Could lecture summaries be made available by course teams, e.g.
electronically via web boards? Then the DSA could be available for funding
other forms of communication support.

This happens in an increasing number of courses at UCN, benefiting all
students, but especially those with dyslexia, hearing impairment,
handwriting difficulties etc. A few deaf students have decided that they do
not need note-takers in these subjects as a result.

Clare Davies
University College Northampton

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Baxter, Chris
Sent: 12 February 2003 10:13
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: 'reasonable adjustments' for student with insufficient DSA


This is quite a hot potato subject and one I feel sure we can debate at the
CHESS meeting in Leeds on 3rd March.

There are five deaf students studying at NTU with varying degrees of 'class
contact' hours, however due the cost of providing interpreters from an
outside agency as well as local freelancers two of those students have
already used up their entire allowance (and one is £2,000) over in the first
term.

We are just going to have to use Disability Mainstream funding to 'top up'
the deficit.

What isn't helpful is that one students DSA assessment, done outside of NTU,
has quoted her as 'requiring' something like 6 hours of interpreter support
a week where 4 or 5 hours a day is more like it! I hope lots of LEA officers
are reading this!

If we accept that a deaf student does not have access to the spoken word
except via an interpreter then wherever spoken instruction is used an
interpreter should be provided, having just a notetaker will not meet the
needs of many, although, as ever, the student should be consulted.

Remember you will need to show why it is not reasonable for the institution
to meet the additional costs involved in supporting such students.  And lets
start campaigning again for a raise for NMH allowance specifically for Deaf
students, looking at the real costs!

Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: Lloyd Richardson [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 12 February 2003 09:45
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: 'reasonable adjustments' for student with insufficient DSA

Hi Mary

You are right, 'none of the options seem satisfactory'.  I am currently
dealing with someone who is completing an HND and who assures me that
her BSL interpreter and note-taker costs are entirely covered by her
DSA.

Yet with the transition to univeristy, she will (apparently) need
support costing around £22,000 (a local agency can provide a BSL
interpreter at £30 per hr. x 19 hrs. per week x 30+ weeks per year;
then there is the additional cost of the note-taker).

I have informed the applicant that the university is not turning down
her application but that it has no additional funds for support, of
which I am aware, to top up her DSA allowance.

At the same time I have asked the applicant to send me a copy of the
recommendations made when she had her Access Centre assessment, so that
I may see these for myself.  The purpose here is to establish clearly
whether or not she has fairly and accurately represented the support
needs described in her assessment, rather than her own understanding of
them.  (It is the historian in me...I have not yet seen an original
document, only someone else's interpretation of one, therefore I feel I
must be cautious.  What a way to have to carry on!)

I realize this does not help, but you did invite comments on the
experiences of other institutions.  That said, I wish you luck.

Lloyd Richardson
On Tue, 11 Feb 2003 17:28:16 +0000 Mary Norowzian
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> hello all,
>
> We are currently considering a number of applications from deaf
> students who require a full range of communication and notetaker
> support- with estimated costs of £22,000 per year- way over the
> DSA available. This is because the  particular courses applied for
> have high contact hours, and the nature of the courses means full
> support is needed at all times.
>
> Grappling with 'reasonableness' what offer decisions are other
> insititutions making in such sitiuations?
> For example:
> 1)rejecting such applicants on the basis we cannot meet their
> support requirements even after making reasonable adjustments-
> enabling them to re apply thru UCAS
> or
> 2) making it a condition of offer that the student funds their own
> specialist support costs - ( meaning they pay the support costs
> after the DSA runs out) This on the basis that the support cost per
> student is not 'reasonable' for the HEI to pay.
> 3) as option 2 but with the University paying an amount( how
> much!)  towards specialist support costs.
>
> None of these options seem satisfactory- any advice or
> expereinces from other insitutions is gratefully received.
> regards
>
> Mary Norowzian
> M.Norowzian
> Disability Coordinator/Counsellor
> Kingston University
> email [log in to unmask]
> 020 8547 7902

----------------------
Dr.Lloyd Richardson
Disability Adviser, Learning Support

[log in to unmask]

Student Support Services
Anglia Polytechnic University
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