[pipsi]

Hey just after a bit of advice.

I have a needs assessment on Monday and one of the items I'm likely to have recommended to me (based on my dyslexia/dyspraxia psychologist assessment) will be a laptop. I have one at the moment but it is over six years old and various functions don't work (such as the disk drive is completely broken, wireless is a bit temperamental, the mousepad doesn't completely work, some issues with software shortcuts etc after it almost died about ten months ago) and it's running on XP with Office 97 (). I find it easier to use a laptop as it is portable and easy to take to lectures, the library, other study spaces etc and I also tend to do most of my work on my bed because my desk isn't big enough to spread out my books etc while using my computer.

A friend of mine recently had a needs assessment (for dyslexia and dysgraphia) and despite his laptop only being a couple of years old, his needs assessor has recommended a laptop for him.

I've always had a Sony computer since I had got my first computer 15 years ago and I'm now on my third. I like the way they work and I'm used to using them. I know a lot of people will say that laptops are all essentially the same regardless of brand but I've had a HP laptop on loan from DUSSD (Durham Uni's Disability Service) and I still prefer to use my old Sony laptop to the one they lent me. Although part of the reason for this is that the Admin controls set by the university make it impossible to personalise settings to something i'm more familiar with.

My query is that based on the fact that i've always had a Sony computer for 15 plus years, I've got loads of other equipment which is also Sony so it makes it easy to use because it's all more compatible in a plug in and play sort of way and that part of my learning difficulty means i find it hard to deal with change, is it possible that the needs assessor will recommend a Sony laptop?

[OU Student]

Unlikely. They will probably recommend a desktop; unless you have good reason (apparently, needing one in lectures wasn't good enough) to have one.

They tend to use certain suppliers.

[pipsi]

(Original post by OU Student)
Unlikely. They will probably recommend a desktop; unless you have good reason (apparently, needing one in lectures wasn't good enough) to have one.

They tend to use certain suppliers.

Everyone i know at my university who has needed a computer has been given a laptop, even people who don't really even need a new computer. Including one of my best friends whose need for a laptop isn't as high as mine, his current laptop never really moves from his desk and they recommended a laptop for him straight away.

Like I said in my post, a laptop is useful for me because I can take it to lectures, the library, other study spaces in the university as well as to seminars and research groups etc. My desk isn't big enough to work on with a laptop never mind a desktop and I can't exactly work on my bed with a desktop computer.

[OU Student]

(Original post by pipsi)
Everyone i know at my university who has needed a computer has been given a laptop, even people who don't really even need a new computer. Including one of my best friends whose need for a laptop isn't as high as mine, his current laptop never really moves from his desk and they recommended a laptop for him straight away.

Like I said in my post, a laptop is useful for me because I can take it to lectures, the library, other study spaces in the university as well as to seminars and research groups etc. My desk isn't big enough to work on with a laptop never mind a desktop and I can't exactly work on my bed with a desktop computer.

You may have to pay for it to be upgraded from a desktop a laptop. I had to do that and the laptop was awful. Had nothing but problems with it. I got my own 2 years ago and have only had one problem with it.

[pipsi]

(Original post by OU Student)
You may have to pay for it to be upgraded from a desktop a laptop. I had to do that and the laptop was awful. Had nothing but problems with it. I got my own 2 years ago and have only had one problem with it.

Sorry, i thought I made it clear that this would not be the case! My query is would they let me specify the model, not on would they give me a laptop as I already know they will.

[bullettheory]

(Original post by pipsi)
Hey just after a bit of advice.

I have a needs assessment on Monday and one of the items I'm likely to have recommended to me (based on my dyslexia/dyspraxia psychologist assessment) will be a laptop. I have one at the moment but it is over six years old and various functions don't work (such as the disk drive is completely broken, wireless is a bit temperamental, the mousepad doesn't completely work, some issues with software shortcuts etc after it almost died about ten months ago) and it's running on XP with Office 97 (). I find it easier to use a laptop as it is portable and easy to take to lectures, the library, other study spaces etc and I also tend to do most of my work on my bed because my desk isn't big enough to spread out my books etc while using my computer.

