Re: An LD Student Who Needs a "Scribe"

[Maura Taaffe <mtaaffe@mtu.edu>]

When I worked at another university that had a large population of
physically and learning disabled students, we often ran into this
situation in the Writing Center.  We usually told students that they were
more than welcome to bring scribes with them to appointments, but that the
tutor would be working with them in written or oral composing, searching
out resources for their work, and listening to them talk about their
ideas, etc.  This way the two functions were separated--tutoring and
handwriting/typing on the computer--and assigned to two different
individuals.  It also helped the student assume responsibility for
adapting to the university's and writing center's expectations.  Seeing
three people working together became pretty common as students brought
their interpreters, physical assistants, and "scribes" with them to
appointments.

...my two cents' worth. 

Maura J. Taaffe
Department of Humanities
Walker Arts and Sciences
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton, MI 49931
(906)487-3274 - office

mtaaffe@mtu.edu