Disabled Student's Allowance -- worth applying for mental health?

The_One_Who

Amethyst_ice wrote: »

Although i had a laptop it was 7 years old, could not open many of the documents from uni and was very slow. I got a new one with everything updated which means i can submit everything in the correct format and open files. I had someone come show me how to use it- because it was very new to me so this was helpful.

I got several things like a all in one printer. I also got ink allowence. Most students can easily walk to uni and print things off but when you cannot get out of bed most days or the house the allowences for photocopying and printing are invaluable.

Yes most students have to pay for these but most disabled students will have to print or photocopy lots more due to missed lectures or not being able to sit in the library for hours reading a library only book.

The loan that students get is very low and mine doesnt cover my living..i have to skip lunches quite often and watch my spending to make it last.

Also, i am only in lectures 5 hours a week yet pay the same as those in 40 hours. I see no problem in claiming back some of what i have paid by getting some equipment and help.

Whilst I sympathise with your condition, you have seriously shot yourself in the foot with the comments I quoted above.

Yes, most students do need to pay for their own computers and printers. I cannot see why a disabled student can get their own whilst another does not. Not everyone lives close enough to their university to be able to regularly use the library, and not everyone can read pages and pages on-screen either. These people need to buy their own laptop. I have absolutely no problem with providing things like software that is required, or anything like that though.

The loan that most students get doesn't cover the costs of their living either. It is a fact that the vast majority of students need a part time job just to be able to make ends meet, and that is without living a lavish or luxurious lifestyle.

You are paying the same amount as any other student (which is at a highly subsidised rate anyway), no matter what their contact hours. History and other arts and humanities courses all have very low contact hours, whereas science and engineering students do get a lot more.

I would say that the problem is with the system rather than the people. I have no issue with students wanting to be on a level playing field, it is only when it goes beyond that so that the non-disabled are being disadvantaged that I get annoyed. Examples being new computers, longer library issues, book allowances, etc etc

ThinkingOfLinking

The One Who, it seems a bit to me like sour grapes with some of what you've said. I'm disabled including severe dyslexia, dyspraxia and discalcula which I had to pay £300 to have assessed. I've applied for disabled students' allowance. I don't know what I'll be entitled to so can't comment on that just that given I can handwrite 6 words a minute but type almost 90, and due to a previous brain injury I have trouble with memory, I'd be so grateful for a dictaphone. It wouldn't be putting me in any advantageous position over other students, merely putting me on a level playing field with everyone else. I find a lot of everyday things a challenge, things most people take for granted.

The_One_Who

Flickering_Ember wrote: »

The One Who, it seems a bit to me like sour grapes with some of what you've said. I'm disabled including severe dyslexia, dyspraxia and discalcula which I had to pay £300 to have assessed. I've applied for disabled students' allowance. I don't know what I'll be entitled to so can't comment on that just that given I can handwrite 6 words a minute but type almost 90, and due to a previous brain injury I have trouble with memory, I'd be so grateful for a dictaphone. It wouldn't be putting me in any advantageous position over other students, merely putting me on a level playing field with everyone else. I find a lot of everyday things a challenge, things most people take for granted.

I have no problem with putting people on a level playing field, none at all. I do have a problem when some students are advantaged over others. Let's be honest, pretty much every student nowadays has their own desktop or laptop computer. We all need one, disabled or not. Yes, universities do have plenty, but for me at least, I would need to leave on one of the first trains of the morning just to get up in time to get a computer during exam times. I only live an hour or so away as well.

My problems arise mainly when some students are being given help beyond what others are getting. I needed to buy my laptop out of the same (inadequate) loan than every other student is getting. I get the same amount of time with a book as anyone else, and if I want to buy a book that I know I'll use a lot that will come out of my loan as well. What makes a disabled person any different from me?

Also, I'm sorry, but if you know that you will not be able to get into lectures or such like then perhaps a distance learning course would be far more suited.

Amethyst_ice

The_One_Who wrote: »

Also, I'm sorry, but if you know that you will not be able to get into lectures or such like then perhaps a distance learning course would be far more suited.

Its people like you, who say things like that, that severely put many people , like myself , off having the guts to try lead a normal life.

I come from a very small rural village and moving to the city and all the uni aspects was a huge independance to me.

By effectivly saying , if your disabled you should stay at home and learn is giving 'healthy' people an advantage over those who are not.

Not all courses can be done by distance learning. For instance, i do archaeology and lots of my time is spent with real artefacts..i could not do this at home.

Being amongst other people your age with the same interests is of a great advantage also.

yknow one of my tutors recently said one of the same type of things to me that you just said and is up against a disability tribunal for making such comments to students, denting their self confidence and doubting their abiloty to tet a degree with a disablity.

NO STUDENT SHOULD BE MADE TO FEEL UNWELCOME AT UNIVERSITY

on the other fronts...when you are incapacitated then the extra help of extended loans and extra print credits DO make the difference. I was on the verge of dropping out at christmas.my tutors gave me an extension, i used the time between my stays in hospital and just got a first...my health is out of my control so when i am having a hard time why couldnt i have help?

Mitigations are open to all students not just disabled ones.

If i have a book out, and it is requested i still have to give it back like any other student. You'll find most students renew books loads so having extended loans works out the same.

In regards to laptops i think if you ask many their parents have bought them for them. I would love a part time job but as every day is different for me i have found it hard to find an employer who is ok being rung up on the day saying i cant come in.

just think before you say things and learn about what it is like trying to get through uni AND live with an incurable, life changing disease.

Getting the courage to come back to university was and is hard to cope with every day but so far i have gotten 3 1st and a 2.1..i would not have managed to show my potential were it not for my disabled student support agreement, extended loans, a laptop to be able to work from my bed, taxi allowences to take me to my lectures when i cannot walk, extended deadlines when i applied and caring, understanding staff that want me to achive the best i can.

