Disabled Student Allowence

[lil_miffy]

im shocked reading thru this forum that so many of you either dont know about disabled student allowance or havent applied for it.

it provides you with extra money that you dont pay back to buy euipment, support, help etc to help you with your disablitiy.

you can get computors, access software, chair,s desks, someone to help yo uin libray, take notes in lectures, carry things, etc etc etc

also if you have an official 'file' with disability services at uni (and also helps to have disabled students allowance to support this) this means they have to provide you with extra time for assigments or exams if you need it, an understanding that attendance my not be 100%, help with practical work etc etc.

there is no need to struggle at uni because there is so much help yout there for you. but you need to ask for it. you can ask foe these things at any point in your degree. if you get given someone to hlep you say carry things around then decide you dont want them you can stop it at any time and even ask for it again later on if you change your mind.

if you needs change say you strullgling with all the typing so speech recognition sfotware would help you can go back to the disabled students allowance and apply to pay for this.

you keep all the euipment such as computors, furniture etc etc once you complete your dergree(but you have to give it back if you drop out of uni)

no money comes to your hands, its all done with invoices between the supplier and you lea.

please please please dont struggle.

pleas ask any questions about any aspect of uni support as i worked for a year with student services as well as going thru a degree as disabled student so i have a good deal experience in this area.

pm me if you have to but please if you do one thing this week. just nip to student support and ask to see someone jst to see what support you could get.

[Es*]

I would like to second this; the application process for DSA is not too difficult (authough it can take time, you should apply as early as possible) and can provide all sorts of goodies to make your course accessible. It includes a budget for equiptment (e.g. ergonomic workspace including desks, chairs, computer, speech to text software etc etc), human assistance (notetakers, help in the library, for example), random extras (like extra photocopying) and travel (e.g. if you need to get taxi's). I am hoping to go to uni in September, and will put up what I will be receiving, when I get the confirmation.

[Eloise]

Because I am doing a course through open university while still trying to hold down a job, I only do either 30 or 40 credits a year and that is lower than the threshold for being able to claim DSA

Although saying that - the open university are still being good about arrangement that they can do for me on the residential school and exams etc.

[cnc03]

I'd have really struggled without my DSA. Just found out that when I start my MSc in September I get an even bigger allowance, so that means I can get helpers in for research if I chose to do that.
I apparently need to get the DSA assessor to suggest that I might be Dyslexic/ dyspraxic /autistic and then I'll be able to get an assessment through Access to Learning Fund, which would be useful.

Eloise are they providing things like the comb-bound books for you as well?

[Eloise]

What are combo-bound books?

They are making sure I have all the handouts etc at the residential school so I have minimal writing. (They did offer voice recording - but I can't work that way - just the way my brain is).

They will let me have breaks in exams to wander around and crack all the joints - have to start early, have the breaks with someone watching and the end time is the same as everyone esle.

On the residential school, it is all about helping me get round the walking and pacing myself. I will also be allowed a downstairs room by myself (not because I mind sharing - but because I don't want to disturb others with my pain and disturb sleep and cracking joints)

I have wrote about this on a seperate thread about OU residential courses.http://www.hypermobility.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=6272

[cnc03]

Comb-bound books are quite useful, they're basically the normal textbooks, but they've had the spine removed and replaced with a comb so that the books lie flat, they're just a bit easier to manipulate- also they tend to be lighter than the big course books as they can only put so many pages in a comb-bind.

I'm not eligible for DSA with the OU either, but thankfully I've got the equipment from when I was at uni previously.

To those of you who are eligible though, please do apply.

[Ames]

I wish I had applied for DSA earlier because I just found out i've been approved for a macbook pro, wireless keyboard and mouse, foot stall, photocopying and emergency taxi allowance and a £300 non core book allowance a year!!!!

I put off going to the assessment all year because I thought it would be some horrible interrogation 'well you don't LOOK disabled' But they were so understanding and appreciated that i'm not always bad, and that some days my paralysed foot, mushed up knee and depression DOES stop me from getting into uni, but not always.

I would definitely recommend to everybody to contact their uni about this. It doesn't have to be a huge disability, if it does, or even could affect the way you access your course in anyway, you're probably eligible for something. And having your name on the books means that if things do get worse, it's an easy step to ask for help (my uni provides mentoring and you can ask for extensions and things if you've declared you're disabled)

Amy x

[Leoni]

I never really thought about applying for the DSA. I guess I never thought that people would class HMS as an actual disability although it is an extremely hard condition to deal with. Reading all of your posts, I'm surprised that my GP or physio never suggested this.

I finished my first year at college in May, and I'm due to go back in September. I really struggled throughout the year especially during the winter months, and although I told people about my condition, I think I kept the majority to myself and often missed a lot of classes. I was very depressed and my coursework really got on top of me, and I'm worried about going through all of that again.

