-Thank you for the tip on touch typing training.
She says she isnot a touch typist but then again the youths nowadays are well
ahead of us the oldies(!) where typing and keyboard skills are concerned!
-We have explored the possibility of
Dyslexia but she states that she has never had an issue with this before, and nor
throughout her schooling, she also says that she never had issues with
spelling.
-Bearing in mind that her job is to type
up reports that the practitioners have dictated , the employer is resistant to
the option of any VAS/ voice activated software. In any case after the report
is uploaded on the screen, it still needs to be proof read- precisely where she
is having the problem with.
-I have no doubt that retinopathy can
affect sight but I hope to ask the specialist whether her vision problem has
the potential of causing her typo and if it is not going to improve ,
then is she likely to be registered as partially sighted. She is
still driving.
-The only adjustment that I feel it be
worth considering is a redeployment within the organization( a large entity)
where proof reading is not the main part of the role?? In considering this RA( under
the DDA), the employer asks for the evidence of direct link between her typing
errors and Diabetes and not her skills.
-Basically she has struggled from the
beginning with the main part of her job . There are real doubts about her
skills and her attitude to work which have not improved with training and a close
supervision.
From:
[log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of S.C.Morley
Sent: 08 September 2009 14:57
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] Diabetes
related visual disturbances - Errors in secretarial work
One of the first
things that occurs to me is, is she a touch typist or ‘hunt and
peck’. If the latter, one of the first things I would do would be to get
her on a validated touch typing course such as The British Computer
Society (BCS) qualification in touch typing.. You can unlearn ‘hunt and peck’
no matter how long you have been doing it. Unfortunately the older the brain
the longer it takes.(personal opinion here!!) I have just succeeded and I am
near retirement age!!!
Voice activated
software is not without its difficulties. I have recently been experimenting
with it and it is very time consuming getting to grips with the terminology and
using it and I had a short training course by the one of the trainers. It may
well help but she will need the full training that goes with it and AtoW is
probably the best route to go down to get that.
If reports are
dictated into a Dictaphone there is software that goes with the VAS that can
download the dictation straight on to the computer.
Is she aware of the
problems she has, or could this be a dyslexia problem and not just a
straight forward visual one?
Not sure that writing
to her consultant will help. He may well confirm that the retinopathy affects
her vision, then what do you do.
I do not think you are
near the end unless the employer is unwilling to consider other adjustments.
Her medical condition is likely to fall within the DDA so you have to
ensure you have explored all options before HR look at capability.
Sue
From:
[log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of N. Rostami
Sent: 08 September 2009 10:12
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [OCC-HEALTH] Diabetes
related visual disturbances - Errors in seccretarial work
Hi List,
Can I please pick your clever brains today about this case:
A young diabetic secretary ( works 3 days a week )claims
that her typing errors (significant amount) are attributed to the visual
disturbances that she has as a result of her retinopathy. She is an insulin
dependant diabetic who has difficulty controlling it. The employer claims that
right from the start of her job( 12 months ago) , she has been making
these errors which were tolerated whilst she was being mentored and inducted
. She has declared her condition 6 months ago since when she has been
given reasonable adjustments in the form of , reduction in workload,
another colleague proof reads her work and close supervision. There
are no alternative /redeployment jobs within the office, though the employer is
a big organization. Under the capability policy she has not been able to
improve her performance with the benefit of the adjustments which are no
longer sustainable.
She is now stating that she is stressed as she worries about
the prospect of her job which in turn makes her tired and fatigued ,further
affecting her performance. She states that her GP thought that she had
depression ( what is new !!!!any fatigued patient is diagnosed with this!!!?-
with due respect to Alan…). However she has not accepted treatment and
counselling from her GP. A workplace assessment has been carried out. I
am not sure if it is appropriate to consider the use of a voice activated
software as the main part of her job is to type the dictated reports! We have
advised her to use the features of font/contract/brightness/ line space to make
the proof reading of her work on the screen more user-friendly. She has even
been advised to print out the reports and proof read them. Basically she does
not seem to be bothered and responsive to these advices. She also works 3 days
a week in her parent’s pub and claims that she does only day shifts for
them .The employer wants her to self refer to Access to Work for further
assessment. I have considered writing to her specialist giving all details of
her errors in typing and to find whether her retinopathy would
result in such errors, and is it likely to improve.
How do the rest of the list this case?
Is it likely that we are at the end of the road for her, now
looking at capability in spite of the RA.
I have convinced her to take up counselling via EAP, which I
think should also be given some chance.
Would appreciate all comments and thanking you in advance.
Noushin
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