This is a topic that we, as a team of advisers, keep revisiting. The requests are not just from outside bodies - there are various courses at our own university that require students to investigate disability issues from time to time, and inevitably we are contacted to see if there are people willing to assist. We have decided to display posters, or notices within our waiting area, of requests for assistance - and if appropriate I'll forward a request to blind/partially sighted students with the request attached.
We're a bit divided on the rights and wrongs of this - most of us feel that we shouldn't be targeting students who have registered with us, as it's an invasion of their privacy. But as we are a research institution, there could be the potential for positive devlopments for disabled people as an end result.
If it's our own opinions that are being sought, then we're usually happy to do that, and I have recently seen the results of such an interview - the student has produced web pages demonstrating the function of the lungs, using animation, short text explanations with a glossary of terms, and a BSL on screen interpretation - I think she has produced an excellent resource. But I also recently spent an hour with a student who was researching issues for blind/partially sighted students. She hadn't heard of the RNIB or looked at any internet sources at all, and I felt that I was planning her work for her.
I was discussing this with a blind student, who said that he's always willing to speak to people or answer questionnaires, as it's an opportunity to raise awareness and can never be a bad thing. He is an exceptionally good natured person though, and I'm not sure that this would be a standard student response.
I like your idea of a blanket email being sent out to all students/staff - I think we need to look into how that could be done most effectively - thank you for that suggestion.
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support
>staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rhun Ap
>Harri [rha]
>Sent: 03 April 2007 09:56
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Questionnaires
>
>Would anyone share their standpoint with regard to requests
>from outside bodies to target specific student or staff groups
>to fill in a questionnaire e.g., autistic spectrum.
>
>Mine is that the request is sent to students/staff generally
>e.g., weekly email.
>
>
>-------------------------------------------
>Rhun ap Harri
>Swyddog Anabledd PCA/UWA Disability Officer.
>Prifysgol Cymru Aberystwyth University of Wales.
>Ystafell G7/Room G7 Cledwyn Building.
>Campws Penglais Campus.
>Aberystwyth Ceredigion SY23 3DD.
>Ffôn: / Tel:01970 628537.
>Ffacs: / Fax: 01970 621759.
>www.aber.ac.uk/welfare-disability
>-------------------------------------------
>
>
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