You raise an interesting point about students applying to DSA being turned
down, Amanda.
I think most awards officers work really hard to try to ensure the right
people are referred for DSA assessment. Having said that, I do worry if
there might be one, ten or even thousands of eligible students each year
being turned down for DSA that we don't get to know about. We all hear of
students who've had to persist in their applications and this makes me
wonder how many students just gave up. There's no guarantee these students
are revealing their problems to their universities, so the disability
officer won't be able to get involved.
I don't know what the answer is, but I think a start would be for the DfES
to do a review of all DSA applications submitted to LAs - maybe over a fixed
period, with details of decisions made and on what grounds.
Maybe it's also up to assessors and disability officers to start gathering
data from students who describe problems arranging their DSA application, so
this information can be collated and reviewed e.g. by the DfES and any
patterns that emerge (e.g. of problem with aspects of the DSA application
process or with specific LAs) become clear.
Regarding appeals - I think you're right that the DRC could get involved,
but as LAs and DSA assessors are all answerable to the Secretary of State
for Education I suggest any student who wants to appeal against any DSA
decision should contact the DfES. Maybe the disability officer at their
university could help.
Ian Francis
----- Original Message -----
From: "Amanda Kent" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 5:25 PM
Subject: Re: DDA 2005
(....)
On a similar theme: there are other students with medical conditions being
refused DSA, not being referred for DSA assessment of need, and being
asked for additional evidence of how their condition is disabling in terms
of university. the worst case i know of was a student with cystic fibrosis
who sent a letter from his consultant to the LA and the student was then
asked to write and explain how his condition was a disability. that
delayed the needs assessment for a student with a moderate degree of need
on several sections of the DSA.
This business of LA officers making decisions on medical evidence needs to
addressed. I would be interested to know how people on this list think
that could done.
Amanda Kent
DSA Assessor
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