Dear Amanda, Nasser and all,
Can I suggest it would be good to include professional AT trainers in this
QAG group and it would also be good to include a range of clients perhaps.
Maybe AT Training should be a separate, additional part of the DSA or
perhaps there should be a human support budget, as there is a technology
budget. The students could perhaps use this human support budget and choose
from AT training, mentoring and/or support tuition. This could be flexible
i.e. the student chooses and manages what type / style of training they
have over their course and when they have / need it. And lets face it, the
student should take a responsibility in all this, but lets give them
something worthwhile to be responsible for - not just the admin that
non-disabled students don't have to deal with.
I know there is a non-medical helpers allowance - although I don't really
know why this hasn't been re-branded as an academic support allowance. Maybe
it is to do with the stationery costs? Yes, maybe it's just stationary...
Alex
Alex Larg
[log in to unmask]
07931 561 877 or 07916 175 077
Freelance Assistive Technology Trainer
Freelance study needs assessor
Former Disability Officer
On 27/3/07 17:14, "Amanda Kent" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear Nasser,
> I think that the fact that the training is in the Non Medical Helper
> section of the report creates a potential interpretation and 'how do I
> act?' problem. From a writing and reading point of view it means that the
> equipment and training are separated in the report. This could be something
> that QAG looks at when the proposed assessment of need report working party
> gets going - and the suppliers might have some useful comment there on
> readability and how to actually get people to respond to communication. Mix
> that with perhaps some of the thinsg used to increase response rates for
> reserach and surveys and a new communication strategy for AT training might
> emerge??
>
> In terms of pointing the student to actual IT trainers out there, what
> about a list like the one Uni of Cambridge have of DED trainers?
> Amanda Kent
> DSA Assessor (not an IT trainer but many times asked by students if I was!)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, 27 Mar 2007 14:46:26 +0100, Nasser <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> I think part of the problem is that some LEAs when they approve the main
>> recommendation they leave off the training and ask the student to make the
>> arrangement in their own time when they need it rather than inform the
>> training providers. Unfortunately due to numerous pressures of work and
>> other matters a significant proportion of the students either choose not to
>> do it or they are unsure what to do and whom to speak to.
>>
>> The usual expectation from most of the students is that the suppliers will
>> be providing this but since more and more of this service is being provided
>> by the centre or the institution the suppliers are not able to follow up
>> this and hence this gets lost in the system. I am sure better coordination
>> and communication between the various providers is the key to higher
> uptake.
>>
>>
>> Best wishes
>>
>> Nasser Siabi
>> Managing Director
>> Microlink PC (UK) Ltd
>> Direct: 02380 240 316
>> Mobile: 07870603128
>>
>> This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
>> solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
>> If you receive this e-mail by mistake, please advise the sender immediately
>> by using the reply facility in your e-mail software. Also destroy and
> delete
>> the message from your computer. Please note that any views or opinions
>> presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not
>> necessarily represent those of Microlink. Finally, the recipient should
>> check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. Microlink
>> accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this
>> email. Any modification of the contents of this e-mail is strictly
>> prohibited unless expressly authorised by the sender.
>> Microlink House, Brickfield Lane, Chandlers Ford, Southampton SO53 4DP
>> (Company number: 3325643)
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Maiden, Arnold
>> Sent: 27 March 2007 14:28
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: training
>>
>> It seems to me that (assuming that the student's are in receipt of DSA)
>> that the issue of Training should be discussed at the time of the
>> Assessment and then any recommendations will be in the
>> report/Application for DSA.
>>
>> This is certainly my practice and if I wasn't recommending training for
>> software that the student had not previously used I would discuss this
>> with the student and explain why I was not recommending it in the final
>> report.
>>
>> I also, wherever possible, include in the report, contact information
>> for AT Trainer, Dyslexia Support Tutor, Equipment Supplier/s, etc.
>> wherever this is appropriate. I would also hope that these various
>> suppliers would also contact the student direct once approval is granted
>> but often students move, change mobile number, etc. and are not always
>> easy to contact so I see info in the report as a fall back position for
>> the student.
>>
>> I am pretty confident in saying that most assessors do pretty much the
>> same as I do but I guess that not all students read their reports.
>>
>> Arnold Maiden
>> Assessor & Assistive Technology Advisor
>> Leeds Metropolitan University
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Emma Wright
>> Sent: 27 March 2007 14:10
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: training
>>
>> I just want to clarify something I said the other day and should have
>> been clearer about at the time... I've spoken to a few students from
>> a few universities and although all of these have said they were not
>> offered training, they are not likely to be representative of all
>> students, and my next task is to contact the staff responsible for
>> offering training to see what percentage of the whole are offering
>> training. Indeed, one university representative has already been in
>> touch to say they do offer training to most students. The students at
>> that university actually said that although they hadn't been offered
>> training, they didn't really feel they needed it anyway (which may
>> translate to an offer having been made but turned down!).
