Disability Support at College
Support at College
Further education at college or sixth form can be a great way to pick up new skills, open up new career options or prepare for higher education. Being disabled or having a specific learning difficulty needn’t limit your choices.
Further education and your prospects
Whether you’re 16 or 60, there’s a huge variety of courses available. Options range from courses covering the basics of reading, writing and numbers to GCSEs and A levels. There are also opportunities to get into work-based learning, through NVQs and apprenticeships.
Having an impairment or a learning difficulty doesn’t have to limit your options. You will need to take care choosing the course and institution that are right for you.
Support at college or sixth form
Colleges and sixth forms have to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ so that disabled people don’t suffer a substantial disadvantage.
They might, for example, provide one-to-one support, a sign language interpreter or copies of documents in other formats.
The type of support available varies, so it’s important to check beforehand. It’s a good idea to visit the place so you can see what’s available for yourself. The college’s Learning Support Adviser or Special Education Needs Co-ordinator will be able to give you details.
You can also get a copy of the college or school’s Disability Equality Statement. This sets out how it plans to promote equal opportunities for disabled people. You may need support that does not get covered in the Disability Statement. However, the college may be able to provide it, so you need to ask.
Going to a specialist college
If your local college cannot offer a course to suit your disability-related needs, you may be able to get a place at a specialist college. Most of these colleges are independent and cater specifically for students with disabilities or learning difficulties. They are often residential.
Contact your Connexions personal adviser or Connexions Direct if you think this might be an option for you.
You will need to get financial support from the Learning and Skills Council, based on an assessment of your needs. The assessment is carried out by the Connexions service. You can also get advice about the application process from the service.
Getting into further education at 16
Making the transition from school to further education
If you had a statement of special educational needs while at school, you should have a ‘transition plan’ giving details of the support you’ll need once you leave. If you stay on at school to attend sixth form, you’ll continue to get the help set out in your statement.
Your sixth form or college should pay for your learning support. Personal or medical care services will be arranged through your local health authority or social services department.
Your Connexions personal adviser should work with these different agencies to make sure arrangements are in place.
Advice on your options after 16
Connexions Direct provides advice on learning, careers and more. If you are disabled or have a learning difficulty, you can get support up to the age of 25.
freephone 0808 001 3219
text phone 08000 968 336
You can also get in touch via email or text message.
Getting into further education as an adult
See ‘Get learning’ for guidance on getting into further education – whether you’re looking to catch up on something you missed out on at school, or prepare for a higher education course.
Learning from home
e-learning and distance learning courses let you do all or part of your studying from home. It’s an option worth considering if you have a disability that makes it difficult to get to college.
Residential training for disabled adults
If you’re unemployed, have the potential to take up work and there’s no suitable training available locally, you may be able to get on a residential training scheme.
There are over 50 vocational courses on offer, and you’ll get an allowance to help with your costs.
Advice on adult learning courses
Contact the Careers Advice service for free, impartial guidance on finding a course.
- freephone 0800 100 900
Depending on your circumstances, you may also be able to get personal, face-to-face advice from your local nextstep service.
Claiming benefits while you’re in further education
Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance could provide financial help if you need personal care or have walking difficulties because of a disability.
Starting a course won’t affect your entitlement.
Employment and Support Allowance
If you have a disability and you’re on a low income, you may also be able to claim income-related Employment and Support Allowance while you’re studying.
Incapacity Benefit
Incapacity Benefit is a weekly payment for people who can’t work due to illness or disability. It has been replaced with Employment and Support Allowance for new claimants.
If you’re currently getting Incapacity Benefit, you may be able to carry on claiming it while doing a course.
Income Support
If you have a disability and you’re on a low income, you may also be able to claim Income Support while you’re studying.
More about claiming benefits while you’re studying
For a detailed guide to claiming benefits as a disabled student, see the Skill website.
Directgov has information on other benefits you may be able to claim if you’re a disabled student on a low income – such as Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
Disabled Students’ Allowances – How Much You Can Get
How much you get depends on your individual needs
The amount of help available through Disabled Students’ Allowances is based on an assessment of your individual needs – up to a maximum allowance. The different allowances have different limits. This page offers a guide to how much you can get if you are a student from England.
Working out Disabled Students’ Allowances
Disabled Students’ Allowances are aimed at helping people with a disability, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty to study on the same basis as other students. So how much you get depends on your individual needs – up to a maximum allowance.
When you apply, you will be asked to go for a needs assessment to establish exactly what support you require. This will be carried out by a person with specialist experience at an independent assessment centre, or at a centre within your college or university. The cost of the needs assessment may be met through your Disabled Students’ Allowances.
If you’re a part-time student, the amount you can get is also affected by the ‘intensity’ of your course – how much time you spend studying compared to a full-time student.
Household income is not taken into account when working out entitlement to Disabled Students’ Allowances. They’re paid on top of any help you get through the standard student finance package, and you don’t have to pay them back.
