostly at Sheffield.

3) The Planning Group will devote time to discussing issues of concern for D/deaf students, disability services and disability advisers etc.   Where necessary lobbying relevant sector groups and organisations to promote good practice and ensure D/deaf student access requirements are included in sector developments.  CHESS will continue to consult with the sector, develop and share good practice and finally plan and organise broader sector events or meetings.

4) There will be 1 maybe 2 broader 'events/meetings' per year which may emerge from the Planning Group, prompted by external debate or by external request. Where, when and how these are planned will depend on the 'event/meeting' itself. These may range from a meeting for interpreters to discuss HE interpreting issues, to a conference or a workshop to share good practice with a question and answer session.  Meetings will be hosted at accessible national venues and will be advertised and targeted specifically with clear indications of the aims of the event for the target audience.  

 

The CHESS Planning Group continues to warmly welcome any colleagues interested in D/deaf student issues to register on Deaflink (http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/DEAFLINK.html) where issues relating to D/deaf students are explored, and experiences shared.  

 

The Planning Group are also very keen to welcome new members who would like to contribute to the planning process to contact Jannine Williams (contact details at the end of the email), for further details.  No experience necessary, just enthusiasm and a commitment to the CHESS mission and objectives.

 

 

 

A reminder of the Mission, Aims and Objectives of CHESS:

 

 

CHESS

 

1)     THE MISSION STATEMENT

 

“To increase choice, access and quality of provision for deaf and hearing impaired students entering and undergoing Higher Education”

 

2)     AIMS

 

a)     To disseminate and promote research into, good practice

b)  To support all Higher Education Institutions in developing good practice

 

3)  OBJECTIVES

 

CHESS should:

·        have a regularly elected cross-institutional Planning Group with a Convener to co-ordinate and organise the work of CHESS

·        hold regular meetings around the country which will aim to be focussed and productive

·        respond to requests for discussion of issues

·        ensure dissemination of information e.g.  of meetings; sector developments through a mail base list

·        consult with the list and other interested groups to provide responses to issues relating to the Mission Statement

 

 Warm  regards, 

 

Jannine