I recently assessed a deaf student who reported difficulties waking for morning apointments/lectures. As a result I recommended a vibrating alarm clock through her DSA. This was subsequently turned down by the DSA as an item the student would need in day to day life and not specificaly needed for her studies. I've included an extract from the response below:-
`In relation to the Vibrating alarm clock, I have no doubt that this
student requires this alarm clock to ensure she makes appointments and
lectures on time, the reason as to why I cannot fund it through the DSA
is, it is not a piece of equipment that is required solely because she is
studying at Higher Education, I am positive that this student would
require this alarm clock if she were not at university, for example to get
to work on time? to meet friends in the morning? etc.`
For me this argument has further implications that I needs to clarify as potentially it can be used to reject any recommendation. For example, a visually impaired student recommended CCTV equipment could use this in every day life to read labels, magazines, timetables etc. Does application in everyday life therefore preclude it as a DSA recommendation? I'm therefore having trouble applying this reasoning myself let alone having to explain this logic to the student. Any thoughts on how I can square this argument and apply it reasonably and fairly as at the moment I can see that the majority of recommendations I normally make could be rejected if this logic is applied strictly.
Many thanks,
Mark
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