Hello Roddy,

I thank you for your thoughtful response.

Perhaps, next time.

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.

"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 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 

-- 

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

-- 

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