I raised this issue at an RNIB workshop on the Disability Equality
Duty and they seemed amazed at the idea that students might not want
to comment if the institution is the one doing the asking! It seems
common sense to me, although I personally try to speak up about both
the good and bad things my institution does I know a lot of students
aren't so confident.
Emma
On 03/04/07, Amanda Kent <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear Maragret and Adele,
> It is often difficult to speak out or express an opinion about an
> organsiation, especially when you are relatively lowdown in any heirarchy
> of power/authority (real or imagined). It would be interesting to know what
> the response rate is for non-disabled students with regard to surveys and
> feedback that is potentailly critical of institutional practice.
>
> In my own experience I would say it's the disabling attitudes that are
> hardest to describe and pin-point. Sometimes it means describing behaviours
> of people who may be in senior positions. The hardest bit though is finding
> the right language -it can be difficult, if not impossible, to tease out
> what would be considered 'personal', what might be considered a reasonable
> response to any student, and what might just be down to the fact that the
> filler-in of the survey misunderstood the situation or comment in the first
> place.
>
> Social networking on the internet is a very interesting activity in terms
> of writing but also in terms of identity. If a contributor is anonymous or
> uses a persona or an avatar then are they still the same person who
> inhabits the 'real-time-space' world of the HEI?
>
> Use of word like 'expose' and 'contest' - quite combative and potentially
> threatening? (although i recognise the language of the academy
> there)....what about 'explore' , 'discover' or 'play'???
> Amanda Kent
> DSA Assessor (sometimes ;-) )
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, 3 Apr 2007 14:29:57 +0100, Margaret McKay <m.mckay@RSC-SW-
> SCOTLAND.AC.UK> wrote:
>
> >Hi Adele
> >
> >Interesting theory, you mean students were reluctant to speak honestly
> >about their experiences because of perceived repercussions on them as
> >individuals?
> >
> > I suppose this is why the option to articulate thoughts, concerns and
> >experiences in a more organic (and anonomised) way via web 2.0
> >technologies such as community Blogs etc, might allow students to feel
> >they can say what they feel and would allow an institution to be clear
> >about the true experiences of their disabled users.
> >
> >Thanks for your feedback!
> >
> >Margaret McKay
> >eLearning Advisor: Accessibility & Inclusion
> >JISC Regional Support Centre - Scotland South & West
> >
> >Tel: 0141 585 0022/0023
> >Fax: 0141 585 0020
> >
> >Textphone or Typetalk users:
> >18001 0141 585 0022/0023
> >
> >
> >[log in to unmask]
> >www.rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk <http://www.rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk/>
> >
> >Privileged/Confidential Information may be contained in this message.
> >If you are not the addressee indicated in this message (or responsible
> >for delivery of the message to such person), you may not disclose, copy
> >or deliver this message to anyone and any action taken or omitted to be
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> >conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to
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> >as neither given nor endorsed by it
> >
> >
> >________________________________
> >
> >From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> >[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Adele Laing {PG}
> >Sent: 03 April 2007 12:47
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: Disability Equality Duty - Involving Disabled People and
> >Gathering Information from Users
> >
> >
> >
> >Hello Margaret,
> >
> >
> >
> >Sorry this is a bit late! I am currently finishing off my PhD thesis
> >reporting praxis using VLE's as a mechanism for supporting the
> >institutional members to explore, expose and contest disabling practices
> >and procedures in Higher Education. I am currently working on a second
> >development (including other mechanisms of social networking) which, as
> >you identify, in light of legislative changed can provide material to
> >feed into the DES and promote more profound organizational change.
> >
> >
> >
> >Interestingly the way the problem is posed suggests that the problem to
> >be addressed is the confidence deficit of students, however the work I
> >have been involved in was informed by the concerns of a steering group
> >of University students who suggested that people would be hesitant to
> >speak out, not because they lacked confidence or skills, rather because
> >of the dangerous nature of the organizations and the potential
> >repercussions this might have for themselves.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Best wishes,
> >
> >
> >
> >Adele
> >
> >
> >________________________________
> >
> >From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> >[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Margaret McKay
> >Sent: 26 March 2007 16:01
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: Disability Equality Duty - Involving Disabled People and
> >Gathering Information from Users
> >
> >
> >Thanks Claire,
> >
> >Yes I have contacted Sian and been in discussion with her. She was a
> >great help!
