Thanks everyone; sometimes it makes all the difference to hear the
opinions of colleagues.
Gareth Evans wrote:
> We had a similiar situation here and we said no as it would give an
> unfair advantage. Messy handwriting is not something requiring a
> 'reasonable adjustment'!
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Maiden, Arnold
> Sent: 06 February 2009 13:16
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Request for additional time in exams
>
>
>
> I feel that your instincts are bang on Simon
>
>
>
> Arnold Maiden
>
> Assessor & Assistive Technology Advisor
>
> Disability Services
>
> Leeds Metropolitan University - D109CQ
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Simon Jarvis
> Sent: 06 February 2009 13:07
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Request for additional time in exams
>
>
>
> Hello everyone,
>
> A nice Friday conundrum for you all here.
>
> We've received a request for additional time in exams from a student on
> the grounds that their handwriting is illegible if they write at their
> usual speed.
>
> NB: this student does not have a diagnosis of dyslexia, dyspraxia or any
> other SpLD.
>
> The 'diagnostic' evidence provided is taken from a DAST one minute
> writing test and a writing speed assessment. The student's writing speed
> is described as "above average" (78th-100th percentile) with her
> legibility 'average', i.e. between the 23rd and 77th percentiles.
>
> The author of the report, a Head of Learning Support at the student's
> Sixth Form College, writes that when asked to write for 'legibility and
> not speed' her writing was more readable but slower. In the free writing
> test that the student faced her speed was assessed as 23.2 words per
> minute - average for the student's age. She was told to write as if she
> were not in an exam in this assessment.
>
> The crux of it is: "Given that xxx's educational achievements place her
> in the above average range [the student has a good set of A level
> results], writing legibly places her at a disadvantage because it
> reduces her speed to below what would be expected for a student of her
> age and ability". We have no WAIS / WRIT scores with which to measure
> her underlying ability.
>
> My instinct is to refuse the request, as I think it would place her at
> an unfair advantage over other students; essentially, if she needs to
> slow down to make writing legible, than this is what she should do. Her
> writing speed is still within the average range.
>
> Am I being mean and curmudgeonly, or does this seem like a reasonable
> request?
>
> I suppose I could refer the student for an EP assessment, but this seems
> like a waste of time and money.
>
> Simon
>
>
>
>
--
Simon Jarvis
Head of Disability and Dyslexia Service
Queen Mary University of London
Tel: 020 7882 2765
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