DSA needs assessment on Monday

My supplier quoted installation in the presence of the student, erm... have they asked me if I want a stranger sits on my sofa drinking my tea for a whole day doing sth a 3 years old is perfectly capable of doing?

I have just emailed them telling them I want to install the stuff myself, so they can come, drop the boxes and go home. I don't mind having a stranger in my flat for an afternoon but it really isn't necessary. If I install things myself, I can do so when I am naked!!!

Well obviously, it's a joke.

erm... what have you thought about so far?? I only had a couple of days between the letter from SFE and my appointment, so I just went there and let the assessor lead the session, which was fine, but I did have a few things I forgot. I was told by my tutor to go in and tell them my worst day, but then I always thing it's not the best idea. I wouldn't worry too much because they are very specific questions and if anything you will have a few days at least between your asssessment and the report being sent to SFE, so maybe ask the assessor if you could contact them after tomorrow in case you forgot to mention something important?

That's good, that's what mums are for!!!

I'm just having a last minute worry. You know the report? Is it ok if I get them to send it to my firm even though I haven't actually met the offer yet? :s

Well it would be me tidying and my dad rearranging

I'm just having a last minute worry. You know the report? Is it ok if I get them to send it to my firm even though I haven't actually met the offer yet? :s

Well it would be me tidying and my dad rearranging




I wouldn't really know but I imagine that should be fine. After all, that's what most people in your position would be doing, wouldn't it?

X

I tried to post right after my assessment but it didn't come through. It was suprisingly... ok!


I quoted you in because I promised to PM you but I thought it might be better if I posted it here so others can see if they also have the same issues/worries.

I arrived about 10 minutes before my appointment and I was really nervous during the wait (especially as I'd been on a crowded train to get there) but the receptionist made me feel really calm and offered me magazines and a drink of water.

The first thing my assessor told me was that he wasn't there to judge, he was there to see what he could do to make things easier. He had to go and check that the assessment was ok for conditional offer holders, which it was and then he started the assessment which was basically him just asking me questions written down on sheets of paper. There were different sections so there were course specific questions about how your course is assessed and what method(s) it is delivered in and there were also sections for studying, library research, writing, reading, mobility and exams and whether you have a computer or not and more sections that I can't remember.

It was pretty boring actually. So I answered the questions and he showed me some computer software (something that reads text aloud) and asked me what I thought about it. At the end of the session he summarised what he was recommending me and asked if I wanted a draft report.

My recommendations were:
-A mentor for motivation and study skills help.

-A dictaphone in case my concentration got really bad and my notes weren't sufficient.

-The thing I'm really pleased about: the software that reads text aloud (he actually wasn't going to recommend it because he didn't want me to become reliant on it but I'm not going to use it if I can actually read and take it in, that's just lazy! I'm sick of crying over books because I can't take them in properly! Hopefully I'll get to a point where I don't need it.)

-A scanner so I can scan books in.

-He recommended free kindle software that apparently lets you download ebooks and reads it aloud to you.
-
A desktop computer because I steal my sister's laptop and tend to panic when I try to work in libraries. I'm going to upgrade to a laptop and pay the difference. I was planning on buying a Macbook Pro this summer (with my own money) but the software won't work on it so as long as the laptop I get from DSA is really light, I'm happy!

He also recommended things like rest breaks during exams if I need to eat/clear my head and he said he'd talk to UEA's accommodation about putting me in with mostly postgrads because they'll *hopefully* be cleaner and I won't need to worry unnecessarily about the communal kitchen and germs but I'm not sure about that one because it might stop me making friends my age?

And I got a photocopy allowance (so I can photocopy pages from books and scan them in) and a book allowance for disability related books (so I don't suppose I'll be using the book allowance really.)

I actually never thought I'd get so much. Or anything, really! I never thought of things like talking to accommodation and photocopy allowance and I feel a bit overwhelmed by it all. I'm really grateful for the help because I was worrying so much about uni and now I feel better knowing I have things and people in place to help me. Now I just need to get the grades... *goes to revise*

Hope that helped SmallTownGirl- just out of interest, is your username Glee related or are you just a Journey fan?

ExTraP, I've just realised you and The Lonely Goatherd (lay lay lay oh lee hee hee! Sorry. ) are both going to be at Goldsmiths! That's pretty cool. /random

Edit: Damn this is an epically long post. Sorry...

Wow. I just organised my needs assessment today. It's reassuring to know yours went well.

And yep, I started using TSR right after Glee started and I am a 'small town girl, living in a lonely world...'

*sings back* Don't stop believing!