You do not have permission to edit this page, for the following reasons:

This IP address has been blocked from editing Wikipedia.
This does not affect your ability to read Wikipedia pages.
Most people who see this message have done nothing wrong. Some kinds of blocks restrict editing from specific service providers or telecom companies in response to recent abuse or vandalism, and can sometimes affect other users who are unrelated to that abuse. Review the information below for assistance if you do not believe that you have done anything wrong.

The IP address or range 54.163.0.0/16 has been blocked (disabled) by ‪Blablubbs‬ for the following reason(s):

The IP address that you are currently using has been blocked because it is believed to be a web host provider or colocation provider. To prevent abuse, web hosts and colocation providers may be blocked from editing Wikipedia.
You will not be able to edit Wikipedia using a web host or colocation provider because it hides your IP address, much like a proxy or VPN.
We recommend that you attempt to use another connection to edit. For example, if you use a proxy or VPN to connect to the internet, turn it off when editing Wikipedia. If you edit using a mobile connection, try using a Wi-Fi connection, and vice versa. If you are using a corporate internet connection, switch to a different Wi-Fi network. If you have a Wikipedia account, please log in.
If you do not have any other way to edit Wikipedia, you will need to request an IP block exemption.

How to appeal if you are confident that your connection does not use a colocation provider's IP address:
If you are confident that you are not using a web host, you may appeal this block by adding the following text on your talk page: ((unblock|reason=Caught by a colocation web host block but this host or IP is not a web host. My IP address is _______. Place any further information here. ~~~~)). You must fill in the blank with your IP address for this block to be investigated. Your IP address can be determined here. Alternatively, if you wish to keep your IP address private you can use the unblock ticket request system. There are several reasons you might be editing using the IP address of a web host or colocation provider (such as if you are using VPN software or a business network); please use this method of appeal only if you think your IP address is in fact not a web host or colocation provider.

Administrators: The IP block exemption user right should only be applied to allow users to edit using web host in exceptional circumstances, and requests should usually be directed to the functionaries team via email. If you intend to give the IPBE user right, a CheckUser needs to take a look at the account. This can be requested most easily at SPI Quick Checkuser Requests. Unblocking an IP or IP range with this template is highly discouraged without at least contacting the blocking administrator.

This block will expire on 17:28, 10 March 2024.

Even when blocked, you will usually still be able to edit your user talk page, as well as email administrators and other editors.

For information on how to proceed, please read the FAQ for blocked users and the guideline on block appeals. The guide to appealing blocks may also be helpful.

Other useful links: Blocking policy · Help:I have been blocked
Your IP address is in a range that has been blocked on all Wikimedia Foundation wikis. The block was made by ‪Jon Kolbert‬. The reason given is Open proxy/Webhost: See the help page if you are affected .
- Start of block: 18:27, 12 November 2023
- Expiry of block: 18:27, 12 November 2028
Your current IP address is 54.163.179.242. The blocked range is 54.163.0.0/16. Please include all above details in any queries you make. If you believe you were blocked by mistake, you can find additional information and instructions in the No open proxies global policy. Otherwise, to discuss the block please post a request for review on Meta-Wiki. You could also send an email to the stewards VRT queue at stewards@wikimedia.org including all above details.

You can view and copy the source of this page:

((More citations needed|date=May 2012))
((Disability))

The '''Disabled Students Allowance''' ('''DSA''') is a [[Her Majesty's Government|Government]] grant in the [[United Kingdom]] (UK) available to [[student]]s in '''[[Higher Education]]''', originally established by the [[Department for Education and Skills (United Kingdom)|Department for Education and Skills]] (DfES).<ref name="DSA10034898">
((cite web
  | title = Disabled people, Disabled Students' Allowances
  | publisher = Directgov
  | url = http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/EducationAndTraining/HigherEducation/DG_10034898
  | access-date = 2007-09-02 ))</ref>

