The advice I quoted was an answer to a specific question from an LEA.

The main Chapter of guidance for LEAs is available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport/administrators/dsp_section_63.shtml It's the one called 2004/2005 STUDENT FINANCE IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT: DISABLED STUDENT'S ALLOWANCES (No longer Chapter 7 or even Chapter 7a - numbers are just so last season) There is a sizeable section on the scope of DSA.

Changes throughout the year are normally notified to LEAs through issues of Update, which are also sent to HEIs and are available through the "For all administrators" link on the DfES site.

Kath Henderson
Team Leader - Student Support
Education Department
Overseas House
PO Box 191
Quay Street
Manchester             Tel. No: 0161 234 7076
M60 3ST                 Fax No: 0161 234 7004                      



Julia Tait <[log in to unmask]>
Sent by: "Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff." <[log in to unmask]>

26/08/2004 09:59
Please respond to "Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff."

       
        To:        [log in to unmask]
        cc:        
        Subject:        Re: digital hearing aids as part of DSA {OCC Scanned}




Thanks to everyone for their thoughts on digital hearing  aids.  Kath Henderson quoted from DfES advice to an LEA.  Is this  specific or general information?  If this is general info, is  it available on line and if so, can someone send me the  details?  
 
Thanks again
 
Julia Tait
Oxford Assessment Centre


From: Discussion list for disabled students and  their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kath  Henderson
Sent: 25 August 2004 16:01
To:  [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: digital hearing aids as part of  DSA {OCC Scanned}


The following is advice that an LEA  has had from the DfES:

"As you know DSAs are  designed to pay for the extra costs incurred by a disabled student as a direct  result of their disability in respect of their attendance on a course of higher  education.  DSAs are not intended to cover disability related expenditure  which the student would incur even if they were not attending a course of higher  education.

The Department believes there is a clear  difference between the support that the DSA will cover and that for which the  NHS is responsible.  It is the Department's view that hearing aids are  medical equipment the student would require whether attending a course or  not.  Hearing aids are not something, therefore, that should be paid for  from the DSA.  If digital hearing aids are not yet available on the NHS,  the Department does not believe it appropriate to use the DSA to make up a  shortfall in current NHS provision."

The LEA is therefore unlikely to approve funding for a second hearing aid  since even a first one would fall outside the scope of DSA, and it probably  isn't appropriate to raise the student's expectations by recommending one.  

Kath Henderson
Team Leader -  Student Support
Education Department
Overseas House
PO Box 191
Quay  Street
Manchester             Tel. No: 0161 234  7076
M60 3ST                 Fax No:  0161 234 7004                       



Julia Tait  <[log in to unmask]>
Sent  by: "Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff."  <[log in to unmask]>  

25/08/2004 15:45
Please respond to "Discussion list for disabled  students and their support staff."
       
        To:         [log in to unmask]
        cc:          
        Subject:         digital hearing aids as part of DSA {OCC  Scanned}




Has anyone had   experience of recommending a digital hearing aid as part of a  student's  DSA?   The student in question has a pair but  says she needs a  spare in case one breaks down. 
 
Thanks for your  help.  
 
Julia  Tait  
Manager,   Access Centre Oxford
 
 

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