Hi, I tried the link to the paper recommended by Nasser but the link had expired: could you circulate a link please EA? With thanks, 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. -----Original Message----- From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of E.A. Draffan Sent: 25 March 2007 17:35 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Computer suppliers What you say John is backed by comments from many students in the survey we completed. We have also been trying to hold focus groups with students to discuss the issues. Where they have taken place I have fed back the information to the student services department that held the focus group. There is a split as to how students receive support - in their homes from outside trainers sometimes linked to suppliers or specialist training companies or training on the campus in an AT suite or at an assessment centre. Those who take up the training, often say they benefit from the experience but would like additional support in the way of handouts, audio files, video, FAQs, Just in time or drop in time for queries that arise. Most importantly many wanted to be trained using their own work materials so that it all connects to their day to day study skills rather than just being shown the devices or software. Some were also grateful to be able to train on their own computers, so that these can be set up in a way that suits their learning preferences. Best Wishes E.A. Mrs E.A. Draffan Assistive Technologist Mobile: 07976 289103 http://www.emptech.info/ -----Original Message----- From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Conway Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2007 4:48 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Computer suppliers Can anyone comment on the training side? Assessors recommend training, but how is it provided? Does the student have to chase up once the equipment arrives? Is the trainer alerted by assessor or supplier? Is the supplier also the training provider??? Does the assessor follow up to see if equipment and training has been provided? I am surveying some 150 DSA holders at present but they've just gone home for Easter - all replies so far have implicated issues with training on the software John Dr John S Conway Principal Lecturer /Disability Officer / Chair, Research Committee Royal Agricultural college, Cirencester, Glos GL7 6JS 01285 652531 fax 01285 650219 http://www.rac.ac.uk/?_id=590 -----Original Message----- From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. on behalf of Nasser Sent: Sun 3/25/2007 11:06 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Computer suppliers Alex I am glad to hear everything you have said is exactly what I would like to hear from every Do/Assessor/Trainer which is to engage with the suppliers to improve their services. You have demonstrated that by actively helping and training you have managed to turned them into an excellent company and therefore more of the same would help others achieve the same goals as those of Avantek. I would also expect that other suppliers have had a similar relationship with their Assessment centres/Trainers to develop such a quality system otherwise it would be unthinkable that these suppliers would be getting any referrals from these centres and thus would find it hard to survive in the industry. I would expect by you gathering of the information and feeding it back would greatly help the suppliers who may have failed to fulfil parts of their responsibility for the good of the students. Maybe in your own way you will help to accelerate the process of raising the standards within this industry. I have no doubt QAG and Suppliers and all stake holders will support and applaud you in this mission. If you feel there are areas of improvement in my operation I would be grateful for your feedback. Best wishes Nasser Siabi Managing Director Microlink PC (UK) Ltd Direct: 02380 240 316 Mobile: 07870603128 This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you receive this e-mail by mistake, please advise the sender immediately by using the reply facility in your e-mail software. Also destroy and delete the message from your computer. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Microlink. Finally, the recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. Microlink accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email. Any modification of the contents of this e-mail is strictly prohibited unless expressly authorised by the sender. Microlink House, Brickfield Lane, Chandlers Ford, Southampton SO53 4DP (Company number: 3325643) -----Original Message----- From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of alex larg Sent: 24 March 2007 23:13 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Computer suppliers Nasser, As an independent freelance professional I have a policy of trying to be completely open and above board about my Business. I intend to, and try very hard to, maintain my integrity so that when I work with (student or other) clients, AT suppliers, LEAs, Assessment Centres and Universities, they know that they can trust my professional, independent and uninfluenced opinion. I buy my own equipment with nothing supplied by companies which may make me feel obliged to use them as a supplier. I have my own professional insurance and I want to maintain my freelance status with the Inland Revenue. "...Much sooner than this..." I have only been an independent stakeholder for about two and a half years and now I am in a much stronger position to campaign for students' rights since I don't have ties or line management. I answer to myself and my clients. (and if I didn't like their feedback I could put it in the bin I guess - but I don't - I listen and try and improve.) I have worked with and advised a number of suppliers over the 10 years that I have been in the business of advocating the rights of disabled students. I have worked with Tony Lees at Avantek and helped his company develop feedback forms, helped him to train professional trainers and also provided disability awareness training for him and his company employees. I personally feel that Avantek are an excellent supplier, who answer the phone when you ring, who provide goods within a reasonable timescale and who provide excellent follow up support if something goes wrong with a machine supplied by them. I have seen from experience that their support is prompt, sympathetic but not patronizing, fast, and on-site, which for a disabled student is essential in my opinion. I am not saying Avantek is perfect and we all have room for improvement, but I have provided a lot of training for students who have been supplied with Avantek computers and this is how I have this knowledge of Avantek's service provision. I am also sure that some other companies out there do the same good work, again from experience and client feedback. However it is not my view but the students' views here that count surely. I don't want to make assumptions and that is why I am seeking to gather evidence which is relevant to disabled students' experiences in HE of DSA and specifically in this case computer equipment supplied to them. Of course this does and should extend to