Disabled Student Allowence

[sheppeyescapee]

Have asked, but they are really backed up so it might take a while It was agreed that it did need to be done though as so much has changed since the last one and my current equipment isn't really suitable anymore.

[sheppeyescapee]

Well I just need to take in medical evidence to the assessment centre then they will ask the LEA for a top up assessment. I have a laptop that I got 2 years ago on DSA, but it is far too heavy, it weighs 3kg/6.6lbs, I've found that a macbook air is about half that but doesn't compromise on the performance, do you think that is reasonable to ask for?

[shen]

Hi sheppey,

A macbook air is perfectly reasonable to ask for. I spoke with my DSA advisor and we agreed that i couldn't carry a normal laptop and the result... well i'm typing this from my nice shiny macbook air.

[sheppeyescapee]

Hi sheppey,

A macbook air is perfectly reasonable to ask for. I spoke with my DSA advisor and we agreed that i couldn't carry a normal laptop and the result... well i'm typing this from my nice shiny macbook air.

It's good to know that, thanks.

[Sarah-Mary]

Just a note that I find macbooks (don't know about the air though) very difficult to type on as the keys are smaller, I managed to scrounge a lightweight keyboard made of bendy plastic stuff (seriously, it can be bent in half) which is full size and works great as it can be stuffed in the rucksack.

[shen]

Interesting Sarah. I've always found mac and laptop keyboards easier to type in general because the keys are not as deep and my fingers can run over them smoother than on a normal keyboard where the keys are 1cm high so i have to move my arms less and exert less pressure when i am typing to make the key work. But i've been using a laptop as my main computer for 5 years now guess i just got used to it (i hate normal keyboards now, feels unnatural!)

[sheppeyescapee]

I rather prefer laptop keyboards for the same reasons Having been using laptops for the last 7 years I'm quite used to it now.

[Sarah-Mary]

Sorry, should maybe have explained myself better. I prefer my laptop keyboard to a normal keyboard as they keys are so much shallower and lighter touch, this keyboard I'm talking about is very similar to a laptop one. The problem I have with macbook keyboards is that they're not full-size - they get to about 80% of the size of a normal keyboard at most. It's using this small keyboard that I find difficult as I have long fingers and there never seems to be enough space.

[shen]

I think the mac air keyboard is about the same as a full size one, i have very long fingers too, i can touch the caps lock key and this : key with my thumb and little finger. I can do the same on a normal keyboard too. So i think its about the same size.

[Sarah-Mary]

Funky biscuits. My flatmate has a mackbook (well, I assumed it was a macbook, it's a little white thing) and her keyboard is the smaller one. Good to know they've made one with a better size of keyboard.

[sheppeyescapee]

d**n Just got a letter from the LEA saying the information on the medical certificate I got from my GP wasn't enough and she won't consider a top up assessment until I get a more detailed report I'm not sure who to get a more detailed report from because I'm pretty much at the beginning of my journey to get a dx, and I don't think my dr knows enough about how this all effects my studies

[barkingmad]

The HMSA can provide information based on a general students needs, if thats any help otherwise you need the diagnsosis from someone.

[sheppeyescapee]

The HMSA can provide information based on a general students needs, if thats any help otherwise you need the diagnsosis from someone.

In the letter it says "I have received a copy of a medical certificate on your behalf from the Assessment centre administrator requesting a top up assessment as you are experiencing further problems. However before I can give consideration to this request, you will be required to provide further medical evidence as the medical certificate does not state what effect the problem you are experiencing at the moment has on your ability to attend your course or if the problem will be temporary or long term. Can you please arrange for this information to be sent to me"

I took that as not a question of diagnosis necessarily but needing more information about how it effects me and wether it is short or a long term problem? Is that a fair reading of that you think?

[barkingmad]

Possibly, I will PM you!

[Sarah-Mary]

Sounds like they accept the diagnosis but don't understand what HMS is/how it affects you. I had the same problem, luckily they gave me an assesment anyway, which I took my own info to. Turns out the lady who assesed me had done her homework and came with loads of printed info on HMS. My original letter from the doctor stated that I have HMS which is a permenant condition and that it affected my attendance and gave pain in my joints, especially the wrists and fingers "causing extreme pain upon use over a prolonged period". May be something like that they're looking for.