Navigating DSA
Our tips on accessing support.
Disability and Wellbeing Support Services
Before attending university, you may want to explore the disability and wellbeing support services that are available to you at your institution.
The disability team usually assists you with the implementation of reasonable adjustments and accommodations that will facilitate accessing your course, this is usually where you organise to meet and develop an individual support/learning plan. The disability team would be the best place to start to ensure your learning needs are understood and your university is aware of them (in advance) of the commencement of your studies.
What is Mentoring?
If you have received Learning Support in the past at school, college, sixth form or high school, you may already have some ideas about how you would like to be supported when you are at university. Think about what was useful to you and what worked well or helped you in that support, these could be things that you continue doing when at university with your new mentor. On the other hand, think about what might not have worked well or what you didn’t like in your previous support, what could be done differently now that you are at university?
We know that not all students have experienced support in their previous education at school or college so we have produced this list of ideas of what you might like to use your mentoring for. These are just some examples of what mentoring can be used for, mentoring is individual and based on your DSA Needs Assessment Report and discussion with your mentor. Mentoring changes and evolves over time based on what you need and you may cover many different aspects of these ideas throughout your time at university.
Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)
DSA is a source of funding that is awarded to you to facilitate access to your learning.
If you have applied via UCAS, once your place has been confirmed you can then apply for DSA.
If you are applying, but currently attend university, you can still apply as long as you are in attendance of your current course and registered with your university and Student Finance.
You will need to provide medical evidence of your disability - this can include: a copy of a report or letter from your doctor or consultant. *Student Finance England also accepts a disability evidence form.
*There may also be other forms of medical evidence that can be used. If you are unsure as to whether you have the correct evidence, it is best to check with your specific DSA provider. See below for useful links to home student DSA providers.*
How to Apply
If you are a home student applying in the following countries, here's where you can access support:
England: DSA Student Finance England
Scotland: Students Awards Agency for Scotland
Wales: Student Finance Wales
Northern Ireland: Student Finance Northern Ireland
Assessment Process
What's involved?
1
Student Finance will contact you with instructions on arranging your DSA needs assessment.
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If you've had a needs assessment before (common in higher education), DSA may refer you back to the same assessor for a 'needs review.' This is normal and nothing to worry about.
2
You are invited to a needs assessment. This is not a test but a chance to share your diagnosis and how it affects your learning with your university and DSA.
3
Your assessor will then provide you with a written report outlining what support they have recommended on your behalf to receive. Your needs assessor will then send the report to your Student Finance provider.
Confirmation of Application
Once you have had your needs assessment report submitted, Student Finance will then send you an email confirmation which will indicate what support has been awarded to you.
There are usually instructions with these email with details of how to access your awarded support and/or resources.
Accessing your Support
After receiving the confirmation email, and your funding has been confirmed by Student Finance you should contact the approved providers of your support and/or resources.
If your support is awarded with us, email us at admin@bridgementoring.co.uk