How do I get my needs assessment?

anyone?

I sent off my application weeks ago and have just received the letter telling me to get a needs assessment. I rang SFE up and asked how to get one and they told me to ring my University and book one.

My university told me to book an appointment to see their disabled student support in September and sort it all out then. Thing is, I'd quite like to sort it out before then, and the letter says I should use one of the approved centers and there isn't one in Glasgow (I'm from Liverpool, going to Glasgow in September, nearest approved centre to me is Manchester).

Have I been given the correct information? Do I need to talk to Glasgow to get a needs assessment or do I just ring a centre myself? Is the system any different because I'm going to a Scottish university and the funding comes from student finance England?

Thanks

Okay, you obviously had the psych assessment. So once your new university has gotten that document (scan it in if necessary, and send it to them - under NO circumstances let anyone have the original document. Always issue copies).

However, the university is telling you the truth re waiting until September. Usually the process is that they sit you down with your psych assessment and go through other options that you may or may not require (ie: not only technology assistance, but such help as note-taking and similar help). It is also during this period that staff-members key to this process take their holidays - so work with the university in that regards.

Normally when you put in for your assessment of needs in September, you should receive it around october/november. It all depends how quickly you get in to see them - ideally in the Fresher's Week (or the week prior to it, means you are in the first list to get seen to). In my experience, I would go the university help-way, as they are the people "on the ground" and what someone agrees to in some other centre, may not be what the university is agreeable to.

So I ignore the bit of letter that says to go through one of their approved centers and I don't get any assistance (eg laptop, voice recorder, print allowance) until end of first term?

If your needs are nothing out of the ordinary then I cannot stress enough that you will be better off having a needs assessment asap.

September is the busiest period for your uni, student finance (it will have to go back to them for approval) and the equipment suppliers.

You will be very lucky to get any support before Christmas, at least, if you leave it that late.

Yes it's ideal to have it done at uni as they know how that particular uni operates but it is not essential at all, trust me!

I've been told just 10 mins ago by a DDS advisor at my uni that it is a choice and depends on practicalities for the student but whatever I do, don't delay as they get busier and busier as the summer progresses and acting now should mean I have things in place at the start of my course.

Do a google search and you will see plenty of evidence saying the earlier the better.

It will help if you have some idea of the assessment types and the way your course will be run - will there be placements/exams/field trips etc as this is stuff your uni DDS dept would know or be able to find out but it's only because that obviously helps you and the assessor decide what help would be suitable for your needs on that course.

Make a local appt and if one to one support is recommended and agreed by student finance, they will provide it so get onto them to have it set up as soon as you get to uni in September.

Hopefully any equipment will be ready to go by that point if you act now.

It's obviously up to you but that's what I would do and what i've been advised to do by my uni.

Before you go down the local centre approach, get on to your Disabled Student Support people at Glasgow and ask to make an appointment ASAP. There's more to support than just your DSA application. There shouldn't be any reason for them to be unavailable until September as they'll still have to support PG students and staff over the summer - make it clear that you're willing to come up.

Getting in touch with the university early can be very important, especially if need support arranged far in advance (e.g. notetakers generally need to be booked weeks in advance). If necessary, they should be able to get your department to sort you out early (e.g. signing up for lectures so you can book notetakers). Likewise they may be to assist in sorting out any problems with accommodation.

If you have a pretty straightforward disability or good medical evidence, hopefully the University will make their own unofficial assessment of your needs and arrange for support (lending laptops, paying for non-medical help out of their funds and claiming the money back later) until your proper DSA assessment comes through.