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I don't know if anyone can tell me where to go but I have not seen the advice from Student Support Division 1 that David refers to about paying for needs assessments before students have an unconditional place. I have been waiting for it for some time , so I have been looking out for it. All that I can recall seeing is the 'Bridging the Gap' booklet which states 'It is planned that from this academic year 2002/3, once you have established your eligibility ... and you have proved that you are disabled ... then the LEA can arrange for a needs assessment to be carried out well before the start of term and even before you have a confirmed place. Ask your LEA for more information.' I have seen no confirmation that we can do this nor any 'more information'. Is there any? Helen Gifford Team Leader - Student Support Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 1RF Tel: 01628 796688 Fax: 01628 796685 E-mail: [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: David Laycock [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Friday, May 24, 2002 10:11 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: DSA application > Can students' DSA applications now be processed before they have > received an unconditional offer on an HE course? (I know they can > apply at any time). > > Regards > > Peter Hill The HE members of the NADO Exec were invited to the DfES last Tuesday and this was one of the items we raised. Despite the agreement to allow assessments to be carried out early, there still seemes confusion among awards Officers that this had happened. Student Support Division 1 who manage the DSA process stated that notes to this effect were in both Bridging the Gap and in their normal guidelines to LEAs. What has not been agreed to is the processing of the support arising from the Needs Assessment. This is understandable given there is a finite risk of the student not joining a course and the much greater cost implications of following through the assessment. However, where severe disabilities, or conditions like blindness, would argue in favour of early access to equipment to begin learning to use it, then things are much as they have always been and LEAs will often agree to early supply of IT. While such a claim could be made for dyslexics, the distinction that has to be drawn is that for some students the final course outcome might make the difference between a PC and an Apple system. While for some disabilities, like blindness, such a platform change isn't an option as only PCs offer the required specialist facilitities. So there would be less risk in allowing early access. Something that did appear in the draft version was that assessment fees could not be paid until 1st September but even this has since been withdrawn. Dave Laycock Head of CCPD Chair of NADO Computer Centre for People with Disabilities University of Westminster 72 Great Portland Street London W1N 5AL tel. 020 7911-5161 fax. 020 7911-5162 WWW home page: http://www.wmin.ac.uk/ccpd/ ********************************************************************** This e-mail is confidential and is intended only for the person(s) named above. If you are not the intended addressee it is requested that you do not copy, distribute or rely on the information contained within the e-mail, as such action may be unlawful. If it has reached you by mistake then please call 01628 798888 to let us know or notify us by e-mail and then delete the message. Thank you for your help http://www.rbwm.gov.uk **********************************************************************