==Background==
((Very long section|date=February 2021))
The scheme is for students in [[England]] and [[Wales]],<ref name="DYS001">
((cite web
  | title = What is the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)?
  | publisher = dyslexic.com
  | url = http://www.dyslexic.com/dsa
  | access-date = 2007-09-02 ))</ref> with a similar scheme in [[Scotland]]<ref name="DYS002">
((cite web
  | title = What is the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)? (Scotland)
  | publisher = dyslexic.com
  | url = http://www.dyslexic.com/dsa#scotland
  | access-date = 2007-09-02 ))</ref><ref name="SAAS001">
((cite web
 |title       = Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)
 |publisher   = Student Awards Agency for Scotland
 |url         = http://www.student-support-saas.gov.uk/student_support/special_circumstances/disabled_students_allowance.htm
 |access-date  = 2007-09-02
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070918013231/http://www.student-support-saas.gov.uk/student_support/special_circumstances/disabled_students_allowance.htm
 |archive-date = 2007-09-18
))</ref> and Northern Ireland [http://www.education-support.org.uk/students/students-with-disabilities/]<br>
DSA's are grants to help toward meeting the additional studying costs or expenses that students face as a direct result of a disability or specific learning difficulty. They are intended to help disabled students study on an equal basis with other students. Full-time, part-time and postgraduate students all qualify for help. DSA's are paid on top of the standard student finance package and are not means-tested.<ref name="DSA10034898"/>

The Disabled Students Allowance consists of three elements:
# an Equipment Allowance
# a Non-medical Helpers Allowance
# a General Allowance

In addition to this, in certain circumstances, there is the possibility that additional travel related expenses can be met.

All approved expenditure must be in relation to course / education related support. The equipment allowance is used to obtain assistive technology (e.g. computer software and hardware, recording devices, ergonomic items) which may be required to facilitate full access to the course and the institution. Non-medical help relates to any human support, such as note-taking or the use of sign language interpreters, that may be required. The general allowance is typically used to cover the cost of sundry items. Possible examples include paying for internet connections, books (under some circumstances), ink cartridges and paper, photocopying or coloured overlays.

The DSA was established in 1993 and is not a ''Student Finance Direct'' initiative.  The administration of this grant in England has been transferred from [[Local Education Authority|Local Education Authorities]] (LEA)'s to Student Finance England for new applicants in 2009.((Citation needed|date=August 2007)) In Wales it will remain the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government, and continue to be administered by the individual local authorities.

To receive funds from the DSA, students must pass the basic eligibility checks for Student Finance Direct products as well as the criteria for disability, by providing the funding body with written proof of the disability from a medical professional.<ref name="DSA10034898"/> For those with a specific learning disability (e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia) suitable proof can be in the form of a report from an appropriately qualified and approved individual such as an Educational Psychologist or Specialist Teacher.

The only other requirement is that any report be completed when the individual in question is over the age of sixteen. The potential benefits, in terms of equipment (such as a new [[laptop]] computer and specialist software) can be significant for students identified as dyslexic.

Most universities will be able to put students in touch with an appropriately qualified person who can assess them and produce an acceptable report. For other disabilities and medical conditions correspondence from a doctor or consultant is generally sufficient. The Funding Body then asks the student to have an Assessment of Need to establish exactly what assistance is required from The DSA and the student's institution -see [https://media.slc.co.uk/dsaneeds/] for accredited Centres.<ref name="DSA10034898"/> DSA QAG, who were the governing body have closed down ((as of|2019|December|lc=y)).

Disabled students should be aware that the cost of any needs assessment is met from the total amount of DSA available to them. The Assessment Centre is paid for their work from the student's DSA funds (approximately £660 - £800 a time) and while this reduces the total amount of funds available to the student it is recognised by the funding bodies as being an effective way of detailing the support package and resources the student requires and of ensuring that the support package addresses all the student's needs and includes appropriate warranties and insurance. Assessment Centres (which are audited for this work) are also charged with ensuring "value for money".

