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I am currently supporting a severely asthmatic Occupational Therapy student with her claim for NHS funding through the DSA for the cost of a portable nebuliser. The student purchased this at the beginning of her course and is now wishing to put in a retrospective claim for its reimursement. The equipment allows her to administer her medication quickly and efficiently without the use of an electrical source and is therefore extremely useful during the teaching day when she would otherwise have to leave lectures and other teaching sessions in order to take her Ventolin. Her funding body's objection to the claim seems to lie in the fact that it is being claimed retrospectively. My argument is that although she may have been a little premature in purchasing the device, it was not something that she could have reasonably waited for, bearing in mind that claims can sometimes take a fairly long time to process - especially at the beginning of the year when support staff become inundated. In addition, the same funding body has accepted retrospective claims for the cost of study skills support sessions from dyslexic students over an academic year! Has anyone had a similar experience and, if so, what was the outcome? Also, if the NHS funding body doesn't shift in their decision, does anyone know of other sources which may help? The claim has the full backing of the Course Leader. Amanda Shaw Brunel University, UK [log in to unmask] %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%