 Disabled Students Allowance
Educational support in Higher Education
If you have a recognised disability, such as dyslexia or dyspraxia or another Specific Leaning Difficulty, and are enrolled or planning to take a qualifying course in Higher Education you may be eligible for support under the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). Please see full information on the BDA website at
http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/hestudents.html#info
To apply for DSA you must contact your Local Educational Authority (LEA), or your funding body, such as the NHS. You should begin this process as soon as possible before your course begins. Contact the LEA who will send forms to be completed:
- Complete form PN1 (available from your LEA )
- Remember to tick the box identifying you wish to apply for Disabled Students Allowances in section 1 (finance available), on page 2 of the form.
- Complete form DSA 1 (available from your LEA)
- Send this form, with evidence of your disability to your LEA.
Evidence
- Evidence must have been written after you have reached the age of 16 years
- It must have been written by an educational psychologist or a specialist teacher. The report must conform to standards laid down in the DfES Working Party guidelines. If you are unsure if your evidence is acceptable then contact your LEA who can approve it or advise you about further evidence
Once your LEA has confirmed your eligibility for DSA, you can arrange to have a needs assessment, at a DIUS approved ACCESS Centre.
- This will be an informal meeting with an experienced assessor who will talk with you to identify your particular needs in relation to your proposed course to ensure that you get the help that you will need.
- The DSA assessment will identify the types of equipment and other support you will need, how much it will cost and where to get it from.
- It will also identify any training you might need to make best use of the equipment recommended, and detail any special examination arrangements.
The nearest ACCESS Centre is at the University of Southampton, with outreach centres in Basingstoke, Winchester, and Portsmouth. This ACCESS Centre, Centre for Enabling and Learning Technology (CELT) provides specialist assessments for students with disabilities and specific learning difficulties, who are eligible for the Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs).
CELT provides assessments for all students, not just those studying at the University of Southampton. DSAs are non means tested allowances to help meet any additional costs you may have to pay in attending your course as a result of your disability.
The allowances are not paid to you direct, but are used to fund specific items. The allowances are adjusted each year and are published in the document ‘Bridging the Gap: Department for Skills and Education (DIUS) Guide to Disabled Students’ Allowances. ‘
Link to this document www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/idcplg?IdcService=GET_
Allowances vary according to the type of course. The maximum amounts of funding for full time undergraduates in 2007/2008 are:
- Specialist equipment allowance: £4,905 for entire course – this may be used for items such as I T equipment, software etc.
- Non-medical helper allowance: £12,420 per year – this may be used for individual study skills support, note taking support etc.
- General allowance: £1,640 per year – may be used for books, photocopying etc.
- Transport costs as needed
The support that will be recommended will depend on YOUR needs and YOUR course of study.
Useful links:
Centre for Enabling & Learning Technologies (CELT)
University of Southampton, Tel: 023 80597233, Fax: 023 80599300
E-mail: CELT@soton.ac.uk Web page: www.celt.soton.ac.uk
PATOSS:
http://www.patoss-dyslexia.org/
National Union of Students:
http://www.nusonline.co.uk
Centre for Enabling & Learning Technologies (CELT)
University of Southampton, Tel: 023 80597233, Fax: 023 80599300
E-mail: CELT@soton.ac.uk Web page: www.celt.soton.ac.uk
SKILL National Bureau for Students with Disabilities:
http://www.skill.org.uk
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