Interacting with Disability Support Workers
This information is available to download in a word document - Working with Notetakers and Participation Assistants.
"Disability Support Workers” (DSW) are often called notetakers, readers, scribes, educational aides, mobility guides, attendants, carers and participation assistants. They support students with disabilities to access their education, but do not provide personal care.
Disability support staff are managed by external recruitment agencies under direction from the Disability Liaison Officers. While in class, the teaching staff are not responsible for support worker instruction or supervision and should direct any queries or concerns to Disability Services.
Please feel free to contact our service for further information.
Roles and Responsibilities
A Notetaker’s role is to:
- Take full and complete notes of ALL class content, discussion and instructions, including videos, discussions, writing on the whiteboard or PowerPoint
- Read relevant material
- Clarify unfamiliar terms
- Act as a Scribe
A Participation Assistant's role can also include:
- Physical assistance to the student
- Study support (working through exercises with the student, prompting students, explaining basic terms)
- General organisational work (diarising, planning assignments)
- Library assistance (help finding and acquiring texts; photocopying; accessing equipment; borrowing and returning books)
- Specific or irregular duties (behavioural control, foster independence, ensuring health and safety, study support, assistance with language/communication)
It is not the Disability Support Worker's role to:
- Discuss the student's progress in any way
- Discuss the student's medical condition or class needs
- Teach or explain key concepts in the subject
- Be included in class activities, group work or discussions
- Be responsible for the student's academic results
- Have personal conversations in class
- Take responsibility for, or supervise, the classroom
- Provide personal care such as toileting
- Provide money, food or clothing to students
- Transport students to or from University
- Let their opinion influence any notes or information
- Interact with other members of the class
- Assist other students in the class
- Answer questions intended for the students
- Keep or hand out copies of the notes
Expected Disability Support Worker behaviour and attitude:
- Reliability and punctuality
- Respect for the student and his/her choices
- Encouraging independence and positive self-esteem
- Honouring the student's rights to dignity, privacy and confidentiality
- To be as inconspicuous as possible in the class situation
Disability Support Workers are advised not to undertake tasks for which:
- They are neither properly qualified nor trained
- There is no specific authorisation
- The student is responsible
How Teaching Staff can Best Assist
Contact Disability Services if classes are changed or cancelled.
Whenever possible, provide 24 hours notice so that we can inform staff. It is also important to give notice of changes in room numbers or location so that we can ensure staff are sent to the correct location.
Provide feedback to our service
Especially if there are any concerns about Disability Support Worker behaviour.
Relate directly to the student, not their support worker.
Regardless of the disability a student may have, staff should always speak to the student, not the support worker. This includes instructions, explanations, arranging enrolments, asking about student progress. It is also important to maintain eye contact with the student in a way that is comfortable for them. If the student is using a wheelchair, this might mean sitting down too (rather than standing above the person).
Insist that the student is present before discussing them with a Disability Support Worker.
It is not appropriate for support workers to act as an advocate or liaison for the student. If they seem at risk of breaching the boundaries of their role, staff should insist that the student is present before further discussion ensues.
Do not include the Disability Support Worker in the classroom activities
Such as introducing themselves, open class discussions, group work etc.
Avoid drawing attention to the Support Worker.
Please avoid embarrassing students, and accept that they may prefer not to introduce or explain the presence of the worker and avoid drawing attention to the presence of a Disability Support Worker in class (or any other services, accommodations and adjustments the student may receive).
Provide a copy of all lecture material on Blackboard.
This enables the notetaker to plan ahead and to write down comments, examples and other information given while the overheads are shown.
