Hi
Sumara,
This is a
difficult question and one that has raised many associated others within the
responses you've had.
To try and add to
some of the suggestions you've had:
...and just to be
clear - the intention here is to obtain the maximum access for the student but
trying to minimise the cost to your HEI directly. I tend to agree with those who
suggest that the access comes first. £34,000 is a lot of money but in terms of
the overall HEI budget it is a drop in the ocean and it is that budget which
will be examined in any test of 'reasonableness', not the disability unit or
student services budget.
1) how close is
your relationship with the Access to Learning Fund panel at your Institution?
Not everyone is aware that there is no limit to the amount a student can be
awarded. Is there any possibility of splitting the costs between this year and
next year - the 100 days would surely bleed into next financial year? Perhaps
you could do the same from the DSA?
Remember: the
underlying premiss for DSA is that it is reimbursing the student for additional
costs incurred. This means that the £34,000 is (theoretically speaking) the
students' cost. This makes them an exceptional case for an ALF award in my view
which is the grounds for going beyond the standard £3,500
limit.
2) Is £34,000
accurate? I know many highly qualified and experienced interpreters who charge
£200 pr day which equates to £20,000 for 100 days. Call me off list and I may be
able to put one in your direction.....depending on the timing of the
placement.
3) You mention
'department' - is this your academic department or the employer? If it is the
former, then the employer may be more flexible and accommodating than the
department currently imagines. We have sent students on social work placement
before and the interpreting needs were not so great (but this was U/G rather
than P/G). If the student were to go on and gain employment for the social
services there may well be arrangements in place to minimise the interpeting
costs through Access to Work by structuring the work
differently.
The very best of luck with this
Feel free to call me if you wish to
discuss
regards
Paddy
Paddy
Turner
Sheffield
Hallam University
0114 225
4981
Hello All,
I have an urgent question.....I hope someone can
help!!
We have a Deaf student who is going on a 100 day
placement for his MA social work course. He has already overspent this
years DSA allocation and his assessment has quoted £34,000 for his placement
support (full time BSL interpreter)
We are in a position where we cannot really afford to
pay such an amount. I have spoken to the department about possible
days/duties where he may not need the support but the nature of the placement
means that it runs in a very ad hoc manner so it would be very difficult to plan
therefore difficult to target days and times for support. The department
also recommend the student to have full time support.
Has anyone come across this before? I'm just at such a
loss!
Kind
Regards
Sumara
Sumara
Hussain
Disability
Adviser
Equality &
Diversity Office
Humphrey Booth
House
University of
Salford
M5
4WT
(
0161 295 4609
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http://www.equality.salford.ac.uk/
