Being from the United States I should probably stay out of
this one but I have dealt with the same issues with American
Sign Language and Deaf students here. Is it an second
language issue or a disability/accommodation issue is an
ongoing debate and typically decisions are made based on
context.
Clarire Wickhams thougts are similar to the analysis I would
conduct for a student here. Particularly her first question
about the purpose of the exam. Under the ADA in the US
nature of what the exam was trying to measure would be the
most critical factor.
-----Original Message-----
From: claire wickham [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, September 13, 2002 2:11 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: deaf student and written examination
A few thoughts on this genuinely tricky issue:
1. Is the exam testing subject knowledge or the ability to
write in
English without the use of any Technological or Human Aids
to
Communication? Would you also prevent a dyslexic student
from using a
spellchecker, for example?
2. If using an Interpreter for the exam produces a
satisfactory outcome
then the process can be said to have tested the student's
knowledge. And
this strategy is used by some Deaf adults in the workplace.
3. If the student writes in note form or in his/her usual
English, will
he/she be marked down?
4. How has the students tackled non-exam written work? If
the student's
strategy is to sign and an interpreter translates into
English (not
transcribes, as this word would imply that the student is
signing in
English and I presume they wish to use BSL) then if this
strategy has
been acceptable until now, why is it no longer so?
5. This is not a situation exactly equivalent to non-English
speaking
students, as they can attend courses to improve their
English skills.
As hearing people, we fail and therefore disable Deaf people
by our
inability to teach them English in the existing Education
system.
6. If this is a request from a student starting this year,
then I would
initially be more concerned as to how they will access the
written
material essential to their study and produce course work.
From my
limited experience, many interpreters are not skilled in
moving from
BSL to written English....as they do not usually have
specific skills
training in this. And will the student require all
English-based
material to be produced as a BSL video?
7. If an interpreter is used in exam conditions, you would
have to do
some pilot work to establish what would be a reasonable
amount of time
to allow for the exam.
8. Finally, has the student used this strategy previously?
because
while it sounds easy enough to sign and the interpreter then
translates
into written English, when you actually come to do it, the
process is
not as simple. For example, the Deaf person signs, there is
then a
pause while the interpreter translates and the Deaf person
then
continues. This is not equivalent to writing in connected
prose and can
be a lengthy process. This means of producing written
English is
certainly slow, and one possible alternative is for the Deaf
student to
sign an assignment onto video camera and the interpreter
translates at
a later time. This, however, makes editing of the assignment
more
difficult.
Rebecca, I am very interested in this topic and do give me a
ring if
you would like to discuss it further.
ATB
Claire
> > On 13 Sep 02, at 13:48, Jerrison, Rebecca wrote:
> >
> > > Hi
> > > I'd welcome some advice about a profoundly deaf
student
> > > who wants to answer exam papers by signing to an
> > > interpreter for transcription on the grounds that his
first
> > > language is BSL. The University's position is
normally
> > > that answers must be provided in English and this rule
is
> > > applied strictly to international students. Other
deaf
> > > students that we have argue that the use of BSL would
give
> > > this one student an unfair advantage and that they
have
> > > been required to sit all public exams (such as A
> > > level)writing in English although extra time may be
> > > granted.
> > >
> > > Does /would your institution allow deaf students to
use a
> > > BSL interpreter rather than do a written examination?
> > > What would you consider a reasonable adjustment?
> > >
> > > Thanks in anticipation
> > >
> > > Beckie
> > >
> > >
> > > ----------------------------------------
> > > Beckie Jerrison
> > > Disability Co-ordinator
> > > Disability Resource Centre, 1E22
> > > University of the West of England
> > > Frenchay Campus
> > > Coldharbour Lane
> > > Bristol BS16 1QY
> > >
> > > 0117 344 3931
> >
> >
> > Bryan Jones
> > Disability Support Services Manager
> > Tel: 020 8411 5367
>
>
> Bryan Jones
> Disability Support Services Manager
> Tel: 020 8411 5367
>
----------------------
Claire Wickham
Director: Access Unit - Short Courses and Outreach
University of Bristol
Union Building
Queen's Road
Clifton
Bristol BS8 1LN
Tel: 0117 954 5710
Textphone: 0117 954 5715
Fax: 0117 954 5714
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