All I can say is wow - research council DSAs are so much better than LEA
postgrad ones.
Quoting alex larg <[log in to unmask]>:
> I don't know if it is still the case, but I think it used to be the case
> for
> Scottish students (resident in Scotland for the purposes of DSA) that if
> a
> postgraduate student was not funded by a research council then they
> wouldn't
> receive DSA at all because SAAS rules meant they often fell through the
> cracks in terms of eligibility. (I may be wrong about this - any students
> or
> people out there with any personal experience of this?)
>
> Separately, for information about AHRB DSA taken from their:-
>
http://www.ahrb.ac.uk/holders/postgrad/information_for_award_holders_with_a_
> disability.asp
>
> (This was taken today and seems to be the most up to date information
> available on line)
>
> "Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)
>
> If you have a long-term disability and as a result of your disability you
> are obliged to incur additional expenditure in connection with your
> studies,
> you may be eligible for an extra allowance.
>
> As an award holder you should apply to the AHRC for DSA and not your
> local
> education authority (LEA).
>
> You should apply as soon as possible in order to avoid any delay in
> accessing the equipment or services you require.
>
> DSA may cover costs relating to additional daily expenses, equipment, or
> non-medical help. We shall consider meeting only those costs that are
> incurred directly and solely as a consequence of your taking up an AHRC
> award to pursue postgraduate study.
>
> This allowance is available to all award holders from 1 October 2006.
>
> You should contact the disability coordinator at your institution before
> applying to us for the disabled students' allowance.
>
> In most cases you will be asked to undertake a needs assessment at a
> recognised Access Centre. If your disability coordinator considers such
> an
> assessment to be necessary the AHRC will normally cover the cost.
>
> If you apply for the disabled students' allowance you should not commit
> yourself to any expenditure relating to your claim until you have
> received
> formal agreement of the amount of support we are able to provide.
>
> In the academic year 2006-07 the maximum entitlement for disabled
> students'
> allowance is as follows:
>
> Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)
> Daily expenses £1,605 pa
> Non-medical helper £12,135 pa
> Equipment £4,795
>
> The figures above are maximum allowances. The equipment allowance is
> usually a one-off payment at the start of your award and is not available
> for subsequent years of your award although it may be possible to add
> small
> top-up items later provided the maximum equipment allowance was not
> spent
> in the first instance.
>
> If you are entitled to disabled students' allowance, we will normally
> make
> approved payments for equipment and non-medical help directly to your
> institution's finance office.
>
> You will need to make arrangements with your institution about how best
> these funds should be administered or distributed.
>
> Your institution will be required to provide invoices or receipts as
> proof
> of expenditure for all equipment and services provided by use of the
> DSA.
>
> Payments for daily expenses will be paid directly to you and you will not
> normally be required to produce receipts for items such and books and
> photocopying.
>
> Please note that any under spend must be repaid to the AHRC."
>
> Alex
>
> Alex Larg
>
> [log in to unmask]
> 07931 561 877 or 07916 175 077
> Freelance Assistive Technology Trainer
> Freelance study needs assessor
> Former Disability Officer
>
>
>
> On 27/4/07 09:59, "Penny Georgiou" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Dear Felicity,
> >
> > Your specific question probably means that you would simply make an
> > application to your LEA as a postgraduate student. It would not be a
> matter of
> > a 'switch' from the perspective of the LEA or the NHS - the system
> itself
> > doesn't 'think' in those terms.
> >
> > If you are uncertain about the process, contact me off list for more
> detail.
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Penny
> >
> > Penny Georgiou
> > North London Regional Access Centre
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. on
> behalf
> > of Felicity Burgess
> > Sent: Fri 27/04/2007 07:50
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Cc:
> > Subject: Re: Postgraduate DSA Funding
> >
> >
> >
> > Does anyone know about the protocol for NHS-funded undergrads switching
> to
> > an LEA-funded postgrad DSA? (Just wondering if I'm going to have to pay
> for
> > lots of medical evidence again).
> >
> >
> >
> > Quoting "Ian F." <[log in to unmask]>:
> >
> >> Hi, regarding LA-funded Postgrads, according to current (and
> previous)
> >> DfES guidance:
> >>
> >> quote:
> >> Once an LA has established that a student is an eligible student under
> >> the regulations (i.e. eligible to receive support for fees and loans)
> the
> >> student becomes eligible at that stage to receive DSA support. An
> >> assessment of course needs should be arranged as soon as possible
> after
> >> it is established that the student is eligible for support and the LA
> is
> >> satisfied that they have a disability, specific learning difficulty or
> a
> >> mental health problem. This arrangement should mean that appointments
> for
> >> assessments are spread over the early summer, and will help to reduce
> the
> >> backlog of appointments in September/October time...
> >>
> >> see
> >> http://www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport/administrators/doc/DSA
> Guidance.doc
> >>
> >> an html version of this document is available at
> >> http://www.asasa.org.uk/assessment/LA-DSA-2007.htm
> >>
> >> LAs are given specific advice about early DSA assessments by the DfES
> in
> >> this document:
> >>
> >> The cost of the early DSA assessment should be met from the DSA. ...
> In
> >> the case of students not going on to attend a course, they should not
> be
> >> asked to repay the fee for the needs assessment. In many cases, they
> will
> >> reapply for higher education courses the following year and in such
> >> cases, the needs assessment already completed for them should be
> >> sufficient to process their new DSA application. The Department is
> >> prepared to write off the assessment costs for those students who do
> not
> >> enter higher education.