training. But as an independent trainer working across the board with different suppliers machines, I feel well placed to gather this evidence. People are writing to me off list, I have my own personal experiences with numerous students over the years and I have numerous friends and colleagues out there who are disability officers (overworked and under-resourced) who often have to help pick up the pieces with D/disabled students. (Again dis-forum members and associates please let me know of your experiences and your students' experiences and support me if you feel it is appropriate off or preferably on list. A - me too - will do.) I may be reinventing the wheel (my version is round by the way) but I am doing this free of charge. I am trying to be open and above board and I am willing to listen to what is said and to keep an open mind. The Walt Disney philosophy is that:- Rule 1 - the customer is always right. Rule 2 - if the customer is wrong then see Rule 1. That doesn't seem like a Mickey Mouse idea to me - it seems like forward thinking and the best possible approach, especially when (disabled - social model) customers are virtually forced to use this premium service in a "cartel" type set up. Yours sincerely, Alex Alex Larg [log in to unmask] 07931 561 877 or 07916 175 077 Freelance Assistive Technology Trainer Freelance study needs assessor Former Disability Officer On 24/3/07 11:42, "Nasser Siabi" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Tony > > Don't panic mate, he is saying you are one of the good guys, I say this > because I know Alex is one old timers of this industry and he knows all > the play makers and if he had any issues with your company or mine or > Ian's he would have proactively contacted us to inform and resolve the > problems much sooner than this. He does not strike me as being a type of > person to want to wait for things to sort themselves out and he would > rather make sure the student welfare came first and naturally he would > kick some rear ends to make sure this happens immediately. > > So, I think if you have not heard or spoken to Alex before on major > issues then you are not the type of supplier he is talking about. Would > that be a good assumption Alex? > > best wishes > > Nasser > > Tony Lees wrote: > >> Whilst I am grateful to Alex for mentioning Avantek alongside such >> illustrious company I am sure he did not mean to suggest that Avantek are the >> sort of supplier that would provide our student clients with less than >> adequate machines, support, training or service. We are justifiably proud of >> and continually strive to maintain our consistent record of excellent service >> - see www.avantek.co.uk/dsa. >> (rant over). >> >> Regards, Tony >> >> Avantek are the First DSA-QAG Quality Assured, Accredited Supplier. >> >> Tony Lees >> Avantek Computer Limited >> Computer Systems and Solutions; hand crafted by artisans for the discerning >> client. >> St Peter's Road >> Arnesby, Leics, LE8 5WJ >> tel: 0116 247 8515 >> fax: 0116 247 8843 >> >> http://www.avantek.co.uk >> >> e-mail disclaimer: http://www.avantek.co.uk/e_disc.htm >> >> >> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support >>> staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of alex larg >>> Sent: 22 March 2007 14:12 >>> To: [log in to unmask] >>> Subject: Computer suppliers >>> >>> Dear Colleagues >>> >>> I have worked as an AT Trainer, assessor and Disability >>> Officer for around 10 years now. Over that time I have worked >>> with hundreds of students and some of them seem to have been >>> supplied with unsuitable computer hardware. >>> This may be due to assessors not recommending appropriate >>> kit: we all make mistakes - I have made and learnt from many >>> myself, but this is not my concern here. >>> >>> It may, however, be due to the suppliers not providing >>> adequate machines and/or not providing good and accessible >>> follow up support to their clients. >>> >>> DSA-QAG has been set up, at virtually no cost I believe, >>> to... Well I'm not sure what for, but the point is they have >>> introduced a service level agreement (SLA) for suppliers who >>> also have to pay for the privilege of supplying equipment as >>> a percentage of their turnover. (I'm sure I will be kindly >>> corrected for my incorrect facts within this paragraph by >>> colleagues.) >>> >>> My point, when I eventually get there, is that DSA-QAG SLA, >>> is dentally challenged, i.e. there is/are no teeth, or at >>> least none that I am able to find. (see above.) >>> >>> What I would ask of you is to ask your colleagues and >>> students for their feedback of experiences with suppliers >>> such as Microlink, Iansyst, Avantek and other DSA suppliers >>> as I wish to collate some information for evidence to take to >>> DSA- QAG / DfES, as I fear from my experience some students >>> may be receiving a less that satisfactory service. >>> >>> Of course positive feedback is welcome, but I have to be more >>> concerned with the less satisfactory side of the service too. >>> >>> I am sending this message cross-forum, and so apologies for >>> those receiving this a number of times. >>> >>> I also ask Nasser at Microlink, in his position as >>> representative for suppliers and tier discussion group, to >>> circulate this message on their list. >>> >>> Please pass this onto any other appropriate lists so we can >>> obtain as wide feedback as possible. I am in the process of >>> rejoining NADP (if they will have me) and so this has not >>> gone to that list. Maybe someone at NADP could pass it on if >>> that is deemed appropriate. >>> >>> I know that suppliers generally ask clients for feedback, but >>> I feel that system may be slightly compromised and I don't >>> know whether that information is published anywhere. >>> >>> >>> Please contact me off-list with your replies. >>> >>> Thanks for you time. >>> Best wishes, >>> >>> Alex >>> >>> Alex Larg >>> Freelance Assistive Technology Trainer >>> Freelance study needs assessor >>> Former Disability Officer >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Sent using the Microsoft Entourage 2004 for Mac Test Drive. >>> >>> >>> > Sent using the Microsoft Entourage 2004 for Mac Test Drive. This e-mail is confidential to the intended recipients. Access to this e-mail by anyone else is unauthorised. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and unlawful. The recipient acknowledges that the Royal Agricultural College cannot control the content of information received in transmissions made via the Internet. Royal Agricultural College (Registered in England No: 99168) & Royal Agricultural College Enterprises Ltd (Registered in England No: 2752048) are the trading names of the Royal Agricultural College Registered Office: Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6JS -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.18/733 - Release Date: 25/03/2007 11:07 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.18/733 - Release Date: 25/03/2007 11:07 This incoming email to UWE has been independently scanned for viruses by McAfee anti-virus software and none were detected This email was independently scanned for viruses by McAfee anti-virus software and none were found