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Quoting Peter Hill <[log in to unmask]>: > > 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! Way back in the mists of time an exercise was conducted to see what could be seen as a reasonable cost for a student with special needs in accessing the internet; for example where they had to meet additional costs due to the additional time taken to read a web page or conduct research. At this time if the student had access to the internet it was most likely to be through a pay as you go arrangement and the costs were quite high. It is for this reason that so many students were awarded costs as high as £80. Now with most students signing up to broadband there will be no additional costs as they have access 24/7. Now don't all shout at once I am not saying that a student should not have access to the internet paid for from the DSA I am just saying that, an assessor has to be very clear that access to the internet is an essential part of the course and that it is for this reason only that costs are to be met through the DSA. I am also aware that costs have fallen dramatically over the last decade and with costs being as low as £8.50 per month allowing costs of £200 seems a little excessive. Costs when this high usually include TV access and telephone calls, not sure that the DSA should be used this way. All the best Ian -- Ian Webb Disability Adviser/Assessor MNADP