If you wish to avail of an allowance through the Disabled Students Allowances (DSA), you must go through a disabled student assessment. This procedure is usually undertaken by the Student Finance England. You will have to submit a DSA1 application form to be entertained for this allowance and to get a review that will either qualify you for the allowance or not.
After you complete the DSA1 form, you must send it to the funding body as soon as possible along with proof of your disability. Evidence of your disability may come from a medical doctor, an educational psychologist or other credited medical professional. If your proof of disability is accepted by the funding body, you can then proceed to undergo an evaluation at an accredited Assessment Centre.
Your evaluation will involve a meeting between you and an assessor. The person who will evaluate your case is a highly trained person who is knowledgeable about students with disabilities. Disabilities may be educational, physical or mental. During your evaluation, your needs will be discussed along with the requirements of your course. The equipment you will need for your studies will also be assessed and provided.
All possible support will be offered so that you can study. During your meeting, an agreement will be formed, which will be submitted to the funding body for approval. This report, sometimes referred to as a needs further evaluation, also informs the funding body of how much funding or support you need to study. Many students get into financial difficulty. See: the Student Loan and Bankruptcy –
Aside from being useful for you, an evaluation will also allow your school to know which strategies to apply in your case so that you can get the most of your education. Before your evaluation, you should come up with a list of things that you need to be able to study well. Analyse your disability, the campus, and facilities and then think about your limitations in connection to these factors.
Think about how the surroundings will affect your ability to study and how you can overcome these roadblocks. Think of things that can make it easier for you to overcome the difficulties you will face once you start your course. There may be some technological aids that you can use to ease your burdens. Maybe access facilities for the disabled can be installed on campus.
You can arrange for an evaluation once the funding body has confirmed your application. The funding body will permit you to have an assessment. This permission may come in the form of a letter informing you that you may go to an evaluation centre for a DSA Study Needs Assessment. Once you get this notification, make a call to the centre to set an appointment.
A disabled student assessment is free of charge and will be part of your ability to avail of financial and equipment support from your school. The result of your assessment will determine if you can get funding or other benefits that will help you attend your classes and study in a handicap-friendly environment.
