It would seem to me that the question of specialist over generalist,
when applied to an assessor, is misleading. I know of many
specialists in the field who would not wish to carry out an
assessment of need. The process of the assessment of need is in
itself specialised. BUT the experience of the assessor can be the
most limiting factor. Just as Eileen widened her field of experience,
as do many assessors, equally there are assessors who are happy
to stay with one area of specialism.
There is no formal qualification for assessors despite some
attempts by the national federation of access centres to create,
through the Plymouth/Central lancs training scheme some form of
qualification. Most access centres train their own assessors and
are always on the look out for suitably qualified staff to join their
band.
So what is it that makes an assessor? I am sure that we all have
our own views on this. It would seem to me that assessors need to
have three main areas of knowledge: an understanding of the
students difficulties, an awareness of the educational practices that
are used to deliver an education and knowledge of the strategies
that can be employed to support the student. People with these
skills are in short supply, link this to the need for an awareness of
educational practices and an awareness of the implications of
disability on the academic requirements of the course, and we have
a skill shortage.
To then insist on every assessor being a specialist in a disability
related area is likely to increase the skill shortage. Experience as
well as knowledge should dictate which assessments an assessor
carries out. As has already been pointed out we need to know our
own limitations. I have now been assessing students for some 25
years, the last 12 years for DSAs Whilst I am happy to tackle
most students’ assessment of needs, there are some areas where
I would prefer to pass the student onto somebody who I know has
a greater knowledge of the student’s particular needs. Knowledge
means that I know who to pass them onto; experience is when to
pass them on.
Ian
A very happy generalist
-------------------------------
Ian Webb, MNADO, MMU Learning Support Unit,
All Saints, Oxford Rd,
Manchester M15 6BH
0161 247 3477
[log in to unmask]
|