John

Whilst I agree with Tina that a local college may best provide for Anthony's
needs (social as well as educational), if distance learning is the only
viable option for him then maybe he should perhaps consider study with us at
the OU. Obviously this would only be appropriate if his existing educational
level is high enough for him to consider study at Undergraduate/Access
course level. We like to think that we provide good levels of support for
students requiring assistive technology and/or course materials in
alternative formats (audio tape and electronic documents, etc). We offer a
comprehensive equipment loan scheme, with training and on-going support to
100-150 students per year and from 2001 OU students become eligible for
Part-time DSAs (subject to them studying at least 60 points = 50% study, per
year). Every student has a local tutor to provide personal support during
their studies and some tutors of disabled students are contracted for
addition hours to give extra help to those individuals who need particularly
high levels of support.

Sorry if this sounds like blatant recruitment (perhaps I should add a "Other
distance learning course providers are available." note on the end :-) but
it is something for Anthony to consider.

End of advertisement!

Phil

Phil Satchell - Technical Project Officer 
Office for Students with Disabilities, The Open University
+44 (0)1908-858214


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Barker J (LRC) [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent:	Monday, October 09, 2000 8:45 AM
> To:	[log in to unmask]
> Subject:	Help and advice
> 
> I am relatively new to this forum and thought that one of you may be able
> to
> help with advice etc on the following problem.
> 
> Anthony is a 25 year old young man who suffers from cerebral palsy, he is
> confined to a wheelchair, and because of various financial/funding
> constraints has to live in an old peoples home.
> 
> He is mentally very alert but has communication difficulties due (I think)
> in the main to spending many hours each day in isolation in his room at
> the
> OAP home.
> 
> Do any of you know of any education scheme that could help him? As he
> needs
> nursing/care help most of the time he cannot attend a conventional college
> or Uni. so some kind of distance learning coupled with local tutor help
> would seem to be the thing.
> 
> As he cannot work or be in education he does not seem to qualify for any
> help with his IT needs. Friends and family have collected money to provide
> him with a computer and software to help him use it (his sight is fairly
> bad
> and he needs magnification and speech help) this however is expensive to
> maintain and he will not be able to upgrade as and when necessary.
> 
> He has a very good brain and I don't like to see it being wasted, but it
> seems that he "falls in the crack" and cannot benefit from all the new
> technology has to offer.
> 
> Any help or advice you can give will be much appreciated and I shall
> forward
> it to his parents for action.
> 
> Thanks in advance
> 
> 
> John Barker 
> Systems Support Officer (Specific Needs)
> Learning Resource Centre
> University of Glamorgan
> Tel: 01443 483742
> 


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