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Dear Alice, If the student doesn't already have internet at home, then there is a spurious logic operating in an apparent distinction between social and study needs. This is actually to conflate social desireability and study need by placing them both within the register of needs. Presumably, the student can manage without the socially desirable dimension of internet use but the study need will have consequences for his/her performance in their studies. If the student is willing not to make the purchase on the basis of a social desire (not need), then this is an additional cost due to their disability. In such a case, the DSA should be funding internet purchase, not be attempting to penalise them for the possible bonus of social enjoyment. If a student already has internet access, I don't recommend any reimbursement. The same logic operating, but in the reverse direction: If the student is paying for the internet for social reasons, then the internet benefits come as a bonus and don't incur any additional costs that need to be reimbursed. Regards, Penny Georgiou NLRAC -----Original Message----- From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. on behalf of Peter Hill Sent: Tue 01/05/2007 15:46 To: [log in to unmask] Cc: Subject: Re: book costs and internet costs Hi The Needs Assessment should include a rationale. e.g. student needs access to own copies of books because a) he/she is a slow reader and struggles to get through the reading before the books are due for return to the library and/or b) student needs to annotate and highlight text in order to help ensure comprehension, assimilation and retention. Re Internet costs: student may need to use access technology (e.g. Jaws, TextHelp or other) to read webpages. Such software is not always available on University machines. As a Needs Assessor, when I recommend funding for Internet access, it's usually £180 - £200 per year. I know we're talking about taxpayers' money here - but it seems a bit mean to split it in half! Regards Peter Hill Alice Pennington wrote: > A student received their LA letter recently responding to their DSA > assessment which recommended funding for a book allowance (but not > “core” texts) and internet costs. > > The LA have said they will not fund this because all students are > expected to access books and use library facilities. They will only fund > book costs if the university write to them confirming that this is needed. > > > > The LA have also said that because it is difficult to differentiate > social and study needs when accessing the internet, they will only > approve to fund 50% of the internet cost which they see as a fair > contribution. > > > > > > I haven’t come across this sort of response before – has anyone else? > > > > > > Thanks > > alice > > > > Alice Pennington > > University Disability Adviser, > > Roehampton University > > > > Reception Tel: 020 8392 3113 or 3403 > > Direct Tel: 020 8392 3875 > > Email: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> > > > > http://studentzone.roehampton.ac.uk/disability/index.html > > > > P Consider the environment. Please don't print this e-mail unless you > really need to. > > > > > > > > > > > > > This email and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the addressee and may also be privileged or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the addressee, or have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately, delete it from your system and do not copy, disclose or otherwise act upon any part of this email or its attachments. > > Internet communications are not guaranteed to be secure or virus-free. > Roehampton University does not accept responsibility for any loss arising from unauthorised access to, or interference with, any Internet communications by any third party, or from the transmission of any viruses. > > Any opinion or other information in this e-mail or its attachments that does not relate to the business of Roehampton University is personal to the sender and is not given or endorsed by Roehampton University. > > Roehampton University is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in England under number 5161359. Registered office at Erasmus House, Roehampton Lane, London SW15 5PU. An exempt charity. > -- Peter J Hill Tel: 01905 391 547 Mobile: 07751 792711 Email: [log in to unmask]