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/
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