Derek Naysmith

Choosing the OU

When I lost my sight in an accident my employer was very supportive and created a new post for me in the Information Technology Department as I had an interest, and some experience, in programming. However, I had no formal training or qualifications and I felt it important for me to gain these.

I examined several options including local FE colleges and professional training agencies, but finally felt that the Open University was the best one. It would get me the training I wanted, provide me with a degree and allow me to obtain professional qualifications.

I phoned the local OU regional centre and a disability counsellor came to see me to discuss what the OU had to offer and how I could get started on my studies.

In particular she told me about the Disability Resources Team at Walton Hall in Milton Keynes, and what they did to support the OU's many disabled students.

Over the years I have used the Disability Resources Team a lot to help me with various problems and I have always found their attitude friendly and helpful.

One additional attraction of the Open University is that while it is a national organisation there is a local presence in your own region. The disability resource team in my local region has provided me with assistance in claiming disabled students allowance which allowed me to purchase special equipment to aid me in my studies.

Support offered

The most basic support offered by the University used to be audio tape versions of printed study material. Today more material is available in electronic forms, either as text files or digital audio books. Beyond this I found that most staff were willing to discuss and take into account any additional needs that I might have when completing assignments or taking part in tutorials.

The key to overcoming any problems was to discuss the matter and not to let things fester. For example, many of my assignments required the production of detailed diagrams. I always explained to tutors that this was not feasible and instead provided detailed oral descriptions - just like in an audio described book. I was able to demonstrate that this approach did provide all that was required to answer an assignment question.

Residential schools

I have attended several residential summer schools during my studies. The first was okay but not as good as I had expected. The second, however, proved to be one of the highlights of my course. The tutor group worked extremely well and the whole experience brought back memories of my time as a sighted undergraduate.

Residential school at first appeared a daunting event but the residential schools student office ensured that I had a sighted helper (my wife as it happens), that my room was suitable for a disabled person and that any print materials were available on tape. Even my wife enjoyed the second summer school as my tutor group made her part of the group as opposed to excluding her as happened on the first. All in all, summer schools are extremely valuable as they provide an opportunity to interact with a large group of students from a wide variety of courses, in a campus setting.

Taking exams

At the end of each year came the daunting prospect of sitting the exam. Here, additional arrangements can be made including extra time, allowing you to take the exam at a more convenient venue and providing the exam paper in a range of alternative formats. I frequently asked for tape and Braille as this gave me maximum flexibility, and for one exam I even had tactile diagrams produced.

Maybe I am a masochist but I have always enjoyed exams – for me it’s what studying is all about - and my exams with the Open University were no exception.

Well, except for the time I was given the wrong exam paper! I got a bit of a fright as I listened to the first question wondering what it was all about but a quick phone call to the Disability Resources Team sorted things out and I took the correct exam at a later date.

Balancing study with everything else

Studying with the OU is not an easy task. I had to work hard but the main problem was getting a balance with the rest of my life. Two children wanted attention.

The house needed things doing to it. I had a demanding job and busy social life. However, with some planning and a lot of support from my wife I managed to get through. Studying at the OU is often team work!

What have I got out of the OU?

Well I now have a good honours degree in computing (in fact, the same grade I obtained when I was sighted). I have gained a lot of self-confidence in my abilities and these are appreciated by my employer - but also I have had a thoroughly enjoyable time. In fact, I have enjoyed my OU studies so much that I have now registered for my third degree. Studying with the Open University has now become a very enjoyable and challenging hobby.

Recently the University has started to present many of its modules online. At first I was concerned about how accessible these new courses would be with my access technology, but after taking three of them I am quite pleased with how usable they are. At times, with these online modules I feel almost on a par with sighted students as we are all reading electronic documents.