Hello all,
We currently have two students, who appear to be ineligible for DSA though
need support to complete their courses.
The first student has been seconded by her employer to complete a two year
Masters course in Social Work. Her employers have loaned her a lap top and
printer and the School of Social Work is funding a proof reader. Her initial
needs assessment recommended the above support and also recommended
specialist software eg kurzweil 3000, dyslexia support tuition for two hours
per week, and the use of a note taker during lectures. Her employers have
been reluctant to fund this additional support and the student feels, that
without this support, she is being discriminated against. She has contacted
Disability Services regarding who is responsible for providing funding for
this support- the institution or her employer?
The second student is a prospective student, who has applied to do a part
time computers course through our Institute of Life long learning and is
registered blind. The student has only contacted us for information at this
stage, but we are concerned that the course he has applied for is not
eligible for DSA as it is not on the list of designated courses that the
Education and Library Boards hold. At this stage we are unaware of the full
range of support that he requires and plan to carry out a full assessment of
needs in due course. The Institute of life long learning have asked who
would be responsible for funding any equipment/personal support the student
requires to complete this course, if he is not eligible for DSA? Also could
he be accepted onto the course on the basis that he has to fund any support
that he requires?
We have had little experience in cases such as these and would grately
appreciate any guidance on these issues.
Many thanks
Karen Hedley and Emma Kelly
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