ADSHE

ADSHEN – The Northern Group

Membership of the group

contact  Bob Burwell  r.burwell@hull.ac.uk

The Northern Group was established in February 2006 and members come from an area stretching from Edinburgh in the north to Sheffield in the south. The group aims to meet twice a year for a full day’s meeting. Membership of the group is not dependent on being able to attend meetings and we try to circulate details of our meetings and discussions to all members in the north.

Review of workshop – The transition from Education to Workplace     13 September 2011; at University of Hull

Hello everyone, this is just a brief update on our recent training day based on the theme: transition of education to the workplace for SpLD students.

• The main presentation was delivered by Kade Consultancy.  Kade mainly provide diagnostic assessment and guidance for people with an SpLD in the workplace. The talk was very comprehensive and covered a range of topics: a brief outline of a range of SpLDs; the Equality Act; disclosure and its implications; policies and recent funding changes; transferable skills and strategies. They also presented a video clip of dyslexic employees offering their experiences and some advice on how to succeed at work as an SpLD employee.

For me the main message of the day was that we as tutors can play a very positive role in encouraging students to disclose their SpLDs to a future employer, as many students are reluctant to do this. The presentation also equipped specialist tutors with the knowledge to pass onto students the positive news that support and guidance, tailored to their individual work needs, often at a low cost, is available throughout their whole careers.

• The second talk was presented by Carl Barnes. Carl is a Work Psychologist. He works in Hull as part of ‘Jobcentreplus’, where he provides Work Psychology Employment Assessments for disabled employees, including clients with SpLDs. Carl talk was very relaxed and discursive and there was no ‘death by Powerpoint’! It was interesting to learn what provision was out there for people with SpLDs, who are not students, as our work is so centred around SpLD in a higher education context.

Interestingly, Carl’s employment assessments are not about providing a formal diagnosis but finding out an employees work needs and goals and then offering a bespoke ‘action plan’ to help people, in our case with SpLDs, successfully achieve at work.

• The training day also included ADSHE forum business.   A couple of main topics were discussed. Anne Bielby raised the issue of assessment reports and the problems of wording for SpLD profiles, e.g. SpLD around ‘timekeeping’. The general consensus from the members was that assessment reports need to be explicit as possible in their terms and explain why they are using terms which may be correct, but need clarification.

• Furthermore, I introduced our new project based on providing a free software guide for students to use. The ‘Freeware’ guide provides a simple and clear evaluation of the free software tool bar available called ‘My Study Bar’.  It was presented in an A3 laminated format and members seemed to be very positive about using the guide! I will keep you posted once we have finished the project; the main aim is that the guide will be available for all institutions to use with their students.

Finally, as Chair I really enjoyed organising this event at my university. However, I do need your input on future ideas plans and event locations for our next training event, so please be an active member and keep me posted on your suggestions.

Best wishes,

Bob Burwell; ADHEN Chair.

Durham University in February 2010. Juliet and Claire Jamieson gave an interesting and well presented talk on ‘Managing Aspergers Syndrome at College or University’ following which were interesting questions and discussion and examples of people’s own experiences and approach to this ever increasing area of specific learning difficulties in HE.  There was also an interesting sharing of experiences in relation SFE….and much common ground!

A well attended and very interesting meeting was held at Leeds Metropolitan University on Thursday September 9th 2010 with many members travelling some distance. We’re delighted Kerry came down from Scotland! Everyone joined in enthusiastically to try out Pat Francis’ many good ideas to inspire Art and Craft students to write. This was followed by a good lunch and then sharing useful and practical favourite resources. Ros updated us on the recent happenings at SFE and a future meetings was planned for January 2011. Even the weather was great!

Please email s.falshaw@leedsmet.ac.uk if you are interested in hearing about future meetings in the north east.

Previous Discussion Topics
Recent topics discussed have included IT Training, working with dyspraxic and dyscalculic students, coping with waiting lists, pay levels and re-grading.

Professional Development
• Members from the University of Sheffield introduced the online study skill support materials that they were producing for HE students. They presented the thinking behind the material and highlighted some the difficulties in working in a new field with professionals from another area. This project was developed with an Institutional Learning and Teaching Grant and was the result of a successful bid. The materials can now be accessed at http://dyslexstudyskills.group.shef.ac.uk

Future Developments

We welcome all members working in the north. We are particularly keen for members to share their knowledge and skills to enhance our professional development.