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Hi Penny Thanks for that thoughtful and measured response. It's true that my post was written mainly in anger, and of course I agree that we should take up IAC's challenge in respect of the activities and concerns listed. But I do think we need to be more vigilant about accepting such terms at face value. The 'Big Society' was invented by cynical politicians which means in reality the opposite of what they are held to mean (the government's target is of course the big (ie, big-spending welfare) state. I think the appropriate term is News speak. It is not just the public sector which has been the target for cuts and political vitriol; the voluntary sector has not escaped either. We may need vigilance of our own in relation to the onslaught on public spending yet to come. Best wishes Roddy PS - I do apologise for being unable to attend the 'Working with Perceptual Difference' event on Wednesday: I am (as ever) trying to catch up on a backlog of work. On 01/03/2013 12:36, Penny Georgiou wrote: > > Dear Roddy, > > It is interesting. Your comments have provoked a thoughts on several > registers: > > Big Society: Yes, this term is not one that I would have used either > and for reasons similar to those that I suppose you to be referring > to. However, I realised too that this is a prejudice of mine. Those > who crafted the text have taken their reference points in an > experience before mainstream politics made use of it. Ie, that it is > voluntary work, pro bono. > > Rhetoric: amongst other things, this is a term for empty words. This > is an issue, not just in our field but in many others. The pledge > implicit (that pound of flesh that seals the bond between human > beings) in one's words continues to be eroded by the evasion of > monetarist ideologies, such that people seem to be under a spell and > so unable to think beyond it's narrow confines. > > Words are all too often emptied of all reference to consequences. For > my part, where I give my word, I strive as far as vitality permits to > offer a pathway to consequences that would make that word something > worth having. Ie, if I give my word, I do my best to keep it. If I > cannot, I will offer up the acknowledgement due to the one who waits > on it. > > I trust that your message has come out of authentic anger at another > situation. > > I hope that others will not use your words to avoid engaging with the > challenges that IAC's pledge has issued, whether or not they decide to > take up the invitation. That pledge, which I will be striving to > realise, aims towards a culture of dignity and works to real access to > education. > > For justice to prevail, there is a great deal of work to be done, > both alone and in solidarity with others joined in common cause. > > Best wishes, > > > Penny > > Access 1^st is a member of IAC. Penny Georgiou is a Director of Access > 1^st . > > *From:*Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *Roddy Slorach > *Sent:* 01 March 2013 10:19 > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* Re: Independent Assessment Centres > > "IAC operates in the spirit of the big society", does it? Perhaps > someone should tell them that the government abandoned this vacuous > and foolish rhetoric some time ago... > > On 01/03/2013 09:10, Simon Jarvis wrote: > > *Good morning, Dis Forum. > > * > > *I have been asked to forward this email to the list.... > > * > > Dear Colleagues, > > > I'm writing in my role as lead representative of IAC to invite DSA > Assessment Centre Managers to join IAC in its continuing work in > promoting DSA through staff development and involvement on stakeholder > groups. IAC operates in the spirit of the big society and membership > is free to all those interested in joining and taking an active and > positive part in our organisation. Our aims are: > > > To work towards the preservation of the DSA scheme for future > generations of students by ensuring that market forces are used to > ensure competition and cost-effectiveness; > > To facilitate a free association of independent assessment centres > conducting assessments for the Disabled Students' Allowance; > > To exchange information, knowledge and expertise within the association; > > To act as a lobbying organisation advocating and promoting the aims > and interests of members; > > To contribute to the Quality Assurance Framework for assessment centres; > > To provide or otherwise arrange/co-ordinate training for members; > > To promote the activities of the IAC using a range of appropriate > publicity materials and marketing opportunities; > > To create a sector wide suite of qualifications to recognise > professional skills and competencies in the role of disability > assessments and related roles; > > To work closely in partnership with the assessor community via its > membership groups e.g. ASASA; > > To co-operate with other agencies in the development of quality > assessments and support for disabled students. > > If you are interested in working in this manner and you would like > further details, please see our web site www.iac-dsa.co.uk > <http://www.iac-dsa.co.uk> for contact details. > > Best Regards > > Paul Dilley > > -- > Simon Jarvis > Head of Disability& Dyslexia Service > Queen Mary University of London > > Room FB 2.30, Francis Bancroft > Mile End Road, London E1 4NS > Tel: 020 7882 2765 > Mob: 07500825597 > Fax: 020 7882 5223 > www.dds.qmul.ac.uk <http://www.dds.qmul.ac.uk> > > > > -- > Roddy Slorach > Disability Adviser > 020 8725 0143 > [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> > Registry, Hunter Wing > St George's University of London > Cranmer Terrace > Tooting > London SW17 0RE -- Roddy Slorach Disability Adviser 020 8725 0143 [log in to unmask] Registry, Hunter Wing St George's University of London Cranmer Terrace Tooting London SW17 0RE