Allowances for full-time and part-time higher education students
The tables below show the maximum allowances for full-time and part-time higher education students (including Open University students and other distance learners).
Maximum allowances are meant to support the highest levels of need, so most people will get less.
On top of the allowances listed in this table, you can claim for ‘reasonable spending’ on extra travel costs for the academic year.
Maximums for full-time and part-time higher education students: 2009/2010
| Type of allowance | Full-time students | Part-time students |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist equipment | £5,161 for entire course | £5,161 for entire course |
| Non-medical helper | £20,520 a year | £15,390 a year (depends on intensity of course) |
| General Disabled Students’ Allowances | £1,724 a year | £1,293 a year (depends on intensity of course) |
Allowances for postgraduate students
Postgraduate students (including Open University students and other distance learners) can apply for a single allowance to cover all costs.
The maximum allowance for 2009/2010 is £10,260.
How they are paid
The money will either be paid into your bank account or directly to the supplier of the services - for example your university, college or equipment supplier.
Effect on other financial help
Disabled Students’ Allowances are not counted as income when working out your entitlement to benefits or tax credits.
If your circumstances change
If your disability becomes more severe during your course, you can apply to have another needs assessment. Contact the organisation which handled your application to arrange this.
You’ll still be entitled to Disabled Students’ Allowances if you transfer to another course. But if you need different equipment and you’ve already used up your equipment allowance, you will not be able to get any more through Disabled Students’ Allowances.
Applying for 2008/2009
This page contains information about the 2009/2010 academic year.
If you are applying for 2008/2009, you can find out about DSA rates in ‘Bridging the Gap: a guide to Disabled Students’ Allowances in higher education’. You can download a copy of this from the ‘Student finance forms and guides 2008/2009′ page.
Source: DirectGov
Assistive Technology and Training
Specialist Equipment
A common outcome from a Disabled Students’ Allowances needs assessment , is a recommendation for the purchase of specialist equipment (or ‘assistive technology’). It may also include training on how to use this effectively.
Who buys the equipment recommended in my needs assessment report?
You will need to contact your funding body (e.g. Local Authority, Student Finance England or NHS Student Bursaries) to find this out. They may purchase the equipment for you and arrange a delivery date, or they may ask you to buy the equipment yourself and provide them with receipts. Individual funding bodies vary in their approach to this, so you should always ask.
What happens if it is recommended that I need a computer?
When you have a Disabled Students’ Allowances needs assessment, the assessor will recommend the most appropriate solution to overcome any study-related disability difficulties you may have. This is to allow you to have the same level of access to your study as other students.
If your assessor decides that the most appropriate solution is to recommend a computer (either laptop or desktop) they will include this in your report. It is up to your funding body to decide whether they agree to purchase the recommendations made in your assessment report however.
You are strongly advised to keep to the original recommendation made in your report. This will be the best solution to your difficulties and complement any other recommendations made. However, you may be able to negotiate with your funding body about whether you receive a laptop or desktop machine.
How is my need for training identified?
Your need for training is normally agreed as part of your needs assessment. A copy of your assessment report is then sent to your funding body (normally your Local Authority, NHS Grants Unit or Student Finance England). The funding body will then confirm whether they agree to fund the recommendation made for you to have training.
How is my training paid for?
Your training will normally be paid for from your Disabled Students’ Allowances. You will need to arrange payment between your funding body (e.g. Local Authority) and the trainer that is identified in your needs assessment report.
Source: UWE
Disabled Students’ Allowances
Disabled Student Allowances
Disabled Students’ Allowances provide extra financial help if you have a disability or specific learning difficulty like dyslexia. They are available on top of the standard student finance package and don’t have to be repaid. This page is an introduction to what is available if you live in England.
Who Disabled Students’ Allowances are aimed at
Disabled Students’ Allowances are grants to help meet the extra course costs students can face as a direct result of a disability or specific learning difficulty. They are aimed at helping disabled people to study on an equal basis with other students.
Eligible full-time, part-time and postgraduate students can apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances.
The amount you get doesn’t depend on your household income. Disabled Students’ Allowances are paid on top of the standard student finance package, and don’t have to be paid back.
What they can be used for
Disabled Students’ Allowances can help pay for:
- specialist equipment you need for studying – for example, computer software
- a non-medical helper, such as a note-taker or reader
- extra travel costs you have to pay because of your disability
- other costs – for example, tapes or Braille paper
Eligibility
You can apply if you are doing:
- a full-time course that lasts at least one year (including a distance-learning course)
- a part-time course that lasts at least one year and doesn’t take more than twice as long to complete as an equivalent full-time course (including a distance-learning course)
Checking that you’re eligible for student finance
To apply for financial help through Disabled Students’ Allowances, both you and your course must meet some other conditions. It’s worth checking these before you make your application. Read Full Article
Source: DirectGov
