On 2 December, the Minister of State for Universities and Science set out some reforms to Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs). Universities and colleges will be required to make any reasonable adjustments that may prove necessary. DSAs support will, however, continue to be available to individual students where their needs are not met through these.
These changes will take effect for students applying for DSAs for the first time from 1 August 2016.
What are the changes?
- Higher education (HE) providers should take primary responsibility for most non-medical help in bands one and two – DSAs will still fund sighted guides.
- DSAs will continue to cover non-medical help under bands three and four, but HE providers will be expected to provide specialist transcription services.
- Where specialist accommodation is not provided by the university or college, DSAs will cover the additional costs.
- Devices for printing, scanning, and voice recording will no longer be provided as standard.
- Standard computer peripherals will only be funded by exception.
Visit GOV.UK for full details of the proposal and outcomes.