Disabled Students Allownace + Access to Learning

mikescott86

candyflossing wrote: »

I don't think people were attacking you. They were attacking the DSA system.

I'm not trying to "look like the victim" ... that's a tad hypocritical, from someone who tells people on a public forum "I've got myself through several suicide attempts" in response to a message merely telling you you should buy your own laptop.

No, it was in response to being told to "get some backbone". Have you even read this thread?

System

This is pointless, for you see, it appears you are only reading/responding to what you want to see, and ignoring the rest.

I'm not going to enter into further debate. I wish you luck in your application.

bestpud

OP - I can understand you not wanting to work in the library as I've been in similar situation myself, but when my home internet access was not working. I was having panic attacks and/or simply bursting into tears when trying to write assignments and found it acutely embarrassing using the library! It is very difficult not to feel everyone is looking at you and I remember getting pretty paranoid about it all at the time.

That said, you do come across as unwilling to help yourself and wanting everything given to you on a plate. I guess that's the internet for you though - we can only see what is typed and none of the 'stuff' behind it.

At the end of the day though, you will be assessed and a fair decision made, and I wish you luck with getting what you need to complete the course.

On a different note though - how is a certificate (first or not) going to get you a job when everything you say you've been rejected for is still going to be there? Plus, you will be at a disadvantage, possibly, for not having done an work experience while at uni.

I wonder if you would benefit form visiting the careers advisor at you uni and asking for advice on applications and perhaps help with making you difficulties seem less negative? It's all about how you word it so it may help you with future job searches?

[Deleted User]

I have a laptop funded by my local education authority and did not expect one to be bought for me. I need one to run the software which assists my studies. Without it, the software and the extra tutor help I get I would be lost. I know as a dyslexic my needs are very different to someone with depression but I'm just saying how come I got to have one.
I was diagnosed as dyslexic at aged 7, except it wasn't until university that anyone acctually bothered to help me with the things I find difficult in anyway. I remember teachers at my primary school would name and shame me repeatedly for my poor spelling and handwriting. I repeatedly got called thick infront of the whole class and was constantly made fun of by the staff for things I can't help. They knew I was not thick but refused to aknowledge my dyslexia
I was written off as dumb and not worth the effort whilst I was still a child! So dumb I ended up with A's and B's at GCSE and at A levels and am now at university with the aim to do a masters degree after.
It did, however, take putting in alot of extra time, blood, sweat and tears to get this far but it will be worth it in the end.
Clinical depression can be debilitating illness, a friend of mine has sever clinical depression and gets funding paid directly to the university for study skills workshops to help her concentration and time managment which she struggles with. She also got reffered to the university councellor and gets extra preperation time for presentations because she suffers from panic attacks really badly. She didn't get any equipment, but she already had all she needed anyway but the funding helped her get the support she needs.

Christa1

I wonder if someone can help me- my daughter wants to do a degree in Art and Design. At the moment she has been successful in being offered a place at one establishment but still has more interviews to go, however she has Muscular Dystrophy, so has had to note this on her applications to UCAS. Where she has got the offer the student services have alredady been in touch with her to tell her should she take their offer, to complete the PE1 for disabled studentson her student finance forms? I don't know what this means or if in fact if she would get any help. Her illness is progressive and affects her arms and legs.

MrsManda

hi Christa1,
one of the questions on the student finance form asks whether you want to apply for Disabled Student's Allowance. If you tick yes, your LEA will send the appropriate forms for you to fill in.
When I did mine in 2003 the LEA then arranged for me to have an assessment (more of a discussion with an assessor). During the assessment we discussed what support the university could offer me. Yes, they offer equipment such as laptops but also, and more importantly, they set up further support with your university, for example having a way to record your lectures if you're not able to take notes, having someone take notes for you, extra time in lessons etc...
Your daughter will get help but what kind of help will depend on her application and discussion with the assessor.

princesslizzie

mikescott86 wrote: »

Hey everyone!

I have a few questions about these that I hope some of you can answer

I applied for ALF last academic year and didn't get anything, but did get £1500 from the summer fund because my depression made it impossible for me to get work - I applied to loads of placed but they all wrote back and said 'no'. Even ASDA!

I handed in another application last week, and had somebody check through my form. The lady who I was speaking to said that since I was in my second year, I'd probably not get any again!! Is that right?

As for DSA:

* How long does the whole process tend to take from submitting your application, to your assessment, to getting the things they recommended?

