Here in the University of Manchester we have worked very closely with the
Hardship fund managers over the last year. We have a separate, simple form
for all disability-related needs, that is available only through the
Disability Support Office, and as long as a student is eligible for Hardship
funds in principle, if they have a genuine disability-related need that
can't be met through any other source of funding, we will support their
application to hardship funds. It is almost a formality that it will be
accepted. Therefore all of our diagnostic educational psychology
assessments are paid out of hardship funds - for students not eligible for
hardship funds we pay out of University funds. Disability-related
applications are not means tested, but they are assessed by the staff in the
Disability Support Office. The other point that we have agreed with
Hardship Fund Managers is that if a disabled student applies for a
disability-related need on our simple form, they can still apply for a
general hardship-related need like any other student, without any prejudice,
otherwise this is discriminatory.
Hope this helps.
Elaine Shillcock
Co-ordinator for Disability Developments
University of Manchester
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Information
Service
Sent: 15 November 2000 09:12
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: Dyslexia Testing
Georgina,
The 2000-2001 Hardship Fund guidance says: 'Disabled students, especially
those with dyslexia, who wish to apply for a preliminary diagnostic test,
prior to applying for a DSA, may have difficulty meeting the cost of that
test. The cost cannot be provided by the DSA, even retrospectively, for
legal reasons. Assistance in meeting the cost of the test, and associated
costs such as travel to the assessment centre, may now be provided through
the Hardship Fund. Students can also receive help for other disability
costs from the Hardship Fund.'
Because of the costs involved in a diagnostic assessment and the fact that
they wouldn't have to find that money if they weren't (potentially)
dyslexic, I would argue that a student does not have to be in hardship to
have difficulty in meeting the cost of the test. Certainly some institutions
do not apply a means-test where a student needs disability costs from the
hardship fund, for the same reasons that the DSA is not means-tested.
I hope this helps.
Yours,
Nick Hawkes
Information and Research Worker
Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities
Freephone helpline - 0800 328 5050 (voice) 0800 068 2422 (text)
Web - www.skill.org.uk E-mail - [log in to unmask]
Skill is a registered charity, No. 801971
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Georgina Ruth Sait [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Monday, November 13, 2000 3:16 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Dyslexia Testing
>
>
> Can anybody help us with clear advice on using the student
> hardship/access funds to claim for dyslexia diagnosis? Does the
> student have to prove that they are in hardship as with other claims
> on the fund?
>
> Many thanks in advance,
>
> Liz Maynard
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Georgina Sait
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Julia Madeley
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
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