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…………