> >>
> >> And about students going on to postgraduate studies:
> >>
> >> Students who have just graduated and are proceeding directly to
> >> postgraduate study should be able to use their current DSA assessment
> as
> >> a basis for their support. This means that for non-medical helpers,
> for
> >> example, the students can continue to receive support without the
> >> necessity of a new assessment. If the student wishes to undergo a new
> >> assessment, whether because the disability is now different or the
> needs
> >> of the course are substantially different, that can be paid for from
> the
> >> DSA. If the student seeks new equipment, the LA will need to take into
> >> account any equipment the student received as an undergraduate, having
> >> regard to how recently the equipment was bought and how appropriate it
> >> now is for the software necessary to support the studentıs disability.
> >> The Departmentıs view is that the LA could replace equipment provided
> in
> >> the first year of an undergraduate course, but would need to look
> >> carefully at requests for new equipment if it had been provided in the
> >> final year of an undergraduate course.
> >>
> >> Students who might be eligible for research council funding should
> start
> >> the application process asap. Research Councils tend to take a
> sensible
> >> approach by adopting the undergraduate DSA funding structure as
> opposed
> >> to the current postgrad single allowance provided by central
> government,
> >> which really needs to be sorted out as it makes no sense that a
> student
> >> who might need up to 20k or more worth of assistance as an
> undergraduate
> >> only needs around a quarter of this as a postgraduate.
> >>
> >> What is the 'protocol system', by the way? It doesn't seem to be
> >> mentioned in the guidance provided by the DfES.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: David Austen
> >> To: [log in to unmask]
> >> Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2007 4:54 PM
> >> Subject: Re: Postgraduate DSA Funding
> >>
> >>
> >> Hello Caroline
> >> Perhaps the situation with post graduate, as well as part time
> >> students, where the 'protocol system' does not allow LEAs to process a
> >> DSA application until the student is actually registered at the
> >> Institution (as last year), can also be addressed. There is also the
> >> situation where some LEAs are already processing applications for
> full
> >> time 07/08 undergrads, where others state that no applications will
> be
> >> processed until , again, the student is registered.
> >> This, as I understand it, is not in line with DFES guidelines.
> >> Best
> >> David Asuten
> >>
> >> www.cambridgeaccesscentre.com
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message ----
> >> From: Caroline Davies <[log in to unmask]>
> >> To: [log in to unmask]
> >> Sent: Thursday, 19 April, 2007 4:34:18 PM
> >> Subject: Re: Postgraduate DSA Funding
> >>
> >>
> >> I will ask for it to be put on the Agenda of the next Skill HE
> Working
> >> Party meeting in May. Maybe Skill can take some action on this with
> the
> >> funding councils.
> >>
> >> Caroline
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: Marie Norris
> >> To: [log in to unmask]
> >> Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2007 2:49 PM
> >> Subject: Re: Postgraduate DSA Funding
> >>
> >>
> >> Dear all,
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> For information:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> This was raised and discussed at the last NE Region Skill/DSA
> >> meeting. Ellen at Skill was gathering information about the issue as
> it
> >> had already caused a number of difficulties at some universities. (Her
> >> email address is [log in to unmask] )
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Best wishes, Marie
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Marie Norris
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> phone: 0845 833 9971
> >>
> >> fax: 0845 833 9979
> >>
> >> text/mobile: 07702 598408
> >>
> >> text only: 07786 204296
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> [log in to unmask]
> >>
> >> www.clear-links.co.uk
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Clear Links Support Ltd
> >>
> >> Globe Works
> >>
> >> Penistone Road
> >>
> >> Sheffield S6 3AE
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Please use the Globe Works address above for all correspondence.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Registered Office:
> >>
> >> Wake Smith Solicitors
> >>
> >> 68 Clarkehouse Road
> >>
> >> Sheffield S10 2LJ
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> This message and any attachments are confidential and should only
> be
> >> read by those to whom they are addressed. If you are not the intended
> >> recipient, please delete this message from your computer and destroy
> all
> >> copies. Any views or opinions are solely those of the author and do
> not
> >> necessarily represent those of the company.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support
> staff.
> >> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Emma Price
> >> Sent: 19 April 2007 12:38
> >> To: [log in to unmask]
> >> Subject: Postgraduate DSA Funding
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Dear all
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> There appears to be a number of research councils who are now
> >> transferring administrative and financial responsibility for the DSA
> >> directly to institutions. We are currently aware of the AHRC and the
> >> ESRC who have taken up this model. The AHRC have decided to transfer
> the
> >> required funds to the institution, in order to pay suppliers,
> non-medical
> >> helpers etc. The transfer goes directly into a general account (the
> same
> >> as used for any block grants) as and when requested. The ESRC work on
> a
> >> reimbursement system, with the College claiming back any deficit spent
> >> throughout the year on ESRC DSA. Iım skipping the details here,
> however
> >> this generally means that DSA goes into a wider pool of money, making
> our
> >> administrative task of getting our hands on the funds more
> problematic,
> >> though this may just be us! I wonder if this is a problem for other
> >> institutions who have a significant proportion of PG research
> activity.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> It would be ideal if someone at the research council was
> responsible
> >> for notifying the allocated Disability Support Officer at the
> institution
> >> when money was being transferred in the same way that LAs aim to
> keep
> >> DOs in the loop. No knowledge that the funds have been transferred
> >> results in an unnecessary delay for the student. Has anyone else
> found
> >> this?
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Best wishes
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Emma
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Emma Price
> >>
> >> Disability Co-ordinator
> >>
> >> Kingıs College London
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >> Yahoo! Mail is the world's favourite email. Don't settle for less,
> sign
> >> up for your free account today.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >>
> >> No virus found in this incoming message.
> >> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> >> Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 269.5.4/768 - Release Date:
> >> 19/04/2007 05:32
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users.
> >> It has removed 280 spam emails to date.
> >> Paying users do not have this message in their emails.
> >> Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
|