>>
>> Training wasn't something I covered in a big way during my interviews
>> as students gave me the impression that it wasn't that important to
>> them, but the discussion on this board has made me rethink that. I
>> know that personally I could have done with some training had there
>> been enough money available for it, but it seems not all students feel
>> the same. What I was intending to highlight in my post was the
>> apparent difference between the assumption on this board that training
>> is a given and students perceptions that they were not offered any
>> (which may of course be incorrect) or that did not want it. I wonder
>> how this translates in terms of feedback on the quality of training if
>> students don't feel it is very important anyway, and on how good they
>> perceive the equipment to be if they haven't been trained how to make
>> full use of it.
>>
>> Anyway, this leads me to ask the following questions of you all, do
>> you have any figures, or even anecdotes, hunches, etc, regarding the
>> number of students that are offered training and those that take it
>> up? What sort of software/hardware do you tend to offer training on,
>> and which do you not? Does the funding tend to be readily available
>> for this training? Do you have in-house or external trainers on hand
>> for this? Do your students seem to feel training is important, and if
>> not, why not? Any responses to any of the questions will be very
>> welcome (preferably off list - [log in to unmask]) and will be
>> used as background information to my PhD research.
>>
>> Emma
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 27/03/07, Nasser <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>> Hi Alex
>>>
>>> Can you let me know how you get your training referrals? Do you
>> contact
>>> students or are they passed on to you by the institution or the
>> supplier?
>>>
>>> The reason for asking is that we often come across students that were
>>> supposed to be trained by the institution but we find that they have
>> not
>>> received the training, In such circumstances we would like to refer
>> them
>>> back to other training providers who are based in the vicinity and if
>> this
>>> is provided by an assessment centre or University then even better. We
>>> strongly feel receiving the training at early stages will prevent
>> potential
>>> problems and will significantly improve the quality of life for the
>>> students. I think prevention is always better than the cure.
>>>
>>> We have our own trainers too but we either use them if the LEA
>> requests us
>>> to carry out the job or there are no other training providers nearby.
>> We
>>> previously found that pressuring students towards getting the training
>>> confused some of them as they had been contacted and trained by other
>>> trainers we hence had ended up duplicating the job which meant we
>> could not
>>> be paid for the training sessions. I think it is safer for us to let
>> the
>>> LEAs place the order with us to avoid such situation as well as not
>> stepping
>>> on other people's toes.
>>>
>>> At the moment we operate a system of providing information to some
>> training
>>> providers on the delivery of the equipment to the students so that the
>>> training can be carried out at the earliest opportunity. I think the
>> longer
>>> the student has the equipment without the training the less likely it
>>> becomes for them to take the recommended training. If you are
>> interested in
>>> receiving this information for your students please let me know.
>>>
>>>
>>> Best wishes
>>>
>>> Nasser Siabi
>>> Managing Director
>>> Microlink PC (UK) Ltd
>>> Direct: 02380 240 316
>>> Mobile: 07870603128
>>>
>>> This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
>> intended
>>> solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are
>> addressed.
>>> If you receive this e-mail by mistake, please advise the sender
>> immediately
>>> by using the reply facility in your e-mail software. Also destroy and
>> delete
>>> the message from your computer. Please note that any views or opinions
>>> presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not
>>> necessarily represent those of Microlink. Finally, the recipient
>> should
>>> check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses.
>> Microlink
>>> accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by
>> this
>>> email. Any modification of the contents of this e-mail is strictly
>>> prohibited unless expressly authorised by the sender.
>>> Microlink House, Brickfield Lane, Chandlers Ford, Southampton SO53
>> 4DP
>>> (Company number: 3325643)
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
>>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of alex larg
>>> Sent: 27 March 2007 01:47
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: FW: training
>>>
>>> Hi Emma,
>>>
>>> I am a freelance trainer, an assessor, a former disability officer and
>> a
>>> campaigner and so have an interest in your comments.
>>>
>>> I aim to offer a person-centred approach to the clients' training
>> sessions
>>> that I deliver and I don't feel that I need to know anything about a
>> person
>>> before I train them. I feel that this advance knowledge can lead to
>> people
>>> having certain preconceptions which isn't healthy and can lead to
>> laziness
>>> and complacency.
