IMPACT Network - Improving potential and creating targeted solutions
Download this document: IMPACT Network Proposal, February 2007 (MS Word document, 49 Kb)
Introduction
IMPACT Network has been established in response to both requests from the sector and to evidence [Disability Officers in Higher Education. E McCabe University of Westminster and NADO] illustrating the need for a network to consider strategic and developmental disability-related issues. The network is innovative and will be targeted to ensure the focus remains appropriate to the requirements of staff responsible for strategic developments in disability-related issues within higher education (HE).
There is a recognised need for disability service managers from higher education institutions (HEIs) to network with their peers to explore practical solutions to current and emerging issues of concern to their strategic role. The network operates at a national level whilst remaining responsive to regional needs.
Intended audience
- Disability service managers.
- Managers of equalities offices who have a remit for disability issues.
- Staff responsible for strategic disability related developments in HEIs.
Rationale
There are a considerable number of conferences organised for staff involved in delivering disability provision in the sector (eg Skill and NADP). However disability service managers have reported that there is a lack of targeted professional development or support to specifically equip them to meet their growing responsibilities for developing disability strategy and to help them in their emerging change management roles. [Note: individual coaching can be gained from an IMPACT Associates review of disability service.]
In addition there is a need for peer support and opportunities to share practice about strategic level progress towards inclusion. There is also a requirement to retain currency of knowledge and skills which is reinforced by continuous changes within:
- legislative and regulatory requirements (eg DDA 2005).
- government policy (WP, Aimhigher, Access Agreements);
- funding (for HEIs and for students);
- student profiles (eg more students with a wider range of impairments, more international disabled students);
- expanding services for supporting disabled students with consequent increasing need for 'staff and service management';
- changes in curriculum delivery;
- institutional priorities and structures.
Disability services are frequently regarded as the focal point for everything concerning disability, even if it is not within their designated remit. This can lead to disability service managers feeling accountable or responsible whilst being powerless to effect change. Such situations can lead staff in disability services to sometimes feel isolated or stressed, overwhelmed and unsupported within their own institution.
Increasingly disability services are having to act as an 'agent for change' within their organisation. This is a challenge that some disability service managers in the sector are struggling to meet in the most appropriate ways.
Network aims
To establish a focussed and supportive network for those involved in strategic disability related issues through offering:
- bespoke professional development.
- opportunities to share practice which works.
- supportive interventions from experienced facilitators to adapt good practice to specific institutional contexts.
- the development of practical resources and tools.
- a community of like-minded practitioners keen to discuss and try new approaches to strategy formulation and management of disability and inclusivity issues.
Proposed activities
- One annual 24 hour residential forum offered at a national event.
- One-day forum meetings to be organised on a regional basis (ie two per year in the north, midlands or south of the UK).
The forums take a thematic approach by considering pressing current issues and emerging strategic topics. For example:
- DES - just another paper exercise or a tool for real improvement?
- Will disability issues be lost in the move toward equality issues?
- Is your disability service reaching all disabled students or primarily dyslexic students?
- Are you aware of disability-related developments in your local region?
- Are the boundaries of responsibility clear in your HEI eg who is supporting disabled staff?
- Obtaining disabled students' voices - is involvement a tokenistic gesture or a meaningful exercise?
- How to recruit appropriate staff, particularly in regions with limited choice.
'Experts' on strategic issues will be identified and invited to network meetings where appropriate.
Collaborative ventures will be encouraged eg to speed the resolution of the most challenging issues or to increase the success of funding bids for developmental projects.
Potential outcomes and outputs
Disability service managers could benefit through:
- Developing the capability to run a more efficient and effective service.
- Increasing their capacity to manage the service eg by helping to prioritise tasks and delegate work to those who should or could take responsibility.
- Undertaking an exchange or 'learning raid' with an identified DSM in another UK university.
- Obtaining moral and peer support as well as input from experienced facilitators.
- Access to bespoke resources to aid the development of disability related strategy eg through the adaptation of existing resources from previously funded disability related projects or through the creation of new bespoke resources.
- Access to a closed email forum, blog or chat room.
Day network event format
Regional forum meeting formats will be duplicated in the north, midlands and south of the UK. Day events would run from around 10:30 until 4:00.
Residential event format
A 24-hour residential event to be offered during April or early September annually. Network participants would arrive at mid day on day one and leave at lunch time the following day.
Quality assurance
The development of the Network will be informed by the practitioner agenda. Practitioners will play a key role in setting network priorities and in evaluating effectiveness.
IMPACT Associates
The three practitioners who have formed IMPACT Associates have a wealth of expertise, which will help steer the Network.
Management
- at an institutional, regional and national levels eg managing HEI disability and equality services, managing regional strategy on disability, managing the professional development programme for disability project managers across the sector.
- of needs assessment services, register of non-medical helpers and other services to disabled students.
- and delivery of disability projects eg National Aimhigher Summer School project to include disabled learners (2005-07).
Experience
- working at strategic levels in higher education.
- integrating disability issues into the wider equality agenda.
- supporting HEIs to develop their Disability Equality Schemes.
- running practitioner networks.
- working as academics.
- delivering professional development at HEI and national level.
- developing practical capacity building tools eg NDT and Action on Access checklists, and EFDS: self review tools to promote inclusive sports programmes.
- auditing and reviewing disability provision in HEIs across the sector.
Operating as National Co-ordinators with the NDT advising the sector and supporting the effective delivery of a wide range of disability related projects.
Delivering a range of consultancy contracts allowing an in depth knowledge of HEIs including:
- working alongside the DRC in an HEI on a section 5 agreement.
- delivering the ECU DES feedback service.
Development and piloting of a comprehensive disability service review tool.
Conducting disability related research eg NDT/Skill: Aspiration Raising and Transition of disabled learners from FE to HE (2004) and East of England Aimhigher: Perceptions of disabled students of the barriers to HE (2006-07).
Linking widening participation and disability issues through our work with Action on Access, the HEFCE national widening participation co-ordination team.
Working in partnership with key sector wide organisations such as: the Higher Education Academy and their network of subject centres; Skill; TechDis.
Members of NADP.
Download this document: IMPACT Network Proposal, February 2007 (MS Word document, 49 Kb)