Disabled Students Allowance and Dyspraxia

lushkat

Just wondered if anyone have any experience of applying for DSA? How is the assessment carried out? What kinds of support do they offer?

Thank you

kar

Hi, I get the DSA for dyslexia. I'm not sure if the details are the same but this is what happened for me.

Applying for the DSA was done through the disability support office at uni. You have to have an educational psycologists report done and basically so long as that says you need extra support you get it.

Main support - use of DSO for help with study skills etc and help with planning and proof reading and stuff,
Extra time in exams if considered necessary.
A free computer

For me I also get £200 book allowance for extra book costs
£75 for extra photocopying costs. But these have to be claimed very carefully with supporting letters from lecturers and things to show they are extra costs not costs all students would have to pay and must be claimed back with receipts and stuff so can't be spent on anything else (if your getting ideas).

kar

Savvy_Sue

My understanding is that you also have to have the support of your LEA. Our son's disability adviser at Uni said if we hadn't applied for an extra grant there, then we wouldn't get any particular extra support at Uni. I think I'm remembering this right. His problem is mild Asperger's, but he doesn't need any extra equipment or a lot of support at all, but he did have extra time in exams at GCSE and A level. And I wanted to make sure that the Uni kept an eye on him in case he was unhappy but didn't know how to tell people this. We've left it that it's flagged up that he has Asperger's but haven't done any more than that.

If you're at Uni already, then talking to the disability adviser there would be a good start. If not, then your local education authority is probably the place to go.

freebie_junkie

im in 2nd yr at bolton uni and i have dyspraxia and dyslexia and also ocd, you ahve to have proof, like a report from an educational psychologist. ehat you get depends on your needs.
i get:
*comp/printer/scanner
*i-paq (to help me organise my calendar etc.)
*digital recorder (to help me take notes, i was offered a note taker but i found it a bit embarrasing)
*programmes for my comp that read out my work to me and that i speak to and it types for me
*a proofreader
*a studyskills tutor
*readr and transcriber for exams
*study buddy
*consumerables (paper for printer, cartridges, photocoping) £100 a year- (thsi will rise when i go full time, as will textbooks and internet allowance- these and teh others below you buy then give the reciepts to your lea office and it gets put back in your bank)
*textbooks- £200 a year (coz of my ocd i cant use books from teh library)
*internet allowance- £60 (coz cant use communal comps)

im also given handouts before lectures in big type,
tutors are told whats wrong with me so they can bear it in mind (one tutor didnt know and he shouted at me for eating in class, all other tutors allow it so i didnt know, and i was so upset i kept obsessing abou it for ages!) ,
help filling in forms,
powerpoint colour formats and ohp use is discussed with me before tutors use it so i can see it,
tutors give me one-to-one instructions if i need it,
i get extra time in oral presentations coz sometimes i cant get my words out and if im asked a question sometimes i get confused,
tutors cant oput me on teh spot to read aloud i only have to do it if i feel able,
allowances are made for poor spelling and gramar,
extended deadlines for essays,
tutors have to allow me to be late for lectures if ive got one before or back from breaks coz it takes me ages to use a publiuc loo and to eat,
tutors have to tell me where public loos are on field trips and if there are none i dont have to go,
during filed trips im given a clear map i understand to get back to wher we need to be coz im proper good at getting lost and cant follow directions easy,
tutors have to learn what ocd is if they dont alreafy know,
25% extra time in exams


its well worth applying, even if its just so you dont have to struggle to try and do stuff you cant

Cat72

Hi

I am doing a hnc but it is at a futher education college. I have ME and have a hospital consultants report. Would I be entitled to DSA and how would I go about it- as I am wanting to apply for the HND next year at anothe futher education college.Any help would be appreciated

freebie_junkie

Cat72 wrote:

Hi

I am doing a hnc but it is at a futher education college. I have ME and have a hospital consultants report. Would I be entitled to DSA and how would I go about it- as I am wanting to apply for the HND next year at anothe futher education college.Any help would be appreciated

i dont know if youre entiltled or what to, but if you take medical proof (ie docs letter) to your disability advisor, they will advise. good luck!