Possible student assistance please guys :)

diamonds

ok after 5 years of sickness IS/DLA & complete utter boredom i have decided to go to uni, now I am meant to go for my next DLA examination in October but will have started uni by then if all goes well, so it will not be applicable to myself by then

so what happens with disability? can I student support access funds with letters from my doctor or what?

what assistance is avail to a disabled student? my doctor acknowledges that my manual labour skills are very limited and finding work to substitute students loans is a near impossible with my physical limitations

im pretty much not able to walk far without pain, or my leg giving way

I really want to forward my life guys but finances are a major concern about studying, taxi's will have to be my transport to uni which really is going to be a major cost to my daily expenses i dont have now ( i rely on family & friends to fit me in round thier life & going full time study is going to blow that duck out the water ), i lost a wast amount of weight over the last year which i gained after my accident which has helped me physically with less pain - i spend the 3 years prior to the last year housebound 95% of the time in my flat on the 4th floor ( no lift ! )

any help/advice/experiences very gladly apprciated

Impet_Limpet

Have you decided which university you are interesting in going to? It may be helpful to get in touch ands ask directly what they do to to support disabled students.

Ytaya

First up, you can still get DLA while you're a student. It's not affected by income, employment status or any of that stuff.

Secondly, look into Disabled Students' Allowance. You can use it to pay for extra equipment you need to complete your studies, extra help you might need from people (eg someone to take notes for you) and other extra costs you incur directly as a result of studying (like taxi journeys). Your university will have a Disability Coordinator, usually somewhere in the student welfare department. Get in touch with them (if they're anything like the guy at my uni, they'll become your new best friend!) and discuss your requirements and options. They can help you apply for DSA, they can talk over your benefit options with you and they can make sure the university enforces its obligations to you under the disability discrimination legislation.

If you can't find/don't get on with the disability coordinator, go direct to your local authority for DSA. They'll arrange an assessment, sort out what you need and try to make sure you have it for the start of term. You can't look into this too early, it can take ages!

Finally, disabled students are one of the priority groups for Access to Learning Funds (the hardship fund). If you find you're really stuck, you can apply for that and, in some cases, use it to pay for extra costs that DSA can't cover.

Good luck!

Ytaya

Oh, yeah, my personal experience:

I had nasty repetitive strain injury from an old job. Typing and writing hurt like a b'stard and I often can't do stuff cos I lack strength and dexterity in my hands and wrists. I was really concerned about keeping up with note-taking at uni. I spoke with my local authority about DSA, and also to the disability coordinator at the uni (before I sent in my application). I was assessed and it was really helpful. I was given a computer for home use, complete with special keyboard and mouse and software so I could dictate essays rather than typing. I was given an allowance for photocopying costs so I don't have to carry heavy books around and I can also use it for paper and ink for my printer (that they gave me) at home. I was provided with a digital dictaphone to record my lectures, too. They also made some recommendations about the impacts my problems would have on my ability to complete my work and how to accommodate those.

The university itself were hit and miss. The administrator in my department was clueless and kept telling me they didn't have to do such and such - she didn't know any better. The disability coordinator kicked bottom on my behalf There are now ergonomic keyboards available in all the computer labs, lecturers were required to provide me with copies of notes before lectures (so I could annotate them during class) and I'm allowed extra time in exams and tests (25% extra, I believe this is standard). I've also been allowed extensions on coursework deadlines when my wrists are particularly bad - I don't even have to go get a doctor's note every time, it's all on file with them.

Make sure your school's admin department AND your academic advisor have a physical copy of your doctor's letter and DSA assessment outlining your requirements. In fact, give them a copy of any piece of paper they might find relevant!

The university is obliged to make 'reasonable adjustment' for you. Keep that in mind. So if you need small pieces of relatively inexpensive equipment, they have to provide it for you. Don't let them tell you DSA will pay for it - DSA is for your home stuff, not campus stuff!

Which uni are you going to, btw?

diamonds

thanks guys, going to Dundee Uni

I am on the ball its only Feb lol !

thankyou guys for the guidance