> >
> >
> >
> >Margaret McKay
> >eLearning Advisor: Accessibility & Inclusion
> >JISC Regional Support Centre - Scotland South & West
> >
> >Tel: 0141 585 0022/0023
> >Fax: 0141 585 0020
> >
> >Textphone or Typetalk users:
> >18001 0141 585 0022/0023
> >
> >
> >[log in to unmask]
> >www.rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk <http://www.rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk/>
> >
> >Privileged/Confidential Information may be contained in this message.
> >If you are not the addressee indicated in this message (or responsible
> >for delivery of the message to such person), you may not disclose, copy
> >or deliver this message to anyone and any action taken or omitted to be
> >taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. In such
> >case, you should destroy this message and kindly notify the sender by
> >reply email. Please advise immediately if you or your employer do not
> >consent to Internet email for messages of this kind. Opinions,
> >conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to
> >the official business of the University of Glasgow shall be understood
> >as neither given nor endorsed by it
> >
> >
> >________________________________
> >
> >From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> >[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Claire Wickham
> >Sent: 26 March 2007 15:52
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: Disability Equality Duty - Involving Disabled People and
> >Gathering Information from Users
> >
> >
> >Hi,
> >
> >have you contacted Sian Davies who is leading the Disability Equality in
> >FE Project and who has collected examples of good practie?
> >
> >[log in to unmask]
> >
> >http://www.unison.org.uk/disabled/index.asp
> >
> >ATB
> >
> >Claire
> >
> >
> >Claire Wickham
> >Senior Disability Officer
> >Disability Resource Centre
> >University of the West of England
> >Frenchay Campus
> >Coldharbour Lane
> >Bristol BS16 1QY
> >
> >Tel: 0117 328 3737
> >Textphone: 0117 32 83644
> >Fax: 0117 32 82935
> >
> >Please note that this e-mail was written using speech input and may
> >contain some small voice recognition errors.
> >
> >
> >________________________________
> >
> >From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> >[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Margaret McKay
> >Sent: 26 March 2007 15:04
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Disability Equality Duty - Involving Disabled People and
> >Gathering Information from Users
> >
> >
> >I am very interested in looking at how educational institutions have
> >used, or are thinking of using technology in innovative ways in engaging
> >with disabled staff and students in order to generate feedback about
> >policies, procedures and practices that impact on their everyday
> >environment.
> >
> >In my experience, some students (in particular younger learners or those
> >not used to college/university life) for example, may not feel confident
> >in attending focus groups or meetings, they might not feel that they
> >want to speak up in committees but might quite comfortably express their
> >view on a social network where they have anonymity and freedom to
> >express themselves.
> >
> >I am interested in hearing from anyone who has experience of use of
> >VLE's, wikis or other social networking approaches to engage with
> >disabled users about their experiences at college/university as part of
> >their DED.
> >
> >Can you help or do you know of any examples of where this approach has
> >been adopted?
> >
> >Many thanks
> >
> >Margaret McKay
> >eLearning Advisor: Accessibility & Inclusion
> >JISC Regional Support Centre - Scotland South & West
> >
> >Tel: 0141 585 0022/0023
> >Fax: 0141 585 0020
> >
> >Textphone or Typetalk users:
> >18001 0141 585 0022/0023
> >
> >
> >[log in to unmask]
> >www.rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk <http://www.rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk/>
> >
> >Privileged/Confidential Information may be contained in this message.
> >If you are not the addressee indicated in this message (or responsible
> >for delivery of the message to such person), you may not disclose, copy
> >or deliver this message to anyone and any action taken or omitted to be
> >taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. In such
> >case, you should destroy this message and kindly notify the sender by
> >reply email. Please advise immediately if you or your employer do not
> >consent to Internet email for messages of this kind. Opinions,
> >conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to
> >the official business of the University of Glasgow shall be understood
> >as neither given nor endorsed by it
> >
> >
> >________________________________
> >
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> >The University of Stirling is a university established in Scotland by
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--
Emma Jane Wright
School of Sociology and Social Policy
University of Nottingham
[log in to unmask]
www.accessingmaterials.org.uk
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