Developing links with Access SUMMIT - for FE/HE providers and Disability Advisers...
Access SUMMIT actively fosters links with local Higher and Further Education Institutions. We have a close working relationship with the three universities in Greater
Manchester (The University of Manchester, The University of Salford and Manchester Metropolitan University) which has evolved from the early days of The
Centre.
However, we are keen to establish and develop links with other universities and Further
Education Institutions in the North West, and indeed, nationally.
We enjoy a good relationship with many local post-16 education providers and actively encourage our colleagues to use our services as much as possible.The nature of the
relationship varies and is often dependent on the number of students accessing
DSA within the institution.
Examples of the ways in which Access SUMMIT can (and does) work with a college or university are given below
- Mutual
'sharing' of relevant paperwork and forms makes referrals for assessment
easier and usually quicker for all concerned
- Exchange of
information: if assessors at Access SUMMIT have easy access to information
about how support is arranged and the nature of provision at a college or
university. A good example of this is if a college or university can provide
annual information to Access SUMMIT detailing how a student arranges their
support workers at the college, how much the college charges the funding body
for support, etc. This information can then be easily included in the
assessment of needs report, helping to ensure that the report accurately
reflects the type and cost of the support recommended.
- Site visits:
in can be beneficial for Access SUMMIT's staff and assessors to visit colleges
and universities to gain a greater understanding of the site and access
issues. Sometimes it can be helpful or easier for an assessment to be
undertaken at the college rather than in the Access SUMMIT.
- Tandem
assessments: there are various ways through which an educational institution
can be part of the assessment procedure and therefore have an input into the
report.
- Support and IT training:
in some cases Access SUMMIT is able to provide support workers
and IT trainers to work with students at particular colleges and
universities.
