Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA)
Assistive technology
The process for arranging support for disabled students
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Faculty Student Advisors
Each Faculty has Faculty Student Advisers (FSA), although their role differs slightly across the University. In the School of Health and Social Care, Student Advisers are responsible for co-ordinating the support for disabled students. They do this by meeting with the student as soon as a disability is disclosed or diagnosed. They will be able to advise the student and give them information on disability issues, such as how to obtain an Educational Psychology assessment and how to access the Disabled Students Allowances (DSA - see below). Once the student has met with the FSA, and they have ascertained their specific access requirements, they will complete a Disabled Student Access Plan to address Faculty and practice placement access issues and agree an action plan. It is not a requirement that the student discloses a disability but it is important to recognise that unless the Faculty is aware that they are a student with a disability, it would not be able to make reasonable adjustments to meet their access requirements. Although the FSA is the first point of contact for further information, student may also consult the Faculty’s protocol for facilitating access for disabled students. The Faculty's protocol is available in pdf format (with flowcharts) or word format (without flowcharts).
FSA are the only ones who can add a student onto the Disabilities Database which is essential if they are to gain access any special arrangements with lectures of examinations. Once the student has been added, then with the students permission, other authorised staff members (academic, examinations, support) can logon and view what the special requirements are and ensure that the they are met. Students are advised to approach the FSA's in the first instance with any disability related query who will be be able to advise accordingly. This should be done by booking an appointment through HSC reception.
The Student Advisers contact details are:
Student Adviser contact form.
Online HSC disability support information for students can be found on the Student Intranet
Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA)
The DSA is a Government grant for UK students enrolled on higher education courses for UK students with disabilities (including dyslexia). Full time students and part–time students, studying on a designated part-time higher education course are eligible for DSAs, as are post graduate and Nursing and Midwifery Diploma students. The award is intended to cover any extra costs or expenses a student may have to meet whilst studying, that arise because of a disability and it does not depend on income and there is no upper age limit.
The Allowances is designed to help cover the cost of:
• specialist equipment needed for studying - for example, assistive computer software
• a non-medical helper, such as a note-taker or reader
• extra travel costs you have to pay because of your disability
• other costs - for example, tapes or Braille paper
Information about claiming DSA or further general information is available on the DRC website.
Assistive technology provided by DSA
This is a range of hardware and software products designed to give disabled people access to information in print, on computers, CDs/DVDs and the internet. These products include:
• Braille displays, embosser, keyboards and translation software
• Ergonomic keyboards
• CCTV which is a magnification system for enlarging text and pictures
• Electronic notetaker which is a portable device into which the user can type information which can be printed out later or downloaded to a computer
• Speech recognition software whereby the user can dictate directly into a computer
• Tape recorders, videophones and scanner
• Mind mapping software to help plan and organise written work
• Text enlarging software
-----------------------------------------
The process for arranging support for disabled students.
1) If the student has declared as disabled on their admissions application form a student adviser will write to the student asking them to contact them to discuss any support arrangements they may have
2) In the letter the student will be asked to make an appointment via the faculty reception to come and see one of the student advisers bringing with them evidence of their impairment and if they have any prior information of what sort of support they would benefit from.
3) At the appointment the student adviser will discuss with the student their support requirements then with the students consent, the student adviser will then add on any support requirements to the disability database
4) The student adviser then ensures (with the students permission) that the student programme & module leaders & the programmes office & Placment Learning Unit are aware of the requirements via the disability database. Students should note that Placement Mentors are NOT informed of a students disability by the Faculty.
5) The Student may be entitled to apply for the Disabled Students Allowances (DSA). To establish whether they are, they need to complete a DSA1 application form and return it together with “medical Evidence” of impairment to their finding body.
a)NHS funded students can apply to the NHS Student Bursaries for funding (enquiries@nhspa.gov.uk). When eligibility for funding is confirmed, the student should contact their local Assessment Centre (most likely the West of England Assessment Centre (WEAC) based in the DRC at the main Frenchay Campus) who will give the student information on how to obtain an ‘assessment of educational support needs’.
b) If funded by the Local Educaiton Authority (LEA), the student needs to contact them for confirmation of funding. LEA funded students need to fill in a form PN1
c)If the student has no funding source, they or their Programme Leader should contact the FSA's as soon as possible to discuss other ways of supporting the student.
6) The report from the assessment of study needs identifies specific requirements (e.g. a laptop or mini-disc players, dyslexia tuition, a support worker etc). With the students permission, the Assessment Centre sends a copy of the assessment of educational support needs to the student advisers, the relevant funding body, the DRC Student Advisors and the Faculty Student Advisors. If the assessment is approved by the funding body, then the student will normally be provided with a cheque to be used for specialist equipment. The student then needs to liaise with the DRC to arrange dyslexia tuition and support worker assistance.
7) The student should check that a copy of their assessment of educational support needs has been provided to their FSA’s by the Assessment Centre and should make contact with their FSA as soon as possible to discuss the recommendations in the report.
8) The student is then advised to keep in contact with the FSA’s informing them of any changes to their support arrangements and seek ongoing support from the study skills tutors if required
If any student feels that any of the process detailed above did not happen and they would like to bring the matter to the attention of the university, then they should seek independent advice from the SU Advice Centre.
UWE Contacts
Further information about UWE contacts for different services.
Back to the top