>>>
>>> I train in most software strategies, with the exception of JAWS as I
>> am not
>>> a user myself and don't currently have the time to develop my
>> knowledge of
>>> that complex program. I probably don't know everything about every
>> program,
>>> but I know how to find out quickly. I learn something new everyday
>> from the
>>> questions I am asked by clients - this may sound like I don't know
>> much, but
>>> there is a lot of truth to the saying - the more you know the more you
>>> realize you don't know. I won't know anything soon :-)
>>>
>>> I also know what programs should do and so can reassure clients when
>>> programs don't do what they should that it is not they (the client)
>> who are
>>> doing something wrong. This situation can be intimidating and off
>> putting
>>> for users. Again I feel this is exacerbated by underspecified
>> machines.
>>> Another thing I keep going on about on one list or another.
>>>
>>> Wherever possible I would try to relate training to the work that a
>> student
>>> has on the go. Where this is not possible the training might be aimed
>> at
>>> creating an individualised user manual for the user as they know how
>> they
>>> learn and how they will best remember. Visual, textual and/or
>> aural/oral as
>>> required. They may not know they know this, but I aim to help them to
>>> realize this or at least begin to consider this and then suggest they
>> carry
>>> this philosophy through to other pieces of work.
>>> I use plain English - non jargon - but using targeted essential
>> language
>>> which is used within computer systems - widely used vocabulary
>> necessary to
>>> function and interact. I will patiently repeat this language and any
>> points,
>>> if so required, until the client is comfortable and has grasped the
>>> necessary information.
>>>
>>> I also don't have a set way of doing things as everyone is different
>> and in
>>> my opinion good training has a solid framework basis, but requires
>>> flexibility to wrap around the clients' own learning styles.
>>>
>>> I work all around the country. Please contact me off list for any
>> further
>>> information. I would also be interested in the names of the three
>>> universities you mention, off list.
>>>
>>> Best wishes,
>>>
>>> Alex
>>>
>>> Alex Larg
>>>
>>> [log in to unmask]
>>> 07931 561 877 or 07916 175 077
>>> Freelance Assistive Technology Trainer
>>> Freelance study needs assessor
>>> Former Disability Officer
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ------ Forwarded Message
>>> From: Emma Wright <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Reply-To: "Discussion list for disabled students and their support
>> staff."
>>> <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 18:51:12 +0100
>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Subject: Re: training
>>>
>>> I keep hearing all this about training, but I've never been offered
>>> any! Nor have any of the students I've interviewed as part of my
>>> research across (so far) three universities. What sort of training
>>> for what sort of software tends to be offered?
>>>
>>> Emma
>>>
>>> On 26/03/07, George Bell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>> Might I perhaps suggest that people take a serious look at
>>>> http://www.bcab.org.uk/training.html
>>>>
>>>> This is an initiative taken by the British Computer
>>>> Association of the Blind (BCAB) in response to complaints
>>>> about poor standards of training in the use of I.T.
>>>> equipment.
>>>>
>>>> Many organisations, including the Department of Employment
>>>> for example, are now insisting that contracted trainers are
>>>> BTCS (BCAB Trainer Certification Scheme) approved.
>>>>
>>>> Food for thought?
>>>>
>>>> George Bell.
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their
>>>> support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
>>>> Of David Austen
>>>> Sent: 26 March 2007 13:51
>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>> Subject: training
>>>>
>>>> Posted without comment
>>>> extract from the 'form' letter sent out to students
>>>> regarding their DSA
>>>> provision. This is from a local LEA
>>>> ( I do not think it is appropriate to name which one).
>>>>
>>>> "Recently, some students have informed us that they felt
>>>> pressurized
>>>> into accepting training provided by their University.
>>>> Please note that the LEA only uses training companies who
>>>> are
>>>> thoroughly reliable and have many years' experience.with
>>>> equipment
>>>> training for disabled students.
>>>> If you feel that you have been treated unfairly by any
>>>> individual or by
>>>> a professional body, please contact us immediately and we
>>>> will ensure
>>>> appropriate action is taken".
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Emma Jane Wright
>>> School of Sociology and Social Policy
>>> University of Nottingham
>>>
>>> [log in to unmask]
>>>
>>> www.accessingmaterials.org.uk
>>>
>>>
>>> ------ End of Forwarded Message
>>>
>>> Sent using the Microsoft Entourage 2004 for Mac Test Drive.
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Emma Jane Wright
>> School of Sociology and Social Policy
>> University of Nottingham
>>
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>> www.accessingmaterials.org.uk
>>
>>
>> To view the terms under which this email is distributed, please go to
>> http://disclaimer.leedsmet.ac.uk/email.htm
>> =========================================================================
>
Sent using the Microsoft Entourage 2004 for Mac Test Drive.
|
