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The Disabled Students Allowance

The Disabled Students Allowance is a Government grant for UK students enrolled on full-time higher education courses. But the exact rules governing just what the scheme grants are quite detailed. We cover the finer points of what the DSA means for you the student or you the assessor.

It is available for UK students with disabilities (including dyslexia) who are undertaking full time courses in Higher Education. Part-time students, studying on a designated part-time higher education course are also eligible for DSAs, as are post graduate students. Nursing and Midwifery Diploma students are also eligible - there is specific information for Healthcare students. Open University students also have their own scheme. The award is intended to cover any extra costs or expenses a student may have to meet whilst studying, that arise because of a disability. DSAs do not depend on your or your parents' income and there is no upper age limit.

The rates of allowances for 2006/2007 (2005/2006 is in brackets) are as follows:

Specialist equipment allowance

up to £4,795 (£4,680) for the whole of your course - the same for part-time students.

For dyslexic students this can mean computer, scanner, general purpose and specialist software, dictating machine, electronic dictionary, ReadingPen, pocket organiser, coloured overlays etc, insurance and course-long support for the equipment, according to your individual needs.
Non-medical helper's allowance

up to £12,135 (£11,840) per year of your course - up to £9,105 (£8,885) for part-time students.

For dyslexic students this can mean training to use your specialist equipment (although this is sometimes included in the equipment allowance); extra help to deal with study skills, reading skills, work organisation, grammar, spelling and maths problems; but not extra tuition for your course.
General disabled student's allowance

up to £1,605 (£1,565) for each academic year - up to £1,200 (£1,170) for part-time students.

For dyslexic students this can mean extra photocopying, recording tapes (for lectures), coloured paper or even extra books if your dyslexia means that you cannot read books in the library in the normal way. As with the non-medical helpers allowance, part-time students are eligible for an allowance the equivalent percentage to their course.

These rates are the maximum you can get. They are meant to cover people with a high level of need, so most dyslexic students will get quite a lot less than the maximum. You will only get enough money from the DSA to cover the cost of the equipment or support that the LA agrees that you need.

We are happy to quote for and supply any of the equipment and supplies we have mentioned, including the computer system and training on the system, as a "one-stop shop". This has the advantage that you are dealing with one supplier who is responsible for making sure that the different items all work together. We also specialise in understanding the specific needs of dyslexic people.

We have taken an active role in setting up a Service Level Agreement (SLA) for DSA Suppliers, so that you know what to expect from those of us who offer specialist services to meet the needs of students with DSAs. We aim to offer an even better standard than that set by the SLA. Here is why you might like to insist on getting your computer from us at iANSYST. Legally the grant is yours so you have the right to influence and even choose who you buy services and equipment from. In practice, if you are happy, it is easiest to let the funder (usually the LA) pay the bills directly.

If you think you might qualify

You should first have a look at the Aimhigher web page for disabled students or the DfES Student Support web page. The Bridging the Gap leaflet is downloadable as a PDF or a Word document from the DfES page (you will need to scroll down to the table of Main Guides for the link). This leaflet gives full details of the eligibility criteria and how to apply. The Disability Officer at your University or College will also be able to help you through the process. They may go under a lot of different titles (Special Needs Advisor, Student Services, Welfare Officer, Learning Support etc). You could do everything directly yourself, using the sources of information below, but the disability officer should make it much easier for you.

Assessment Centres

You need to show your LA recent evidence of your disability or dyslexia (typically an Educational Psychologist's report or update). You will then normally go to an Assessment Centre or Access Centre who will assess your needs for equipment, software and support, taking into account the needs of your specific course. There is a new quality scheme for DSA assessment centres and assessors and an interim list of centres (near the bottom of the page) that have registered and which you can use. It is worth shopping around from this list for an assessment centre for three reasons:

to find one which is convenient for you -- whether at home or at University;
to ask how long you will have to wait for an appointment (at peak times this can be quite a few weeks);
to check that that they are one of the many centres that recommend us (if you would like to get your equipment from us). Even if they don't, you do have the right to choose where you spend the grant that you are allowed, within reason, but it is easier if the assessment centre and LA already use us.

More information

Many Universities and Colleges have their own web information about DSAs and about how they support disabled students including those with dyslexia. Some with particularly good information include:

The Open University, which has many disabled students and is particularly disability conscious.
Bradford University's Disability Office offers a good deal of support and information, including a web page specifically on dyslexia.
For Scots, Dundee Access Centre have a good general information page on the DSA in Scotland.

Other sources:

Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities has good information on the DSA, and is a useful organisation to be in touch with.
The British Dyslexia Association (which you might like to join as a supporter) have a web page Help for Higher Eduation Students.

Healthcare

For the first four years, support for students on undergraduate medical and dental courses is on the same basis as for other higher education students. Otherwise different arrangements apply although they can result in similar grants: See Financial Help for Health Care Students.

Part-Time Students

To apply for a DSA as a part-time student, your university should have copies of the DfES's form and Guide; so the best strategy is normally, as mentioned above, to get in touch with your Disability Officer. Otherwise get the form and Guide from the DfES's free phone number 0800 731 9133 or their web site. Your institution has to certify the form, confirming your attendance, etc. You then send the form to your LA with supporting evidence about your disability/dyslexia as outlined in the information pack.

Open University

For OU students part time means taking undergraduate-level courses that amount to at least 60 credit points in any one year. The OU has its own DSA administration system, and nice, clear information about it.

Post Graduates

Since the DfES have no direct statutory duty to post-grads (whose support normally comes via other sources) they make an allocation of a single award (as opposed to the three at undergrad level) of up to £5,780 (£5,640) per annum. All needs have to be met from within this maximum.

Applicants fill in a form, part of which is normally completed by the university. They have to establish their residency qualifications and eligibility in the same way as undergrads. The university is asked to confirm course details.

Your university Disability Officer should know about the forms, but if they don't you can obtain them from the DfES web site.

Other courses

Students on some courses outside Higher Education may also be eligible for a DSA.

Students in receipt of FE National Dance and Drama (DADA) Awards are eligible to apply for DSA. Manchester LA administers the scheme for all students in England and Wales and the rules are the same as those for HE students. If anyone wants more info about the Dance and Drama Award scheme they should contact the DfES Publications Centre on 0845 602 2260 quoting reference D6 for a pack.

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