About Disabled Students' Allowance assessment
If you wish to apply for funding through the Disabled Students' Allowances, you must do so through Funding body, typically this would be Student Finance England. You must complete and submit the DSA1 form, (available at: www.direct.gov.uk/dsa). Nursing or Social Work students and in receipt of an NHS Bursaries should apply to the NHS Bursaries Office.
Completed forms should be sent back to your funding body as soon as possible along with proof of your disability. In the case of dyslexia (or any other specific learning difficulty) this will be a copy of your diagnostic report (e.g. from an educational psychologists). If your evidence is accepted your funding body will then write to you with permission for you to proceed for an 'Assessment of Needs' at the Access Centre. The Access Centre, based at the Hendon campus within Disability Support, is an accredited DSA assessment centre.
What does the assessment involve?
• The assessment is the meeting between you and an assessor, a person qualified by their experience and knowledge of the equipment and support that students with disabilities (including dyslexia) need to study successfully at university.
• At the meeting, your needs and the demands of your course will be discussed. The assessor will aim to agree with you all the equipment and support that you need for your studies.
• The assessor will subsequently produce a written report of what was agreed with you. Copies will be sent to yourself and to your funding body for their agreement.
• The report (sometimes referred to as a 'needs assessment') is used to advise the funding body as to the Disabled Students Allowance funded support you would require.
• The assessment will also help you and your university or college discuss and agree important study strategies so that you can get the most out of your course.
During the assessment session you will have the opportunity to:
• Consider all the things you will need to be able to do when taking the course
• Think about how your disability (or dyslexia or other specific learning difficulty) might affect you on the course.
• Look at various strategies you could use, some of which might involve using technology aids, to do these things as independently as possible.
How do I arrange for an assessment?
Before you arrange an assessment, you must have confirmation from your funding authority that they agree for you to have one. This should be in the form of the letter you would receive advising you to have a DSA Study Needs Assessment at an Assessment Centre
Simply get in touch with the Access Centre and book an assessment.
You need not be a student of Middlesex University in order to use the DSA assessment services of the Access Centre. Telephone: 020 8411 5366 or email: adminac@mdx.ac.uk
North London Regional Access Centre
Current waiting times for a DSA Assessment appointment
Appointments are currently available within one to two weeks of enquiry.
• Access Centre
•Complaints Procedure
How do I prepare for the assessment?
1. Find out about the activities the course will expect you to participate in:-
•How is the course delivered (lectures, seminars, labs)?
•How are you assessed? e.g. exams, coursework.
•Do you need to use any particular equipment or software?
•How might the workload change over the course?
•How much reading will you need to do?
•How many teaching hours are there every week?
•Do tutors expect students to use email and online resources?
•Do you need to go on a placement or undertake field trips?
2. Think about how effective your previous study strategies were. Did you have help from family, friends or teachers - people who might not be able to help as much now?
3. Make sure you know how to get to the Access Centre.
4. Arrange any personal assistance or communication support you might need during the day.
You can help the assessor by doing the following:
• Bring along any relevant medical information or other information (such as a dyslexia report) to your assessment. Even better, send a copy to the assessor in advance!
• Bring along a few recent examples of your written work, such as lecture notes or essays.
• Speak to your tutors and disability support staff about your specific needs - they could have useful suggestions. A letter from a tutor or disability adviser giving details of any specific concerns can be brought to the assessment or sent (or emailed) in advance.
Important documents you will need to bring to your needs assessment:
• The letter from your funding body asking you to arrange for an Assessment of Needs.
If you have dyslexia or dyspraxia:
• Your Educational Psychologist's Report (sometimes called Assessment)
If you have a physical disability, sensory impairment, medical condition, mental illness or incapacity
• Supporting evidence from your GP or hospital consultant
Assistive technology training
The Access Centre hosts a team of Specialist IT trainers, who deliver training on a wide range of programmes and accessories, including assistive technology, recorders, internet and email functions. This is aimed to ensure that the technical support systems provided by DSA funding truly meets it's mark, wherever possible, in enabling students to maximise their academic performance to a level more in keeping with their underlying ability.
Trainers will report back on any issues arising in the system, hence providing a valuable monitoring service, as well as the possibility to 'fine tune' the system so that it is fully tailored to the student's needs.
To book training, telephone the Access Centre on 020 8411 4659 when you have a delivery date for the equipment.