Dear all
A central budget for any disability-related expenditure seems just common sense - but did they
listen to me?
Jenny
-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Baxter Chris
Sent: 15 May 2008 11:16
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Dyslexia Assessments for Staff
Hi Tammy (and all)
I think the alarm bells were started by your post which you did change, but also were mused on by
Caroline:
'If IT skills are essential for the work role, we would ask the School/Department to pay for an
assessment, but we probably couldn't justify this if the work role didn't need IT skills. So would
these people be expected to pay for their own assessments if they wanted them?'
So, no, you're right, nobody actually said that staff members should pay, I suppose I was just
responding to the idea that they might be.
Knee jerking moi? (C'est possible!)
Chris Baxter
Diversity Officer
Student Services
-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rich,
Tammy
Sent: 15 May 2008 11:08
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Dyslexia Assessments for Staff
I don't think anyone - and may have missed something - has said that the member of staff has to pay
have they? - apart from my mistake in the first email that started this off - and I'm glad I did
now. I am going to present an case to Kingston for a Central Fund based on some of the responses
received already but, I'm with Pamela, if anyone has got one and not contributed then please advise
as it will help those of us wanting to improve our service.
Thanks
Tammy
Tammy Rich | Diversity and Equality
Diversity and Equality Unit | Kingston University | 53 Portland Road | Kingston | KT1 2SH
DL: 020 8417 4025 | Internal: 64025 | Fax: 020 8417 4159 | Mobile: 07917551846 P Save a tree...
please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to
-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Pamela Graham
Sent: 15 May 2008 11:00
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Dyslexia Assessments for Staff
I agree with Chris. This is the response I got from Access To Work. "If an individual with dyslexia
applies we also require sight of a Dyslexia report, if they have not been assessed and do not have a
Dyslexia report they will need to approach a DEA in the first instance." Disability employment
Advisers have access to occupational psychologists at the DWP.
On the subject of who pays, where there is a cost to the University our budgeting system requires
schools and services to cover these costs. It is not a popular arrangement so if anyone has
persuaded their organisation to develop a central funding system it would be good to hear how you
did it. We would not require a member of staff to pay.
Pamela Graham
Newcastle
-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Baxter Chris
Sent: 15 May 2008 10:09
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Dyslexia Assessments for Staff
Hi all
This is an interesting discussion and one its clear we need to have!
I think it is interesting how support (for want of a better word) for staff seems to be affected in
HE by what is available for students, so we 'need' an Educational Psychologists' report - do we? Or
would an occupational psychologists report be more appropriate, and how much do they cost?
Whatever the cost the uneasiness for me is the same, 'the cost must be borne by the member of staff
or their department' this seems unfair since this seems to mean a disabled person would have to
incur additional costs (for which there is no recompense) in order to 'prove' their condition exists
and/or a department, irrespective of its size, must bear the cost.
To reiterate the point made by Anne Mwangi on this list: leaving it to departments could lead to
inconsistent responses. departments/faculties may well discriminate or make the individual feel as
though they are a burden. Sorry if I have mangled your words Anne but they seemed so 'spot on' that
I wanted to recycle them!
The inconsistencies and lack of clarity about AtW across the country worry me greatly and I would
like to respectfully suggest that responses of HR departments within HEIs may be affected by the
presence of DSA led student support. Perhaps we might seek advice from colleagues outside of the
arena?
These are my thoughts as a disabled staff member, not in my professional capacity within Student
Services.
Chris Baxter
Diversity Officer
Student Services
-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Lesley A Gyford
Sent: 15 May 2008 09:13
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Dyslexia Assessments for Staff
Hello
My experience has been that Access to Work will help with any adjustments but not pay the £300
assessment fee for determining the specific type of dyslexia - this is obviously needed to determine
what support is required.
Lesley
University of Derby
-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Pamela Graham
Sent: 14 May 2008 16:31
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Dyslexia Assessments for Staff
Dear All
Our approach would be to treat it as identifying and assessing a disability and finding a reasonable
adjustment as for other types of disability. We would seek support for funds from access to work,
but have not so far had to do that.
Pamela
Newcastle University
-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Baxter Chris
Sent: 14 May 2008 10:22
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Dyslexia Assessments for Staff
Dear all
Just to echo Anne's point and to ask if this has been discussed with your local Access to Work
adviser? Initial screening should cost less than a full EP assessment and could be borne by the
University, the full EP being met by AtW?
EP - Educational Psychologist
AtW - Access to Work.
Chris Baxter
Diversity Officer
Student Services
-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Anne
Mwangi
Sent: 13 May 2008 18:18
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Dyslexia Assessments for Staff
Dear Tammy,
I agree that a central budget to support RA is more appropriate than leaving it to departments as it
eliminates inconsistent responses. This ensures that departments/faculties have no excuse for
discriminating or making the individual feel as though they are a burden. The other argument for a
central budget is that an ET would consider the budget of the whole university rather than a
specific department.
Regards
Anne
-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rich,
Tammy
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 5:46 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: FW: Dyslexia Assessments for Staff
I made a mistake on the previous listing. Our developing procedure for staff suggests that the
faculty or department should pay for the assessment (approx £300). This has not been put into
practice yet but we have a couple of cases being dealt with currently so we need to get this right.
For instance, we have not had a discussion as to who in the faculty / department would make the
decision regarding agreeing to funding.
It has been suggested to me (by another university)that a central university fund is a good idea as
it would help to eliminate discrimination and applications may be more prevalent in some faculties /
departments than others.
Many thanks
Tammy
Tammy Rich | Diversity and Equality
Diversity and Equality Unit | Kingston University | 53 Portland Road | Kingston | KT1 2SH
DL: 020 8417 4025 | Internal: 64025 | Fax: 020 8417 4159 | Mobile: 07917551846
P Save a tree... please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to
From: Rich, Tammy
Sent: 13 May 2008 16:31
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc: Kelly, Lorraine H; Rollins, Tracy; de Casagrande, Peter
Subject: Dyslexia Assessments for Staff
I would like to find out what universities provide/fund for staff in the way of dyslexia screening
and funding. We have a very comprehensive service on offer to our students for a long time and are
now wanting to develop a consistent approach for staff.
I thought a good starting point would be to ask others working in the field what service they offer
their staff so I can get an idea of what is considered reasonable - eg should Kingston pay for
screening, assessment, follow up support or is any element of that the responsibility of the member
of staff?
At the moment the proposal is that the University should pay for the initial screening and a follow
up interview but that the assessment is the responsibility of the member of staff.
Advice sought. Many thanks.
Tammy
Tammy Rich | Diversity and Equality
Diversity and Equality Unit | Kingston University | 53 Portland Road | Kingston | KT1 2SH
DL: 020 8417 4025 | Internal: 64025 | Fax: 020 8417 4159 | Mobile: 07917551846
P Save a tree... please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to
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