paying for a carers room at university

carolan78

tehone wrote: »

Not all Halls of Residence are on campus (or on a reliable/accessible public transport route) - and that's without mentioning other uses someone with a mobility impairment might need their private transport for - shopping, hospital appointments, visiting friends, etc

Totally agree with that my Grandma was in a wheelchair and if you did need to go anywhere public transport it was a nightmare. The person in question can't be expected to stick to campus even if they can get to the Uni without the car.

bitsandpieces

Is the student eligible for housing benefit? That might be another avenue to try asking about.

Is the student booked into the cheapest halls, though - if not, that's obviously something to look at if money will be tight. If there are cheaper halls of residence which aren't accessible, it may be worth arguing that (if this isn't already being done) the university should charge them the cost of the cheapest halls rather than the more expensive place they're staying. The Disability Discrimination Act means the university should make reasonable adjustments for disabled students: I would argue that this should include either making all halls accessible or, if this can't be done, charging those who can't access cheaper halls the cheaper rate (as it's not their fault if these halls aren't accessible). The university may not agree, of course!

These things can be complicated, though. Can the student discuss options with DIAL, a CAB, or similar?

farso

I find it amazing that people expect, after all the help that they are given, to ask for even further amounts of money.

Lets ask the simple question here... Why cant a local carer take care of him? Why do you need to ship one down there to look after him?

I know everyone deserves a chance and all that, but what exactly is going to be the point in him going to uni if he will be unable to work after due to getting continuously worse over time?

I think with student loan, disabled students allowance and maintenance grant there is no way you cannot afford two rooms, this is another example of taking from the government and your attitude has "give me money all over it".

bitsandpieces

Lets ask the simple question here... Why cant a local carer take care of him? Why do you need to ship one down there to look after him?

I suspect that the room is needed so that the carer can have somewhere to sleep at night. Carers often work 2 days on (24hrs/day), 2 off, or something like that. The employer can then avoid paying the carers their full wage for the time that they're asleep (although on call). To get carers who stay awake for their full shift is more expensive: you have to pay them their full hourly rate, and often more for working at night. Fair enough, of course - carers deserve to be paid - but this is why people often provide carers with a room to sleep in.

People also deserve privacy. Even if someone has a 24 hour carer, they may still want them to leave the room while remaining available to them. Again, a spare room for the carer is very useful for this.

I know everyone deserves a chance and all that, but what exactly is going to be the point in him going to uni if he will be unable to work after due to getting continuously worse over time?

Some people with severe, degenerative conditions do work. If disability rules out many potential jobs, a good education can be a very useful way to open up other opportunities. Anyway, education isn't just to enhance employability.

I think with student loan, disabled students allowance and maintenance grant there is no way you cannot afford two rooms, this is another example of taking from the government and your attitude has "give me money all over it".

A 2nd room could cost a lot (in some universities and halls, you could spend over £5,000 per year). Many people would struggle to afford this, alongside other disability-related expenses and general living/studying expenses.

Oldernotwiser

carolan78 wrote: »

Totally agree with that my Grandma was in a wheelchair and if you did need to go anywhere public transport it was a nightmare. The person in question can't be expected to stick to campus even if they can get to the Uni without the car.

When I was at university we rarely went off campus and very few people ran cars; my suggestion was nothing to do with disability.

naomi123

farso wrote: »

I find it amazing that people expect, after all the help that they are given, to ask for even further amounts of money.

Lets ask the simple question here... Why cant a local carer take care of him? Why do you need to ship one down there to look after him?

I know everyone deserves a chance and all that, but what exactly is going to be the point in him going to uni if he will be unable to work after due to getting continuously worse over time?

I think with student loan, disabled students allowance and maintenance grant there is no way you cannot afford two rooms, this is another example of taking from the government and your attitude has "give me money all over it".

Are you SERIOUS?? I have never read such a load of prejudiced claptrap in my whole life.
So what, this guy is disabled, lets just write him off now shall we?? Have you ever heard of Stephen Hawkins? You also dont know over what time scale he will get worse. It may well be that he works for 20 years.

No way he cannot afford 2 rooms? So you know exactly how much it will cost him to go to each hospital/medical appointment, pay for prescriptions, adapt his learning/living environment in order to just live a normal life.

Have you have heard of the DDA?

You attitude sickens me.

farso

naomi123 wrote: »

Are you SERIOUS?? I have never read such a load of prejudiced claptrap in my whole life.
So what, this guy is disabled, lets just write him off now shall we?? Have you ever heard of Stephen Hawkins? You also dont know over what time scale he will get worse. It may well be that he works for 20 years.

No way he cannot afford 2 rooms? So you know exactly how much it will cost him to go to each hospital/medical appointment, pay for prescriptions, adapt his learning/living environment in order to just live a normal life.

Have you have heard of the DDA?

You attitude sickens me.

I havnt heard of Stephen Hawkings, but I actually have heard of Stephen Hawking. Im sure he got things like bursaries as he was so clever, this chap im assuming doesnt.

I dont understand why there cant be a local carer that lives at their own house and travels in to care for him when needed. Its the way anyone I know that is disabled copes with things such as this.

naomi123 wrote: »

So you know exactly how much it will cost him to go to each hospital/medical appointment, pay for prescriptions, adapt his learning/living environment in order to just live a normal life.

