 |
 |
I too am busy actually doing the job - thank God I can skim read _____ From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Faye Langston Sent: 20 April 2007 11:38 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: use of language - apology I am sorry if some of you feel that by ignoring long political rants by colleagues or email topics that go on and on means that we are being complicit - I for one actually have a heavy workload with the students I support and do not have the time to enter into tirades and rants by colleagues, preferring to scan for any interest and then hitting the delete button. The email below is both patronising and rude, a lot of us come to the forum to find answers to difficult practical questions to assist our students and prefer to keep our politics to ourselves. We do not all have time nor the inclination to comment on every email that comes through and why should we! I am replying to this email as I cannot believe how condescending it is to those of us who havent replied/ranted/been rude/put our oars in unnecesarily. Can we please get on with using this forum as a self-help tool to assist our students as I for one am getting very tired of all of this. Faye Faye Langston Disabilities Co-ordinator Coventry University Priory Street Coventry CV1 5FB 02476 888309 [log in to unmask] _____ From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Pat Mulcahy Sent: 20 April 2007 11:05 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: use of language - apology Bryan, God be with the days. To all of you who stayed silent while Alex poured scorn on our colleagues (Skill, DSA-QAG, DfES, suppliers etc) and himself, shame on you. It's the same as being complicit. To all of you who support his campaign to ignore the DfES regulations (they're only 'guidance); ignore the SLA; allow DOs to undertake the assessments - I have invited those concerned to discuss their outreach model on the NNAC discussion list as it seems more appropriate. Somebody wake Steve up, he's asleep by the radiator again. p.s Jiscmail guidelines on etiquette specifically state: Complain to the list owner, not the list I understand I was the only one to do so three weeks ago when I felt that Alex was actually damaging himself. Bryan Jones <[log in to unmask]> wrote: 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" To: 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 : > >> 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" >> To: >> 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 >> >> >> > Mr Patrick Mulcahy Assessor ASASA, CLASS, NLRAC The information contained in this message is confidential. It is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and others authorised to receive it. _____ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now <http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTEydmViNG02BF9TAzIxMTQ3MTcxOTAEc 2VjA21haWwEc2xrA3RhZ2xpbmU> . _____ NOTICE This message and any files transmitted with it is intended for the addressee only and may contain information that is confidential or privileged. Unauthorised use is strictly prohibited. If you are not the addressee, you should not read, copy, disclose or otherwise use this message, except for the purpose of delivery to the addressee. Any views or opinions expressed within this e-mail are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Coventry University.