Disabled Students’ Allowances Needs Assessment.

This page gives an overview of the process of obtaining a Disabled Students’ Allowances needs assessment (sometimes called a study needs assessment). Disabled applicants and students are strongly advised to undergo this process before starting their course, if possible. This will ensure that the right support can be put in place for the start of your study. However, an assessment can be carried out at any stage of your studies.

UWE houses Access West of England, where you can have your assessment of educational support needs carried out, if you wish. Other recognised assessment centres are listed by the QAG and this list is frequently updated.

You will not have to pay for an assessment if your funding body (e.g. Student Finance England, your Local Authority or NHS Student Bursaries) has confirmed that you are eligible for Disabled Students' Allowances.
 

Frequently Asked Questions.

• What is the purpose of a Disabled Students’ Allowances needs assessment?
• What does a Disabled Students’ Allowances needs assessment involve?
• When should I start applying for a Disabled Students’ Allowances needs assessment?
   

What is the purpose of a Disabled Students’Allowances needs assessment?

If you are a disabled student and require support to access your teaching and learning in higher education, you must first identify what your needs are. This might include support in lectures or other classes, support using the library or support with developing or writing assignments.

The assessment does not cover support that you would need whether you were studying or not (e.g. if you need assistance doing your shopping or with personal care). This remains the responsibility of your social services department.

The majority of identified support needs require funding. For example, the assessment might recommend a computer with specialist software or assistance from a non-medical support worker. This funding normally comes from Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs). You will normally need to have had a full assessment of your educational support needs in order to access these funds.

The assessment report will make recommendations about what you need. However, there is no guarantee that this support will be available or that funding will cover the full cost. The University makes all reasonable efforts to ensure that suitable support is provided.
 

What does a Disabled Students’ Allowances needs assessment involve?

There are a number of stages involved in obtaining an assessment. Most assessments follow a similar structure regardless of which centre is carrying out your assessment. If you have an assessment at Access West of England, it will follow the process below. This will be an approximate guide for what to expect elsewhere.
 

What goes on before your assessment actually takes place?

1. What you need to do.

Before your assessment you will be sent a 'pre-assessment information form' by the Access West of England administrator which needs to be returned at least one week before your appointment date.

This form asks for the name of your programme and details of the type of support that you think might be helpful or has been helpful to you in the past. For example, support at school or college or in the workplace. This information will be used by the assessor as a starting point for understanding your support needs.

You should also identify if you need a support worker to be present with you during the assessment (e.g. a British Sign Language interpreter or personal support worker). This will help the Access West of England administrator to make appropriate arrangements.

2. What your assessor will do.

Your assessor will research the following:

1. your study details (normally from the University web site).
2. your course structure, expected workload, nature of study, location, methods of delivery, assessment methods and related information (obtained from your programme leader).
3. the disability evidence you provided (N.B. only that evidence which has previously been acknowledged as part of your Disabled Students' Allowances application can be considered).
4. assistive technology (AT) and equipment that might be appropriate to support you.
5. support available at your institution, normally via web site and contact with relevant services - e.g. your faculty, library support, available AT training, physical access (e.g. parking and building infrastructure).
6. external support available local to your institution - e.g. through the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) or Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB).
7. sources of funding available to you.
8. the impact of additional information supplied by you in your 'pre-assessment' form.

The assessor may also consult (respecting your confidentiality) with other assessors, to canvas other opinions about specific aspects of your assessment, if needed.
 

What takes place during the face-to-face assessment?

This meeting is intended to be a relatively informal, yet structured, discussion about your support needs. It is not a test. The meeting normally takes about two hours and is carried out in a friendly setting which is fully accessible.

The assessor will:

1. explain the assessment process to you and the purpose of the report which they will write following the meeting.
2. check your programme and disability details with you.
3. discuss your programme and support needs and suggest a variety of solutions for meeting your support needs and agree with you which would be most appropriate.
4. demonstrate the relevant technology and equipment to you.
5. discuss and agree your technology training needs.
6. summarise and agree the outcomes of the meeting and the recommendations that will be made. (N.B. where agreement cannot be reached the assessor will explain the reasons behind the recommendations, and how you can contest these with the funding body if you wish).
7. clarify and agree with you who the final report should be circulated to.
8. clarify what will happen after the meeting and what you will be expected to do with the report once it is finalised.
9. clarify the process for reviewing the assessment recommendations in future should your needs change.
    

What happens following your assessment meeting?

1. What your assessor will do.

Your assessor will:

1. write up the details of your assessment, identifying details of your programme, your disability, problems you will encounter during your study, possible solutions to those problems, and the recommended solution.
2. add costings to the recommendations made in the report, where relevant.
3. identify in as much detail as possible where you need to go and what you have to do to access the recommendations made.
4. send you a draft copy of the report within 15 working days for you to check.
5. once you have approved the report, the assessor will send a copy to the people that you agreed a copy should be circulated to (including you). They will enclose a covering letter explaining what you need to do to implement the recommendations.

2. What you need to do.

1. Once you have been sent a draft copy of the report, check it carefully and let the assessor know if you agree with the report, or need any changes to be made. Paperwork will be enclosed with the draft copy of the report explaining how you do this.
2. Once you receive a final copy of the report, carry out its recommendations as indicated in the report itself and its covering letter.
    

When should I start applying to obtain a Disabled Students’ Allowances needs assessment?

Ideally, you should start applying as soon as you receive either a conditional or unconditional offer from the University. However, it can be done at any time after this or during your studies.

It normally takes a minimum of three months from the time you enquire about an assessment of support needs to having your support in place. This amount of time increases dramatically at peak periods e.g. the start of the academic year, as many students are trying to access the same facilities.