Disabled Student Allowence

[sheppeyescapee]

You should be able to get your support reviewed. My condition has got a lot worse since I started uni (back in 2007 ). I had a new assessment done as things had changed so much, I now have a lightweight laptop that is about half the weight of my old one

[Athran]

All very useful, especially as I will be starting uni this Sept (joint psychology and sociology at Ipswich). Thanks for the info.

[shen]

So i've finished my degree and DSA was amazingly helpful in getting there, the laptop, chair, book allowance etc were a godsend. I'm just about the start a postgrad Masters degree and i'm wondering if the DSA I got carries on or if I have to apply again this year. I'm not getting any funding from Uni for the course or anything so I fear I may struggle without the book allowance and stuff. Does the claim start again, or they take into account the help you have had previously. I.E. for the books, it would be really useful if I could afford an Ebook reader, it would cut my books that i would need to carry by half for sure. I'm unsure if to apply again or if they will automatically carry it over from last year

[FunkyPhysicist]

I think you will have to apply again... if your new course is eligible. This website has some information about eligibility, eg. if you are getting research council funding you can't apply.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/EducationAndTraining/HigherEducation/DG_10034898

[trekster]

Evening bendies

I've recently been diagnosed with HMS. When i applied for DSA a few weeks ago i could only put in
"suspected HMS which causes problems with fatigue and requires I have use of a consistent support worker
during the 2 residential study weekends".

They have sent me a letter saying that 'my circumstances haven't changed'! im upset because the least they
could do is check the PC equipment is suitable for my needs.

Can DSA pay for a very supportive orthopaedic chair? My lower back only has 20 deg flexion and im having physio
on it and my shoulders at the moment.

I'm also wondering if I would qualify for a lightweight laptop for the study weekends (also helpful at mentoring meetings)?
I ask this because the university wont provide me with a support worker (for that part of the course) that would partially
enable me to attend. i am asleep in every lesson and we only have 2 study weekends per year.

thanks for your help

Alexis

[Jayneth]

Hi trekster..

I got a version of this chair from DSA when I started my course, and they also refunded the money I'd paid for a netbook for portable study.. they also gave me the Dragon Naturally Speaking and MS OneNote softwares, which have been lifesavers! They did offer me a buddy to carry my books, which I didn't take them up on at the time, but am now considering for next yr.

Best of luck xx

[trekster]

mod edit - quote of previous post removed as not needed

So pleased they gave you some help. Thanks for the link to the chair and mentioning the netbook, gives me some hope. At the moment im hurting my shoulders trying to carry my laptop around with me. Love the buddy idea and i hope i get it but was told by SFE today that 'issues surrounding the residential study weekends have to be taken up with the university'.

Was told today that my old name birth certificate cant be changed to my new name? Also that i can send it in without breaking the law with my deed poll to prove my identity.

[Lauren]

After a few sessions with my physiotherapist, I am seriously considering DSA. Before that I thought it didn't matter so much as I could cope with things most people can. It's only after discussing things with my physiotherapist that I've realised just how much my upper body strength has really been affected in the past few years. It's deteriorated so gradually that I haven't noticed until I've thought, wait, I'm sure these pans didn't used to be so heavy, these doors weren't so hard to open etc. As it stands I have to really throw myself at some doors at school to get them to open them. It's not just about NOW, though, I'm under the impression from my physio that I have to be really careful or my condition will deteriorate, and my phyio exercises are quite time consuming, and I'm not supposed to do certain things like carry heavy bags.

Also, I know my hips are hypermobile, but I keep going through phases where when I stand up after lessons my hips are really aching. :/

Anyway, a little bit nervous about claiming DSA, and still a little confused about what to do.

[Rachel1985]

Hi there,

I completely understand your dilemma, I too was really nervous about applying - but it made such a huge difference I really wish I had applied sooner. Not only in terms of the physical support you can get with the right equipment (laptop, stands, the right egrodynamic chair etc etc), but with allowences for extra time in exams and all sorts of other things that are really helpful.

Keep going with the physio (assuming you have a good one), dont' be afraid to try others too, the exercises are time consuming I probably spend about 30-60 minutes a day doing them (mainly when I get up, and then later when I get home, and sometimes in the day if i'm getting stiff), but doing the regularly has made a real difference, and finally i'm starting to see much improvement, whereas I appeared to really not be coping well with a real decline. Good luck to you, and the people who do the DSA assessments are lovely so please do give them a call x

[trekster]

I've heard that it's easier to get disabled students allowance than it is to get DLA!
I would find out who your student welfare or disabilities officer is at your university and contact them.
Ask if they can help you apply for disabled students allowance and mention what's been happening
with your HMS/EDS. Can you explain how your disabilities affect you on paper? This is one of the
questions you will need to answer on the DSA form.

I'm currently trying to get my lightweight laptop refunded (bought one as I couldn't wait much longer
for my reassessment) and MS word put on it so I can take it to mentoring meetings and the social groups
(for autism which is part of my course as it's my volunteer work).

Ive been waiting since the middle of December last year. Wondering whether to try and contact them again
on monday?

[sheppeyescapee]

They might have a backlog because of the holidays but if you haven't heard by the end of the month I would definitely kick up a fuss. I need to put in for reimbursement as I have about £400 of receipts I need to send! I never got around to it last term so they have mounted up.

[trekster]

Hope you manage to get the money back soon mate, good luck to both of us and thanks for the tip.

[NewToThis]

Morning All
I need to arrange a needs assessment for my DSA application as I'm about to start a PGCE Primary course & I've had a look on here & just wondered what to expect? How do they work out what's going to help you & what sort of things could help & why? Just not really sure what they are going to say, but will grateful for any help they can offer!
Thanks for reading:-)

[Blaadyblah]

Hi, have a read through the existing topic for information relevant to you (you can search within) as members' experiences with DSA are all here, I'm sure someone will be along shortly to answer your question.

[trekster]

hello

Just had my top up assessment approved, apparently they might make make allowances for my wheelchair. I haven't experienced this before so im guessing a manual handling assessment so support can push my wheelchair at residentials will happen?