The Assessment of Need is intended to identify the specific details of support for each individual student. Lasting anywhere from 90 to 180 minutes (sometimes more, split over more than one appointment, for complex cases) they should cover all of the potential support needs that may arise including the institutional provisions necessary.

A report is produced that contains recommendations for support, including any equipment.

For students with dyslexia these reports can seem similar, with good reason, but might contain subtle differences which align the support package to the individual needs of the student.

The recommendations contained within the report have to be "approved" by the student's funding body; there are strict guidelines followed by Funding Bodies to ensure that the support provided fulfils the purpose of the DSA.

All disabled students should be aware that the award is made to them as individuals and they are free to source approved equipment on their own, with the consent of the funding body and subject to the limits approved. However, it is often more convenient and less troublesome for students if they take advantage of the offer by funding bodies to order equipment on behalf of the student (via DSA QAG approved suppliers) and by assessment centres/HEIs to organise the support a student needs. This can only be done if the student agrees.

Students are encouraged by Funding Bodies, to only use [https://web.archive.org/web/20101221043702/http://www.dsa-qag.org.uk/content.asp?ContentID=1 DSA-QAG] approved equipment suppliers - these suppliers have agreed to meet the terms of a service level agreement set out by DSA-QAG and if anything goes wrong with their equipment will receive a more understanding response from their funding body. Many Assessment Centres have their own preferred suppliers (who will be DSA-QAG approved) who they will work closely with. This will be an arrangement arising out of a wish to ensure that the students receiving specialist equipment are well supported by a supplier. It also means that a very small number of suppliers are able to provide equipment and therefore control the market.

Once approval is given, arrangements for purchase of equipment and facilitation of human support (where appropriate) can be made. Once equipment is received by the student it is deemed to be their property.

Universities often have the ability to facilitate human support and training in-house. Increasingly though, as HEIs start to appreciate the complexities of quality support service provision, this function is being outsourced. Some Assessment Centers also provide this kind of support although the issue of [[Conflict of interest]] can arise, which they must address as a result of being DSA-QAG Accredited Centres: a cosy grouping of interested parties such as assessment centres and equipment suppliers operating a closed shop to keep control and monopolise the whole [[business]].

Training providers and those facilitating human support to students with disabilities are able to add an administration premium when invoicing a student's funding body. This is regarded as acceptable practice within higher education to meet the overhead costs - e.g. recruiting, training, payroll, insurance etc. but does impact negatively upon the funds available for supporting each individual. However, this does avoid the difficulties students would experience if they were to employ their own support workers - i.e. of employer responsibilities including tax and NI. Although students could avoid the requirement to directly employ support workersby utilising third party service providers.

Higher Education institutions receive a nominal amount of funding for each student confirmed as being in receipt of DSA [https://web.archive.org/web/20071026202822/http://www.hefcw.ac.uk/Widening_Access/disabled_students.htm]. This comes from the [[Higher Education Funding Council for England|Funding Council]] and not out of individual student's DSA. The institutions therefore have a vested (financial) interest in identifying as many students eligible to claim DSA as possible and in getting them to apply for DSA.

In Autumn 2000 the grants were extended to include those studying part-time as well as full-time.<ref name="BBC558015">
((cite news 
  | title = Disabled students' grants extended
  | work = [[BBC News]]
  | date = 1999-12-10
  | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/558015.stm
  | access-date = 2007-09-02 ))</ref> The DfES estimated that in the year 2002–03, 25,000 DSA claims were accepted in the UK.<ref name="BBCOuch!">((cite web|title=Life files, Student Diaries: DSA - Disabled Students' Allowance |publisher=[[BBC]] Ouch! |date=September 2003 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/lifefiles/student/dsa.shtml |access-date=2007-09-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208084732/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/lifefiles/student/dsa.shtml |archive-date=February 8, 2007 ))</ref>

