Support for Students in Higher Education

Being Dyslexic - dyslexia line of people

Thursday, August 07, 2008 09:38

University Disability Officers offer specialist advice about all aspects of support. Dyslexic students should contact their DO as soon as they accept a place.

1. Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)

Dyslexic students in Higher Education, who have been assessed as dyslexic, can apply to their Local Education Authority (LEA) for a DSA. Part-time students, studying at least 50% of a full-time degree course and post-graduate students are now eligible for this allowance.

Students should apply to their LEA. The LEA will need post 16 evidence of dyslexia from a qualified chartered educational psychologist or a specialist SpLD teacher with suitable qualifications.

If you are eligible for a DSA, you can go to an ACCESS Centre, which can assess the needs of disabled students including ICT.
National Federation of Access Centres (NFAC).
www.nnac.org.uk

The DSA can include a once only equipment, such as a PC, hardware and appropriate software. An annual non-medical helper's allowance, which can include funding for ICT training, proof-reading, and an annual general allowance for books etc. See Bridging the Gap, below, for full details.

2. Useful publications

The DfES Leaflet 'Bridging The Gap - A Guide To Disabled Students Allowance (DSAs) in higher education' gives details of the allowances and can be downloaded from the DfES website.
Web: www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport/students/stu_students_with_d_1.shtml
Tel: 0800 731 9133

University disability awareness publications e.g.'Understanding Dyslexia: An Introduction for Dyslexic Students in Higher Education. Glasgow School of Art.
Web: www.shefc.ac.uk/publications/other/dyslexia/dyslexia.html

3. Further sources of information
The Open University.
Open University, Disabled Student Services.
Tel: 01908 655 354
E-Mail: Disabled-Student-Services@open.ac.uk
Web: www.open.ac.uk

SKILL. The National Bureau for Students with Disabilities. Skill has helpful general information and literature, especially about allowances for disabled students and about many charities and grant making trusts.
Tel: 0800 328 5050
Fax: 020 7450 0650
E-Mail: info@skill.org.uk
Web: www.skill.org.uk

Information for dyslexic nursing students.
NHS grants for nursing students etc.
Tel: 0845 358 6655
Web: NHS Grants

Students with Disabilities (SWD) Officer,National Union of Students (NUS) SWD officer. BarryFarleigh.
Tel: 07930 556 058
E-Mail: barry@nus.org.uk

The Educational Grants Advisory Service(EGAS) offers guidance about loans, grants and benefits from educational trusts and charities for disadvantaged students over 16. Send an SAE or phone for a form for completion, to enable EGAS to give you appropriate advice.
Address: 501-505 Kingsland Road,London,E8 4AU.
Tel: 020 7254 6251
Fax: 020 7249 5443

Scholarship Search UK.
Academic Scholarships and Bursaries for UK Universitiesand Educational Institutions.
Web: www.scholarship-search.org.uk

FunderFinder has links to fund-raising resources and to a wide range of trusts (not all educational).
Web: www.funderfinder.org.uk

The Educational Grants Directory' and other books. Libraries and careers offices may have reference copies. Available from the Directory of Social Change:
Tel: 020 7209 5151
Fax: 020 7209 5049
E-mail: info@dsc.org.uk
Web: www.dsc.org.uk

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