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Disability and Accessibility Support

Disability and Accessibility Support

If you have received a diagnosis for a disability or a long-term health condition, the Disability Adviser on the Health and Wellbeing Team is here to explore options for reasonable adjustments that can cater to each student’s specific needs. We are equipped to provide support for a range of conditions, including motor and sensory impairments, physical ailments, and auto-immune conditions. 

Health and Wellbeing

Available Support:

Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)

Examination Arrangements

SpLD

Reasonable Adjustments

Resources
Students looking at phone

Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)

If you have a disability, a specific learning difference, or any other additional needs, such as a long-term medical condition, you may qualify for the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA).  

Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) provides financial support to students with disabilities for study-related costs. It is separate from student finance and does not need to be repaid. For the 2023-2024 academic year, undergraduate and postgraduate students can receive up to £26,291 per year. DSA covers expenses like specialist equipment, non-medical helpers, travel, and disability-related study support. Students need a needs assessment to determine the support they require. Payment is made directly to the suppliers, although reimbursement is made to the student. 

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What Does DSA Cover?

  • Specialist Equipment: Specialist equipment tailored to individual needs, such as assistive technology, mobility aids, ergonomic furniture, recording devices and specialist software. 
  • Non-Medical Helpers (NMH): This includes support such as British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation, specialist study skills and strategy support for students with specific learning difficulties (SpLDs) or autism spectrum conditions (ASC), and specialist mentor support for students with ASC or mental health difficulties. 
  • Travel Allowance: A travel allowance may be used to pay the additional costs of travel to and from the campus which are incurred because of a disability. This typically goes towards the cost of a taxi. 
  • Specialist Sessions: Access to specialist mentoring and study skills sessions. Both provisions aim to provide specialised support to students with either SpLDs or mental health conditions, enabling them to develop the necessary skills, strategies, and support systems to succeed academically and personally.  

Applying for DSA: 

If you're thinking about applying for DSA, the process is simple. We advise all students to apply as soon as possible, as the DSA team can receive a lot of applications at the beginning of a semester and therefore the process may take slightly longer than usual.  ​ 

1.  Complete Application: If you're in receipt of Student Finance and studying an undergraduate degree, you can complete an application via your Student Finance portal and upload your medical evidence. Alternatively, you can complete a PDF form. The process is slightly different if you're studying a post graduate degree, are self-funding or an international/EU student who has lived in the UK five year prior to the start of your course or with an indefinite leave to remain or settled status.  

2.  Submit Application: All PDF applications and supporting medical evidence can be forwarded directly to the DSA Team via: dsa_team@slc.co.uk. If you're in receipt of Student Finance, you can apply directly via your Student Finance portal.

3.  Book Study Needs Assessment: Once the DSA team have processed your application and confirmed eligibility, you will be sent a DSA1 letter to confirm this, also asking you to schedule a study needs assessment. You can either follow the steps within the letter to find a local assessment centre, or alternatively, you can forward us a copy of your letter and we can make the referral for you. Once you've attended your assessment, a report will be drafted and forwarded to yourself and the DSA team.

4.  Receive Recommended Support: The final step in the process will be for you to obtain your recommendations. Once the DSA team have received a copy of your needs assessment report and are happy to fund your recommendations, you will be issued a final letter, a DSA2 letter. This will contain contact information for the suppliers of your recommendations and you will need to contact them directly and have equipment delivered, or your services scheduled. 

Reasonable Adjustments

We strongly encourage students to schedule a meeting with the Disability Adviser to discuss their specific needs and explore how we can accommodate them effectively. Enquiries and requests are handled on an individual basis. Even if a student shares a diagnosis with a peer, needs may differ, so we strive to tailor our support to meet the unique requirements of each student.  

In order to justify and implement any reasonable adjustments, evidence will be requested to confirm your diagnosis and gain a better understanding of how it affects you. All adjustments are based on your evidence and conversations with you and the Disability Adviser. We aim to collaborate with students to determine the most suitable support measures to help your academic goals.   

Examples of Reasonable Adjustments Include:  

 

DSA Forms

 

If you're an undergraduate student that is funded by Student Finance, then you can complete a DSA 'Slim' Form. 

If you're studying a postgraduate degree, are self-funding your course, an international/EU student that has lived in the UK five years prior to the start of your course or have an indefinite leave to remain or settled status, then you will need to complete the DSA 'Full' form.

Submitting Your Application

All PDF applications and supporting medical evidence can be forwarded directly to the DSA Team via: dsa_team@slc.co.uk​

If you're in receipt of Student Finance, you can apply directly via your Student Finance portal.

DSA Deadline

Please note, you will not be entitled to the full funding of DSA if you have entered the final 12 weeks of your course, but please get in touch as you may still be entitled to non-medical human support.

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