* I've heard a lot of conflicting stories about laptops: some people say they supply you the laptop directly, others say they give you money to get one for yourself. I've heard of people getting between £2000 and £5000 for equipment and it being paid directly to them. Which is the case? I do computing and 90% of the staff and students in my department use Apple Macs, so I was hoping they would supply me with one of them. My 5 year-old PC died a few weeks ago, so I could really do with a laptop. I have anxiety which means I get phonic ticks (I make a squeaking sound in my throat) which makes it embarrassing to go into the computer labs - that is, if I even have the mental energy to get myself out of the house. Everybody looks at me as if to say, "seriously, !!!!!!???".

One of my friends who is dyslexic had a laptop supplied directly to her. It was cheap, flimsy, and very heavy. It's not the sort of thing I would want in my backpack when I cycle to uni everyday. Is there any way I can get them to pay me directly? I'd like to buy a high quality, well-specified machine. Also, if there are any pennies left over then I can be cheeky and use them to get food
Cheers :beer:

I think it depends on the uni. Mine has an access centre so was offered an appt rather quickly but couldn't do it as wasn't at uni yet and had to wait until I moved down. I got a great laptop from Microlink, a small HiGrade one. I've had a few problems so Microlink picked it up and it had to be claimed for through the insurance which wasn't that much of a problem. Good luck with the DSA!

ElleBelle_3

mikescott86 wrote: »

As for DSA:

* How long does the whole process tend to take from submitting your application, to your assessment, to getting the things they recommended?

* I've heard a lot of conflicting stories about laptops: some people say they supply you the laptop directly, others say they give you money to get one for yourself. I've heard of people getting between £2000 and £5000 for equipment and it being paid directly to them. Which is the case? I do computing and 90% of the staff and students in my department use Apple Macs, so I was hoping they would supply me with one of them. My 5 year-old PC died a few weeks ago, so I could really do with a laptop. I have anxiety which means I get phonic ticks (I make a squeaking sound in my throat) which makes it embarrassing to go into the computer labs - that is, if I even have the mental energy to get myself out of the house. Everybody looks at me as if to say, "seriously, !!!!!!???".

One of my friends who is dyslexic had a laptop supplied directly to her. It was cheap, flimsy, and very heavy. It's not the sort of thing I would want in my backpack when I cycle to uni everyday. Is there any way I can get them to pay me directly? I'd like to buy a high quality, well-specified machine. Also, if there are any pennies left over then I can be cheeky and use them to get food
Cheers :beer:

I got my equipment quite quickly. However, in my Access centre there was a lot of talk of how impossible it was to get a laptop and there were even signs from the LEA saying that they would not be provided unless absolutely essential or if the student is on a year abroad. I need a laptop personally to take notes at all in lectures but even for me it seems that the main reason I got it was because of my year abroad, without that as my chosen course I think I would've had to fight more and I know I could not take notes at all without one.

So, good luck, but be prepared that they might try to offer you a desktop instead, just make sure you explain your needs at the assessment.

Elle x

lovelyjay

I would like to say that the level of human kindness in this thread made me feel sick.

Who the hell is CandyFlossing to speak so harshly to that person?

Those comments should be removed asap because they are unhelpful and unkind.

Anyone else who needs DSA good luck in your applications.

Pandora_2

Hi, I am in a similar situation to the OP as I suffer from clinical depression, anxiety, agoraphobia, OCD and various other mental health problems (yes I'm completely loopy!!) and have recently applied for DSA. I had my assessment last week which took about 2 hours, but was really just a long chat with the assessor who was very nice and understanding.
Basically, they go through your education and work history, details of your disability, how it affects day to day life, how it affects your study and what your course entails. They then go through point by point exactly what they are going to recommend to the LEA that you get and the reasons for offering it to you. This is not a guarantee that you will get everything offered as the final decision comes down to the LEA but my assessor said that I would probably get everything he recommended as there was nothing unusual. He said it takes approx 2 weeks to hear back from the LEA about what you will be getting, but can then take a few months to actually get stuff :rolleyes:
I was offered a LOT more than I was expecting, but the assessor justified everything he was offering and all of it would in fact help me. Fingers crossed I get it all!!
If it would help anyone, I can list everything I have been offered with the explanations of how it would help me. It is done on an individual basis though so no guarantees you would be offered the same things!! A point to note though, is that it is NOT just 'stuff' thats offered, you get offered a lot of ongoing support as well as they do know that just giving you 'stuff' although helpful, is not going to solve all the problems you may come across as a disabled student.
Hope that helps a bit. Pandora xx