Hi
Kathryn mentions writing out symbols on a whiteboard or large pieces of
paper. If the student has some useable sight, then magnification
software and/or a CCTV might offer a starting point - providing the
screen size is large enough in either case.
Good luck with it.
Peter Hill
-------------
On 25/04/2013 15:12, Emma Cliffe wrote:
> Dear Kathryn,
>
> There are methods of working with a screenreader or stand alone
> programmes with self voicing ability which can cope to an extent with
> many advanced mathematical notations. The more likely
> difficulties/costs are:
> * gaining access to the right tools
> * work to acquire or transform resources with such content into a
> suitable format for the tools to work
> * the student learning how to work with those formats and tools
> effectively to support their studies
> The above will almost certainly require support but not necessarily so
> much in person and over time the number of hours will likely drop. The
> right working methods are dependent on how the student currently works
> with text, their technical confidence and the ways their department
> tend to create documents.
> http://mathstore.ac.uk/headocs/InclusiveCurricula_0.pdf contains some
> starting points including papers on accessing mathematical content and
> a list of resources. If you wish to get in contact off list I will be
> able to direct you to targeted resources specific to the query - but I
> would need further information.
>
> Beyond that, I can't help with most of the rest of the below other
> than express two fears capturing why I feel a careful exploration of
> the available technology for accessing symbolic content would be
> needed. Firstly, that you will find it very difficult to recruit
> suitably qualified support at that pay rate. Secondly, a PhD student
> might find it very hard going if they do not develop effective methods
> to read widely in their subject, work through problems, write and
> generally communicate with their peers and supervisor.
>
> Kind regards,
> Emma
>
> Emma Cliffe
> Mathematics and Statistics Resource Centre Development Officer
> University of Bath
>
> On 24/04/13 18:15, Fisher, Kathryn wrote:
>> I’d be grateful for any help and advice on a challenging situation
>> regarding some NMH support - it’s not your run of the mill request! Any
>> information that might help from colleagues would be much appreciated.
>>
>> We have a student who is shortly hoping to start a PhD with us at
>> Warwick. The PhD is in Symbolic Logic, part-time, through our Philosophy
>> department. As I now know, this is a rather specialised technical
>> subject, closer to advanced mathematics in many ways.
>>
>> The student has a severe visual impairment and this presents a few
>> logistical challenges. For example the symbols used in this subject are
>> too specialised for any screen reading software (or at least any that we
>> are aware of), meaning that that symbols would need to be written out
>> for him on to a whiteboard or on to large pieces of paper. It seems that
>> any support worker working with him would need to have a Philosophy,
>> Maths or at least a scientific background.
>>
>> The situation is more complicated as the student wishes to remain based
>> in London (Teddington) for compelling family reasons. We are therefore
>> in the position of having to think about the best way we might recruit a
>> suitable support worker for him in London and also try to find
>> somewhere that it may be possible for him to work with his support
>> worker close to his home.
>>
>> As a part-time student, the amount of DSA funding available is going to
>> be limited to around £10,260 for each year of his course, we have a
>> fairly limited budget at the university to go over this amount. The
>> student is anticipating needing 3-4 hours per day for most of the year.
>> Whilst we employ our support workers at around £10.25 an hour in
>> Warwick, of course London rates will be higher – £11.50 has been
>> suggested – not sure if this is realistic?
>>
>> Do colleagues have any view on how easy it might be to find such a
>> support worker? We would consider working with agencies if the costs are
>> not prohibitive so contact from agency based colleagues would be welcome
>> on or off list – to [log in to unmask]
>> <mailto:[log in to unmask]> please.
>>
>> In the unlikely event of any London based colleagues having “spare”
>> support workers who might be available and suitable, please do get in
>> touch!
>>
>> The other issue is a suitable venue for working with a support worker.
>> Whilst I’m reasonably confident colleagues in London based institutions
>> would grant him access to their libraries and communal study spaces
>> through SCONUL or other arrangements, we have advised the student that
>> his expectation of being able to use a separate room with a white board
>> at an institution he is not registered at, is probably unrealistic. I
>> have emailed RNIB to see if they have any study spaces in London that
>> they could make available to him, but any other suggestions would be
>> welcome.
>>
>> I’m sure you’ll appreciate it’s quite a conundrum so any
>> help/advice/sympathy is much appreciated!
>>
>> Best wishes
>>
>> Kathryn
>>
>> Kathryn Fisher
>>
>> Disability Coordinator
>>
>> Disability Services
>>
>> University House
>>
>> The University of Warwick
>>
>> Coventry CV4 8UW, UK
>>
>> Tel: +44 (0)24 76573734
>>
>> Email: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>>
>
--
Peter Hill
Needs Assessor for the Open University Access Centre
[log in to unmask]
Tel: 01299 878747
Mobile: 07751 792711
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