Dear Emma

We've been looking at this question recently. I'm not aware of being
able to claim the accommodation costs of a medical or non-
medical helper through DSA. I think that we are coming round to
the view that we will underwrite the cost of an additional room in
order to facilitate a student's personal care, but no more than one
room (in fact this has arisen because of the need to plan
appropriate rooms as part of a new student accommodation
building - and a number of rooms are being built as suites).
Student's who require 24 hour support would need to have a rota of
people who would be entitled to use this room, but who would
probably not live-in. We would try to recruit carers locally, avoiding
the need to ensure accommodation. Of course, in certain
circumstances students have wanted a family member or partner to
act as their sole personal carer, and in that case they would live in.
If there was a particular reason for a student bringing additional
carers from outside the local area (perhaps because of their
particular expertise), we would look at what was possible in the
individual case. In considering what would be reasonable with
regard to personal care, we've taken advice from local social
services and considered the information available from the
Independent Living Association.

I am curious to know what line other institutions take on this issue -
 we've been trying to work out a reasonable approach and would
welcome anyone else's suggestions.

Best wishes

Hannah

On 15 Jul 2003, at 13:27, Emma J Price wrote:

Dear all

I'm trying to unravel a complex issue about students' personal
support
assistants' accommodation costs.  I know in some instances
LEAs or
funding bodies have covered accommodation costs for an assistant
within the Non-medical helpers component of the DSA.  I think this,
however, may be discretionary as guidance appears to be quite
hazy in
this area. Social Services, who provide the 24 hour care will pay
salary costs but not accommodation costs within student halls.
The
debate seems to be around clarification of medical and non-medical
helper.  it may be the case that in the past, the carer has provided
support around the campus and it has been justified that way.  It
would be good to hear the views of needs assessors on this to see
if
this is a common recommendation in an assessment report.

I need to advise our Accommodation Dept on a policy in this area
and
I'm unsure whether I need to explain that they need to underwrite
the
costs for this as a reasonable adjustment for a student with a
disability. Would this be considered a reasonable adjustment under
the
auxiliary aids and services section of the act?

Any advice, comments or general pointers in the direction of
guidance
documents would be great.

Thanks

Emma
----------------------
Emma Price
Disability Assessment and Support Officer
Equality and Diversity Department
******************************
Hannah Young
University Disability Adviser
Equal Opportunities Office
University of Oxford
University Offices
Wellington Square
Oxford OX1 2JD
Tel: 01865 280459
Fax: 01865 280300
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