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"Now if anyone dared send joke in there would probably be a flurry of indignation from people wondering why such frivolity was occurring on their in-box." Bravo, Brian! A little light commonsense. How refreshing. Did you hear the one about the blind man ......... Well, better not perhaps! Write to me off list if you want the rest. Paul Jarman, Disability Support Officer, 2.39 Francis Bancroft Building, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, LONDON. E1 4NS Tel.: +44 (0)20 7882-2757, Fax: +44 (0)20 7882-5223, E-Mail: [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bryan Jones Sent: 19 April 2007 12:49 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: use of language - apology Actually Dis-forum was originally set up to be a virtual staff room for Disability Officers. In times past we often worked alone with no one in our institutions who had a clue what we did, how we did it or why so we discussed and let of steam virtually. Dis-forum was a way to speak to colleagues, have joke over coffee etc. Now if anyone dared send joke in there would probably be a flurry of indignation from people wondering why such frivolity was occurring on their in-box. As to Mr Larg, one still wonders why he feels it necessary to be a self appointed champion of the cause, rather than first seeing if the representitive organisations involved in the DSA processes, could not be asked to look at and raise the concerns that are allegedly being raised by students and DOs? If approaches to NADP, NNAC, SKILL, NUS, QAG etc were rebuffed or ignored then I would think then would be the time to go it alone. Please feel free treat this as a rhetorical question. Bryan Jones, Manager, Disability Support Services & North London Regional Access Centre, Middlesex University Tel: 020 8411 5366 -----Original Message----- From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Caroline Davies Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 5:26 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: use of language - apology Sorry, absolutely. Got a bit carried away with the concept. Its always great when students post to the list - I wish there was more of it. Their contributions invariably give a different and valuable perspective. Caroline ----- Original Message ----- From: "Felicity Burgess" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 5:20 PM Subject: Re: use of language - apology > But is it supposed to be a 'virtual staff room'? > > The header of the list suggests that it is a 'discussion list for > disabled students and their support staff'; ergo, not a staff room. > The feeling that this is in any way a 'staff room' could discourage > students from posting. > > > > Quoting Caroline Davies <[log in to unmask]>: > >> Dear Alex, >> >> I would like to endorse Karen's comments and to say that my complaint >> to the list owner was not in relation to an email from you. >> >> I do think it is important that everyone who posts to disforum uses >> language that is considered and considerate. I would certainly not >> want this to stifle genuine discussion (or controversy) and >> information sharing, because >> that's what disforum is all about. It is an invaluable 'virtual staff >> room'. I hope that the list owner will now think it sensible to provide >> some useful guidance for contributors. >> >> kind regards, >> >> Caroline >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Karen Farmer" <[log in to unmask]> >> To: <[log in to unmask]> >> Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 2:23 PM >> Subject: Re: use of language - apology >> >> >> Dear Alex >> >> Being one of those named in your message - thank you for the >> courteous apology. >> >> While I may occasionally have not appreciated the form in which you >> have expressed your opinions, I have never doubted that you are >> committed to supporting students, which is after all what we are all >> here for. >> >> Personally, I look forward to your continued contributions to this >> list, and it would be a shame if any of us felt that we could not >> properly air a genuine concern, or make reasonable enquiries - >> particulary if the topic under discussion is likely to be perceived >> by others as contentious or sensitive. >> >> Regards >> >> K >> >> >> >> Karen Farmer >> DSA Needs Assessor >> Learning Support >> University of Bedfordshire >> Park Square, Luton >> LU1 3HZ >> >> Tel: 01582 74 3422 >> Internal ext: 3422 >> Fax: 01582 489349 >> >> >> >>> [log in to unmask] 18/04/2007 13:31:55 >>> >> Dear Colleagues, >> apologies for cross posting this message... >> I would like to apologise to Karen, Caroline and any other >> colleagues who may have found my messages offensive or inappropriate. >> They are not intended >> to be and my intention is purely to find out whether students are >> receiving >> the best possible service and are being given value for money and the >> excellence of service which they deserve and should be entitled to. The >> feedback I receive from many students I work with, and I work with a lot >> of >> students, is that they often feel let down by the systems in place to >> help >> them. That's not to say that a lot of them aren't also grateful, thankful >> and appreciative - they are. My starting point was to ask for evidence >> from >> students and those who work with students, and take that forward to an >> appropriate authority. This seems to have been met by a combination of >> appreciation and praise off list, and sometimes animosity and >> discouragement >> on list from service providers, assessors and access centre managers. I >> am >> not saying that my opinion is the only opinion and that I am right. I am >> just saying that I feel that there is room for improvement in any sector >> and >> that the way to achieve that improvement is through encouraging and >> gathering feedback, which is seriously considered and acted on and not >> just >> binned and dismissed as ill informed and just a few complaining students. >> I >> believe I can, as any competent disability officer / practitioner should >> be >> able to, tell the difference between substance and distraction. I also >> find >> that the students who don't complain or make little or no noise at all >> are >> the ones often most in need of help. I am copying this message to several >> forums as I want my apology and my own opinion to be available to anyone >> who >> wants it, needs it, deserves it etc. This is likely to be one of my last >> on-list postings for a while on this subject as I intend to take my >> concerns >> and evidence elsewhere. I am still very happy to receive on-list or >> off-list >> messages with comments, concerns and criticisms. I will also participate >> where appropriate in disussions where I feel I have something positive to >> contribute, as I feel and believe is the spirit of these lists. >> I would also be happy on this occasion for this message to be forwarded >> to >> the ASASA list as I no longer have rights to post to that list >> unfortunately. >> Thank you. Alex Alex [log in to unmask] 561 877 or 07916 175 >> 077Freelance Assistive Technology TrainerFreelance study needs >> assessorFormer Disability Officer >> MNADP >> _________________________________________________________________ >> Express yourself: design your homepage the way you want it with Live.com. >> http://www.live.com/getstarted >> >> >> >