The_One_Who

Amethyst_ice wrote: »

By effectivly saying , if your disabled you should stay at home and learn is giving 'healthy' people an advantage over those who are not.

Not all courses can be done by distance learning. For instance, i do archaeology and lots of my time is spent with real artefacts..i could not do this at home.

In regards to laptops i think if you ask many their parents have bought them for them. I would love a part time job but as every day is different for me i have found it hard to find an employer who is ok being rung up on the day saying i cant come in.

No, I never said that a disabled student should stay at home. I'm saying that if you know that you will not be able to get in to lectures or whatever then perhaps looking at other courses or other suppliers or distance or part-time learning would be more suited. I know not all courses can be done by distance-learning, but maybe part-time would be better.

I know of no one who had their computer bought for them by their parents. I know that my parents simply wouldn't be able to afford it. I get the full loans and bursaries that are available, it's still not enough for me to be able to move out and I don't go to university in a particularly expensive city. That's life. If I want to move out (and I do, it's not doing my health any good to be here) then I would need to work every night and all day during the weekends. That is not possible with my job, and even if it was then when would I study. Life isn't fair, I learned that a long time ago. You've got to make the most of what you have.

I think there is a fine line between being on a level playing-field and going beyond that. I am not blaming the people who receive the stuff, but the system that gives it.

Amethyst_ice

The_One_Who wrote: »

You've got to make the most of what you have.

Exactly so if im 'entitled' to help then Im taking it! To get into where i want to i need a Ba Hons and a museum post grad.

I cannot do that on a home learning course and it is not offered part time. Even so, the price of part time would mean i would not be able to live near the uni and thus would not be able to do the course even if it was offered. Plus part time - 5 hours contact in full time, what would part time be!!!!

I am battling through this and it is people saying i am 'not up to' doing it the normal way like everyone else that make me super determined i can.

If i was part time or distance id need the help with a computor and equipment even more! Have you thought about that?

Perhaps it depends which lea you are in but mine are very tight with money. Without their funding (which took me 8 months to get approved for this poroject) i would not have been able to go on a study tour which is part of my course. I had such a wonderful time and learnt so much on it it has bettered my learning..again part time, home distance or not having extra help would not have allowed this.

There is help for students without disabilities. Remember, i did my first year without anything as i had not been diagnosed.

My uni have a bursery for low income families and a scholarship scheme. I managed to get great grades in college and scored a scholarship. I can hear you tutting already but that extra money enables me to not worry about having the money over summer...i may have to have operations which would stop me working so it is good to know my hard work- not my disablity- is being rewarded. I would not qualify for job seekers or incapacity ebcause i would be undr the number of days needed to be out of work.

Just so you have an idea- my first year i got a 1st, my second where i left half way i got a 3rd..now i have returned with all my help i am back up to that 1st..so i fail to see how this extra help isnt of a benefit!

Have you heard of the access to learning fund? That is around to help students in finacial difficulty. There are also schemes run my uni to help students gain independance by giving them reduced halls cost so if ou are determined enough to get what you want and need it is out there.

Just dont sit and moan at the people or the system or whatever who are taking everything they can to get where they want to be- it is hard for the best of people but try having a week with a disability and see how your views may change

The_One_Who

Well, technically I do have a disabilty, but there isn't anything that they could offer me that would help. My university does not offer reduced halls costs and I don't qualify for them anyway as I live just within the boundary. After first year I'd be in the private sector and maintenance loans etc certainly don't cover those costs. Small hardship loans wouldn't bridge that gap either.

This is not sour grapes, this is just me saying my opinion. I have no problems with anyone doing a degree if they have the academic ability and if they can fulfill the requirements of the course.

Indie_Kid

The_One_Who wrote: »

Whilst I sympathise with your condition, you have seriously shot yourself in the foot with the comments I quoted above.

Yes, most students do need to pay for their own computers and printers. I cannot see why a disabled student can get their own whilst another does not.

I need specialist software on my laptop - hence, the laptop. Yes I do have a computer; but this is 3 years old, very slow and won't run most of the software required.

I get my own printer because, I am more awake (annoyingly) at 2am than I am at 12pm. There are no libraries open at 2am for me to print my work. I also required coloured paper - I would have to pay the same amount of money for printing as someone who uses white paper - yet, I would need to supply my own paper.

Another reason I get my own printer is because it works out cheaper. I need lecture notes and other stuff in large print. Yes, I can read standard size print; but only sometimes and it's a lot more tiring physically.

bitsandpieces

The_One_Who wrote: »

I have no problem with putting people on a level playing field, none at all. I do have a problem when some students are advantaged over others. Let's be honest, pretty much every student nowadays has their own desktop or laptop computer. We all need one, disabled or not. Yes, universities do have plenty, but for me at least, I would need to leave on one of the first trains of the morning just to get up in time to get a computer during exam times. I only live an hour or so away as well.

It's certainly not the case that every student needs a laptop computer - many don't have them, and many graduate with excellent degrees. If all students had a laptop, universities could save a fortune on computer suites etc! Some disabled students do need a laptop so that they can take it to their lectures, run specialist software, etc. It's quite reasonable that public funding is used to give a laptop to those who need it due to disability and not to those who don't.

If universities provide inadequate computer facilities (I've never heard of one as oversubscribed as you describe) that's something that should be taken up with the university. Poor IT facilities for the student body as a whole isn't a reason why less government money should be used for provisions for disabled students - would you also view it as a reason not to bother with ramps, lifts etc?

Indie_Kid

Many disabled students are granted a desktop; but pay extra for the upgrade.