Does the DSA really help with all of these issues or is it basically like a bursary?

Would be grateful for any comments.

Leoni x

[EmilyG]

DSA isn't usually a bursary in cash form, but rather items that would help you to study. For example, I got a proper desk chair to help my posture when writing etc, a book holder, dictaphone so I don't have to take notes and loads of other bits and pieces like that. My DSA report also recommended that I get the use of a computer during exams, extra exam time and other such practical considerations. I think having DSA also helps the uni to understand that you have a diagnosed medical condition that affects how you work, so they are more considerate in terms of coursework deadlines and everything else. It certainly helped me in terms of both physical aids and extensions/extenuating circumstances for coursework and exams.

Emily x

[shen]

I'm about to apply for DSA, i start in september, and have procrastinated greatly with my application, i still have issues with accepting help, becuase i always feel that there are people who deserve it more, but my degree consists of 5 lectures and 3 seminars a week, plus a language course as part of my degree. I really couldnt write that much, even writing abot a basic recipe for example hurts my hands alot. How long does it usually take to get sorted? And what info should i include in the application? My GP wrote a very brief letter, but didnt include much detail, just that i have problems with sitting and standing and with my hands. Should i print off some infos about HMS and include it?

Also can you still apply for the mantinence grant?

[mindsquatter]

DSA doesn't affect anything else you apply for - it is provided as an extra to the loan/tuition fees loan/ maintentance grant. I would include as much information as you can - could a rheumatologist write you a supporting letter? They tend to have a better idea of what you will struggle with. Also, get in touch with the Disability services at your university - they can offer support in filling in the application.
How long it takes can depend on where you are and how many other applicants there are. If you don't get it sorted before the start of the semester, again, talk to the disability support people, who should be able to loan equipment, and mine even allowed me a notetaker before the funding had been approved (I already had DSA and was just applying for additional help when I changed courses though).
I know how daunting it can be to agree to being helped, but I know I wouldn't have been able to do as well as I did in my degree without the DSA - I had the capacity to achieve it mentally, but not physically. I just saw it as making sure my body and my brain were on a par.

Michelle

[shen]

we asked Prof Bird for a letter but he just gave us the correspondence between him and my GP from my first appointment with him, and it isnt at all useful, it just says what i dont have rather than what i do have...My GP is a rheumatologist by nature, he used to work with leeds united as their doctor for sports injuries and has a good understanding of these things. He's the one who got me reffered to Prof Bird after recognizing my problems.

good to know it doesnt affect the other help you can apply for

[Es*]

For my DSA application I just provided proof of diagnoses, no further details. You then get sent to an assessment where you can discuss in detail all the problems you have, and solutions are suggested. Sometimes you get to try out equipment at this assessment. The assessor writes a report back to the LEA recommending what you should have. It doesn't effect any grants/loans in any way.

Have your read the booklet explaining all about DSA and how the money is split up (i.e. non medical helper section, equiptment section, travel section etc)?

I've just had confirmation of what I will be getting from DSA, and it's going to be the difference between me finishing the course and not, I think.

[shen]

I got a letter the other day saying that they have provisionally approved my application for DSA and that i have permission to arrange a needs assessment at the university. I'm hoping to be able to get a laptop to work with since the one i have is almost 4kg and impossible for me to carry. is there an upper limit of how much they will pay for a laptop? i was considering buying my own sometime ago and searched some infos there are some very good light ones for around £1000. dont want to seem like im out for what i can get of course, but i thought it wise to do some reasearch before hand to incase i can apply for a computer and find one that suits me and my needs...

[Es*]

Shen - usually you can get things which you can argue for your needs - either impairment related or course related E.g. I know people who were allowed to get a mac, because they were doing photography courses where macs are the industry standard and other people who got very lightweight machines because they couldn't carry heavy stuff. One thing to think of with lightweight laptops is that you get a lot less for your money than in desktops, and they are a much much less ergonomic (and therefore might stress your body more) alternative. Also, if you are recommended some software (particularly voice recognition software like dragon naturally speaking) then it will need a powerful machine to run comfortably on. The other option, is that sometimes LEA's will allow you to 'upgrade' at your own cost. Often you are stuck with certain suppliers though. PM me if you want the web address of the small supplier my LEA used - you can see the sorts of things on offer from them. Another option, often used by DSA (but dont know if suitable for you, as I dont know what you want to use your laptop for) is to get a desktop which is more powerful and ergonomic and then run a PDA or ASUS EEE or similar as well as. This is what I took to doing. In fact, I have a desktop and the PDA which was recommended I have upgraded at my own cost to something which acts as a phone, as well ... its brilliant, arrived yesterday. Anyway, good luck.