General DSA

If I am given just the general DSA due to being dyslexic (just the £1700 a year) how will it come?

Will it come as money into my bank account? money to the school or equipment sent straight to me? and do I have to show receits?

Also If it is money and I have to show receits, will I be able to buy equipment before I get it and then give them the receit when I qualify?

And is a dyslexia assesment form that is older than 2 year but not older than 2.5 year acceptable?

Thank you for you help.

Reply 1

TempusV

The DSA generally isn't provided in terms of money. There are three types of allowance that are set out for specific purposes.

Specialist Equipment Allowance
Non-medical Helper Allowance
General Allowance

Any equipment that you would receive would come out of the first allowance, and other things such as printing, photocopying etc. out of the third. The allowances are non-interchangeable. Also generally you will not get to choose how to spend the allowance; the needs assessment will set out exactly what is required and how much money to allow for each specific thing. Things covered under the general allowance are usually things that you will send them a receipt for and then receive the money back.

According to the 'Bridging the Gap' book any assessment is accepted provided it was carried out when you were 16 or older.

Hope that helps :smile:

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Reply 2

J.B.

You won't be given any money/cash as such. There is a maximum amount of DSA available per student, but this isn't paid out like normal tuition fees/maintenance. It isn't means tested and is based entirely on individual needs.

DSA is used to fund any support that is deemed necessary in order to support you on your course- and is based on an individual needs assessment.

Money for equipment/note takers/transport for example is never paid directly to you, and is always paid by your LEA directly to the provider of that service.

Any equipment that you need will be provided by your LEA. In most cases after assessing your needs, they will recommend certain items. You can request certain types of equipment, for instance a preference of comupter, but you wouldn't normally buy these yourself- and ultimately the decision to fund certain items is at the discretion of your LEA.

Normally the only things you will need to show receipts for are 'consumables'- for example books, photocopying, printer cartridges and paper. In this case you would send receipts to your LEA at the end of each academic term or year for direct reimbursement into your bank account.

Reply 3

swiftuk

8

The needs assessment can ask the part or all of the general allowance is used for equipment etc, but that's highly unlikely if you 'only' have dyslexia.

Reply 4

TempusV

swiftuk

The needs assessment can ask the part or all of the general allowance is used for equipment etc, but that's highly unlikely if you 'only' have dyslexia.

Why would the general allowance be used over the specialist equipment allowance in the case of equipment when that allowance has not been used?

Reply 5

Scary Monster

6

I believe it's that general allowance can be used to make up either of the other two if you run out of them.

Reply 6

TempusV

Ah yes, I can understand that. I just don't quite get why it would be used in place of the specialist equipment allowance when that has not been used.

Reply 7

swiftuk

8

TempusV

Ah yes, I can understand that. I just don't quite get why it would be used in place of the specialist equipment allowance when that has not been used.

What I wrote=what scary said.

Reply 8

TempusV

swiftuk

The needs assessment can ask the part or all of the general allowance is used for equipment etc, but that's highly unlikely if you 'only' have dyslexia.

Not that it matters, but the difference is that you didn't specify that you would have to run out of the specialist equipment allowance first. And in the context of the original post (just talking about general allowance and none of the others) is relevant.

Reply 9

swiftuk

8

TempusV

Not that it matters, but the difference is that you didn't specify that you would have to run out of the specialist equipment allowance first. And in the context of the original post (just talking about general allowance and none of the others) is relevant.

I was responding to the earlier post in the thread which inaccurately stated that allowances were non-interchangable - that might give someone with severe needs reading the thread the wrong impression, as it was stated in the form of a general comment.

Reply 10

TempusV

Ah, sorry, I was reading your post in the context of the original post. It could be interpreted either way, but I do understand your point now :smile:

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Reply 11

Chloe90

Does anyone know if we can use the general DSA Allowance for core textbooks? or is it only for extra books?

Reply 12

TempusV

If they are literally core books that everybody must buy then no, that isn't covered under the DSA at all (unless you require it in a different format, in which case I think they will usually cover the difference between the standard edition and the alternative).

Defintely not.

it differs depending on the LEA and the institution on what you get.
I got granted DSA which came in the form of a computer, printer, dictaphone, one to one support with a academic, and 100 in cash for ink and paper.

Other people i know have been given completely different things and allowance so you need to contact an advisor to ask about your situation.

General DSA

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