It is the role of the Needs Assessor to make the case.
If a work placement is a course requirement then the student will be paying
fees and the institution will receive hefce or NHS Consortium funding, even
though the student may be in paid employment. The situation will be no
different, in principle, from a study abroad year.
The assessor should also check how the work placement is being assesed
[although not all students know this at the beginning of their first year.]
Many are required to complete a journal plus perpare a reflective, critical
account, which is assessed.
As such students will need access to assistive technologies throughout their
work placement [which could justify a laptop recommendation], plus help with
the costs of such items as ink cartidges, discs, etc
.
Given the changes that are taking place in HE, it may be misleading to use
the term 'book allowance' as the need to buy text books has diminished, but
the need to make use of web-based sources has increased. Many - but not
all- dyslexic students find using the Internet a more comfortable experience
than using finding and using textbooks, and a number make greater use of
this source than printed material. [This may appear a sweeping
generalisation but I have been asking these questions fairly systematically
for some time].
It is about time the phrase 'book allowance' was replaced by the term
'learning resources allowances'. This would only echo the change from
library to learning resource center.
David [and it's not yet Friday].
David Grant, PhD., Chartered Psychologist
dyslexia diagnosis - a specialist service for students
3 Rosebank Road
Hanwell
London W7 2EW
Tel: 020 8579 1902
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
----------
>From: "Skeates,St.John DEAL Awards Tm"
<[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Book Allowances
>Date: Wed, Nov 28, 2001, 4:15 pm
>
>Here's a quickie to kick around.
>
>Is a student with dyslexia still entitled to a book allowance whilst on a
>year work placement? DSA eligibility is not in question - only the
>entitlement to book allowance.
>
>I've actually already given a decision but I'll let you guess which way I
>went for a bit :)
>
>St.John Skeates
>Awards Section
>Bedfordshire County Council
>
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