sandy charlton nadp autumn conference manchester november 2007
TRANSCRIPT
Sandy Charlton
NADP Autumn Conference
Manchester
November 2007
Education & Career History
• Age 57 – retired early from NHS management after 30 years
• Career change – currently a post-grad student at Sheffield Hallam
• New direction and challenge – Sustainable Development
• Aim – to study and live in the Netherlands & work on overseas projects
• Acquired bi-lateral sensori-neural deafness age 15+
• First attended university 1968 – B.Sc [Econ]• Part-time study Post-grad Dip. Health
Management 1979-80• Part-time M.Sc Health Economics 1995-1997• Currently completing M.Sc in Sustainable
Development [ full-time]• Awaiting a cochlear implant
Context
• Then and now
• Sexual Discrimination Act 1975 ....
• Disability Discrimination Act 1995
• Age Discrimination Act 2006……
HE Experiences
• 1968 – depended on understanding and goodwill of tutors and fellow-students
• Services and facilities non-existent• 1995 – awareness of tutors etc very high,
but still no services• 2005 – SHU – overwhelmingly positive
experience, excellent services• Minor issues with transcribing video
material etc.
SHU – key points
• Comprehensive and inclusive service via Disability Support Team
• Info at course enquiry stage via tutor – indicator of service ethos
• Application for disability support via LEA convoluted• Response of DST flexible and pragmatic• Formal assessment excellent: focus on total learning
needs: – as an individual– as a mature student– with a hearing disability
Work experiences
• Started work in NHS in 1975
• First communication aids provided mid-80’s
• First contact with hearing therapist early 1990’s [ patient referral, not work-based ]
• No specific work needs’ assessment
• No note-takers!
Perspective
• Retrospectively – totally gobsmacked!
• Personal experiences have shaped my approach – ‘coping strategy’
• Transition to work – interface with DP’s in HE?
• Final irony…………