WIREDGOV

New measures to improve support for disabled students, including procedures for those who do not fall within the existing criteria for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) but may benefit from this help, have been announced by Ministers today.

The moves - following the first review of the DSA since it was introduced in the 1970s - will mean that disabled students in Scotland will become the first in the UK to benefit from the introduction of formal procedures for exceptional cases.

This will ensure that if they do not meet the existing criteria for help, but their application is supported by their institution, their case is reviewed as quickly as possible by an expert group.

Other key changes include:

• Introduction of guidance which makes it clear that students should not be expected to pay for a diagnosis to support their DSA application
• Improvements to the application process to make it more efficient and more focused on students' needs
• Extending the non-medical help allowance, which the Scottish Government increased by 60 per cent last year, to cover voluntary tutorials for Open University students, for example to cover the costs of a sign language interpreter for a student.
• Introduction of improved information and guidance to the sector to increase awareness of DSA eligibility to ensure that students who can benefit are aware of this support

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop said:

"Colleges and universities are working to continuously improve access for disabled students. This review - the first since the Disabled Students Allowance was introduced in the 1970s - will help us build on that work and ensure that disabled students get the support they need to undertake their studies on a level playing field with their peers.

"In response to the interim findings, we have already increased the maximum threshold of the non-medical help allowance for disabled students by 60 per cent. Today, following the recommendations from the final report, we will be putting in place additional measures to improve the help available, from ensuring students no longer have to meet the costs of a DSA diagnosis to extending the DSA provisions to cover support with voluntary tutorials.

"We will also be strengthening the guidance to all those involved in supporting disabled students within the sector and among partnership organisations such as NHS Boards and local authorities so everyone is clear of their roles and responsibilities. These students have an important contribution to make to Scotland's future success and improving the support available to them now, will benefit both the students themselves and our society and economy in the years to come."

The Scottish Government also confirmed today that Partnership Matters - guidance for staff working in colleges, social work, health and other agencies outlining the arrangements for supporting disabled students with additional support needs- is to be extended to ensure it also covers universities.

NUS Scotland's Disabled Students Officer Lucy Strachan said:

"NUS Scotland welcomes these moves. With many disabled students not claiming the support they are entitled to, this is a positive step towards widening access to further and higher education in Scotland. However, any changes made to IT and travel allowances must be carefully considered and we look forward to working with the Government on this in the near future."

The DSA is designed to cover any extra costs or expenses a student may have while they are studying due to their disability. It is not income assessed and instead varies, depending on individual need.

It is made up of three parts:

• The large items of equipment allowance for which a student may claim up to £5,030 (as at 2008-09) for the whole period of study to cover the cost of equipment such as a personal computer, a Braille printer or note-taker
• The non-medical helpers allowance which can be used to pay for personal assistance such as sign language interpreters, for which students can apply for up to £20,000 (as at 2008-09) for each academic year. This threshold was increased by 60 per cent during the last academic year, following the review's initial findings
• The basic yearly allowance of up to £1,680 (as at 2008-09) a year. This can be used for items such as printer cartridges and photocopying charges. Students can also use any unspent basic allowance to top up the other two allowances if necessary

Related Information

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Funding-Support-Grants/FFL/PMB