Yes, Zero.

naomi123 wrote: »

You attitude sickens me.

Ok, Your stupidity sickens me. This is how things like the Geneva convention start and gradually you can do nothing without offending someone, convening some kind of heath and safety law or breaching some sacred but unheard of human right.

dmg24

Whilst I am all for disabled students being able to experience the whole uni lifestyle, I would question if halls are the right place for this student. However accessible the halls are, this does not take into account the actions/ lack of thought/ respect of the other students.

Most disabled people need more rest than a healthy person, especially a healthy student. It would be very difficult to create a suitable living environment living in such close proximity to other young people.

The student in question is likely to qualify for the one bedroom rate for LHA. I would look into getting a self contained unit, which could provide separate space for the student and their carer.

I would also question whether a car is needed when living on campus. Adapated halls accom tends to be very central, and campuses tend to have very good transport links (with public transport being accessible to those in wheelchairs).

Humphrey10

re: car, depending on the university the halls may not be in walking distance of the lectures. When I went to uni the first time (and was living on campus in university owned halls), some of my lectures were 14 miles away on a different campus. Though I imagine that's a bit of an extreme case. Even if they are only a mile or so away I'd imagine a car would make it easier. And what about shopping etc?

lemonjelly

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

That's not really the point though, is it? Does any student living in halls need to run a car?

Is answered by:

tehone wrote: »

Not all Halls of Residence are on campus (or on a reliable/accessible public transport route) - and that's without mentioning other uses someone with a mobility impairment might need their private transport for - shopping, hospital appointments, visiting friends, etc

In addition, there will be a place of work placement once a week.

carolan78 wrote: »

So if the carer is employed by the local authority I presume they also get a normal wage. With the amount of care needed wouldn't it be a role for at least 2 carers, doing 12 hour shifts each. If that was the case then accomodation would not be needed. If not then surely the carer would e expected to pay for his/her own accomodation as would any other working adult

Sorry I am not been pedantic just threw it in really as another angle.

This is actually the suggestion we are putting forward - daytime carer & waking night carer, so there in no need for the carer to have somewhere to sleep. Not a pedantic suggestion - a practical one


Is the student eligible for housing benefit? That might be another avenue to try asking about.

Is the student booked into the cheapest halls, though - if not, that's obviously something to look at if money will be tight. If there are cheaper halls of residence which aren't accessible, it may be worth arguing that (if this isn't already being done) the university should charge them the cost of the cheapest halls rather than the more expensive place they're staying. The Disability Discrimination Act means the university should make reasonable adjustments for disabled students: I would argue that this should include either making all halls accessible or, if this can't be done, charging those who can't access cheaper halls the cheaper rate (as it's not their fault if these halls aren't accessible). The university may not agree, of course!

These things can be complicated, though. Can the student discuss options with DIAL, a CAB, or similar?

F-T students aren't eligible for housing benefit I thought?

Quote:
Lets ask the simple question here... Why cant a local carer take care of him? Why do you need to ship one down there to look after him?
I suspect that the room is needed so that the carer can have somewhere to sleep at night. Carers often work 2 days on (24hrs/day), 2 off, or something like that. The employer can then avoid paying the carers their full wage for the time that they're asleep (although on call). To get carers who stay awake for their full shift is more expensive: you have to pay them their full hourly rate, and often more for working at night. Fair enough, of course - carers deserve to be paid - but this is why people often provide carers with a room to sleep in.

People also deserve privacy. Even if someone has a 24 hour carer, they may still want them to leave the room while remaining available to them. Again, a spare room for the carer is very useful for this.


Quote:
I know everyone deserves a chance and all that, but what exactly is going to be the point in him going to uni if he will be unable to work after due to getting continuously worse over time?
Some people with severe, degenerative conditions do work. If disability rules out many potential jobs, a good education can be a very useful way to open up other opportunities. Anyway, education isn't just to enhance employability.


Quote:
I think with student loan, disabled students allowance and maintenance grant there is no way you cannot afford two rooms, this is another example of taking from the government and your attitude has "give me money all over it".
A 2nd room could cost a lot (in some universities and halls, you could spend over £5,000 per year). Many people would struggle to afford this, alongside other disability-related expenses and general living/studying expenses.

A series of quality points, eloquently put :T

Whilst I am all for disabled students being able to experience the whole uni lifestyle, I would question if halls are the right place for this student. However accessible the halls are, this does not take into account the actions/ lack of thought/ respect of the other students.

Most disabled people need more rest than a healthy person, especially a healthy student. It would be very difficult to create a suitable living environment living in such close proximity to other young people.

The student in question is likely to qualify for the one bedroom rate for LHA. I would look into getting a self contained unit, which could provide separate space for the student and their carer.

I would also question whether a car is needed when living on campus. Adapated halls accom tends to be very central, and campuses tend to have very good transport links (with public transport being accessible to those in wheelchairs).

A fair point, however I am hopeful that the camerarderie of students means that he can play as full a part as possible in student life. The university is 30 miles from his home town, and that journey is not practical on an ongoing basis, plus would probably be more expensive than halls!

Thansk to all for constructive posts!:T