Communication Support Services:The Practicalities of Provision in Higher EducationNADP Conference 4th July 2007

Dr Ember Kelly

Disabled Student Figures‘In total, 137,945 students declared themselves as

having a disability in 2005/06, an increase from 128,185 students in 2004/05 and 115,595 in 2003/04. By this definition, the total number of disabled students has risen by just over two thirds, or 67.7%, from 82,280 since 2000/01. In contrast the total number of UK domiciled students over this period saw a 14.0% rise from 1,759,755 students to 2,006,035’.

Source: HESA Press release - Tuesday 17 April 2007

Supporting Disabled Students

• Assessment for Disabled Student Allowance

• Expectation • Requirements and funding• Collaboration within institution• Availability of support workers• Limitations

Assessments for DSA• Recommendations exceed maximum DSA• Recommendations are not available• Preparing students – discussion, alerts• Transition to higher education• Bridging the Gap ‘However, there is a limit to

the amount of help you can get from the DSAs’ (2007/2008 p.14)

• What happens if recommendations exceed limit?

Expectations

• Students

Information gathering

Information sharing

Provisional agreement

Informed decision

• LAs and other funding bodies

Requirements and Funding

• Balancing requirements with available funding

• Prioritising

• Maximising

• Belts and braces but no string

Collaboration within institution

• Disability representativesCollective trainingLegislation updatesDiscussion forum

• Separate training days for academics and administrators

• Address specific Departmental concerns

Availability of support workers• Recruitment

Post-grad listsWord of mouth Local newspaper

• TrainingDIY

• EmploymentContracts vs. terms and conditionsEncouraging positive aspects

Limitations

• Cost

• Availability

Half-term

Departmental limits

No post-grads and technical

• Incompatible