A report on the [[BBC]] Ouch! website in 2003 claimed that some disabled students did not have their equipment and/or an agreement in place from their LEA when they arrived at university. '' SKILL, the National Bureau for Students with Disabilities'', a charity that helps disabled students in Higher education, claimed that, this was due to the "Efficiency of the LEA, coupled with fitting into an assessment timetable all within the short time-frame between exam results being released (mid-August) and the start of the new term at university (late September)".<ref name="BBCOuch!"/> That same year though, new working methods were introduced that helped cut down any delays.<ref name="BBCOuch!"/>

Prospective students planning to enter higher education are free to apply for DSA from approximately the March prior to the commencement of their course. Students already enrolled on a course can apply at any time. However, SFE and other funding bodies will make financial decisions taking into account the amount of time a student's course has to run. Those administering the funds are responsible for ensuring they are spent in an appropriate manner and it is very unlikely that a student applying for the first time with just a few months of a course left would receive recommendations and approval for a large package of support, especially in terms of equipment.

Currently the amount of funding from DSA for a full-time undergraduate is:<br />
Equipment allowance - £5,161 - over the course<br />
Non-medical help allowance - £20,520 - per annum<br />
General allowance - £1,724 - per annum [http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/EducationAndTraining/HigherEducation/DG_070188]

The equipment allowance amount is for the duration of the course. The non-medical help and general allowances are annual figures. Where payable there is currently no upper limit on travel expenses. Part-time students receive proportionate amounts depending on the intensity of their study. Postgraduates have not previously been as well funded as undergraduates.[http://www.rnib.org.uk/young-people-starting-university/disabled-students-allowance-dsa-and-other-funding]

==See also==
*[[Disability Discrimination Act 1995]]
*[[Education in the United Kingdom]]
*[[Equal opportunity]]
*[[Universities in the United Kingdom]]

==References==
((reflist))

==External links==
*[http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/EducationAndTraining/HigherEducation/DG_4000917 Higher Education - disabled students]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071009201209/http://www.dsa-qag.org.uk/search.asp?f=4 List of DSA Assessment Centres]
*[http://www.slc.co.uk/ Student Loan Company]
*[https://a2bassessments.com/dsa-assessment-centre/ A2B Assessments Independent DSA Resource and Assessment Centre]

((Disability navbox))

[[Category:Disability law in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Higher education in the United Kingdom]]

Pages transcluded onto the current version of this page (help):

Disabled students allowance (edit)
Template:Ambox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:As of (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Box-shadow border (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:C (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Category-inline (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Category handler (view source) (protected)
Template:Citation needed (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite news (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite web (view source) (protected)
Template:DMCA (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Dated maintenance category (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Dated maintenance category (articles) (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Delink (view source) (protected)
Template:Disability (edit)
Template:Disability navbox (edit)
Template:Disability sidebar (edit)
Template:Endflatlist (view source) (protected)
Template:FULLROOTPAGENAME (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Fix (view source) (protected)
Template:Fix/category (view source) (protected)
Template:Flatlist (view source) (protected)
Template:Hlist (view source) (protected)
Template:Hlist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:Icon (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Longitem (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:MONTHNAME (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:MONTHNUMBER (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Main other (view source) (protected)
Template:More citations needed (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Ns has subpages (view source) (protected)
Template:Plainlist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:Reflist (view source) (protected)
Template:Reflist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:Sidebar with collapsible lists (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Startflatlist (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Very long (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Very long section (view source) (semi-protected)
Template:Yesno (view source) (protected)
Template:\ (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Arguments (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/blacklist (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/shared (view source) (protected)
Module:Check for unknown parameters (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1 (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/COinS (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Date validation (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Delink (view source) (protected)
Module:Find sources (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/config (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/links (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/templates/Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Icon (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Icon/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:List (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/ambox.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/configuration (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Ns has subpages (view source) (protected)
Module:Sidebar (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Sidebar/configuration (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Sidebar/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:String (view source) (protected)
Module:TableTools (view source) (protected)
Module:Unsubst (view source) (protected)
Module:Yesno (view source) (protected)

Return to Disabled students allowance.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disabled_students_allowance"