Dear All,
I am a disability adviser at Rose Bruford College, a HE college which
provides vocational theatre courses. Although I have been working in this
field for 10 years I am new to this subject area (4 months in post).
We have an applicant to our acting course next year who has arthritis and
associated mobility problems. Tne programme director has stated that in
order to take the complulsory movement module, the student will need to
have regular Alexander technique and physiotherapy sessions at an
additional cost, as this sort of treatment is not available on the NHS. I
think that this should be paid from the DSAs as if he were not studying
this particular course he would not need the treatement and without it he
will not be able to participate in the movement classes. However, I am
aware that LEAS do not usually pay for health related costs.
The college is very small and cannot meet the cost and if we are hoping to
get more disabled students into the performing arts and these costs cannot
be met, it will prohibit disabled students from entering the profession.
I suspact that this must have come up as an issue at other institutions
proving courses of this type. Does anyone have any experience of
successfully making a claim from the DSA for this type of cost or any
advice to offer?
Many Thanks,
Ros Platton
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