A friend of mine recently had a needs assessment (for dyslexia and dysgraphia) and despite his laptop only being a couple of years old, his needs assessor has recommended a laptop for him.

I've always had a Sony computer since I had got my first computer 15 years ago and I'm now on my third. I like the way they work and I'm used to using them. I know a lot of people will say that laptops are all essentially the same regardless of brand but I've had a HP laptop on loan from DUSSD (Durham Uni's Disability Service) and I still prefer to use my old Sony laptop to the one they lent me. Although part of the reason for this is that the Admin controls set by the university make it impossible to personalise settings to something i'm more familiar with.

My query is that based on the fact that i've always had a Sony computer for 15 plus years, I've got loads of other equipment which is also Sony so it makes it easy to use because it's all more compatible in a plug in and play sort of way and that part of my learning difficulty means i find it hard to deal with change, is it possible that the needs assessor will recommend a Sony laptop?

They usually have set suppliers. The only choice I got was if it was a Mac or a Windows. However, you are able to ask if you can upgrade your laptop to a different model, and then you pay the difference. However, I don't know if they control the upgrade options. I just got given a Mac, and I was happy with that so I didn't upgrade.

[pipsi]

Thanks for your help bullettheory.

I've just done a bit of further research looking at the websites of some of the suppliers DSA use and it turns out that the Sony laptop that matches the specification of the Dell/Toshiba ones they usually offer is the same price as the Dell/Toshiba's so 'upgrading' would only require going for a different brand and wouldn't cost any more. In fact in one case the Sony one I would like is £30 cheaper than the Dell alternative they offer.

[NJones]

Assessors are normally happy to recommend laptops but they have little say in what manufacturer or model . They chose from three specs for standard word processing machine, assistive software machine and a CAD machine. Their suppliers often supply students with whatever they can get to meet the three specs.

[pipsi]

I had my assessment on Monday, the assessor recommended a laptop straight away, there was no mention of a desk top at all. She said she would recommend a Sony one based on the fact that I was so used to using a Sony laptop and that part of my dyspraxia means I find it hard to deal with change. She said the suppliers will price up a Sony model (as it is not what they usually supply) and if there is a great deal of difference with cost I will have the option for paying for an 'upgrade', however the model I have seen on the Sony website is actually cheaper than the Toshiba equivalent offered by most of the DSA suppliers. I'll up date again once I have a copy of the report with supplier quotes.

[unoh]

(Original post by pipsi)
I had my assessment on Monday, the assessor recommended a laptop straight away, there was no mention of a desk top at all. She said she would recommend a Sony one based on the fact that I was so used to using a Sony laptop and that part of my dyspraxia means I find it hard to deal with change. She said the suppliers will price up a Sony model (as it is not what they usually supply) and if there is a great deal of difference with cost I will have the option for paying for an 'upgrade', however the model I have seen on the Sony website is actually cheaper than the Toshiba equivalent offered by most of the DSA suppliers. I'll up date again once I have a copy of the report with supplier quotes.

My needs assesment isn't for a couple of weeks time but I was just wondering what they ask in the meeting?

Also wondering whether you get a choice between mac and windows. My dad pretty much gave me a mac from his company when I was 13 and I've never used anything else! Although macs are great after 5 years it's pretty much dying and I've probably spent more fixing it then what it's worth!!

I have ADHD and have used laptop in my exams and lessons and feel its quite important to my learning because it organises my fast paced thoughts and helps my organisation.

[rmhumphries]

I believe that DSA will recommend a laptop, and if you don't like it, you could choose your own and pay any extra to buy that you instead. If you mention your used to Sonys, they are likely to consider that.

[pipsi]

(Original post by unoh)
My needs assesment isn't for a couple of weeks time but I was just wondering what they ask in the meeting?

Also wondering whether you get a choice between mac and windows. My dad pretty much gave me a mac from his company when I was 13 and I've never used anything else! Although macs are great after 5 years it's pretty much dying and I've probably spent more fixing it then what it's worth!!

I have ADHD and have used laptop in my exams and lessons and feel its quite important to my learning because it organises my fast paced thoughts and helps my organisation.

They ask you questions about how your learning difficulties affect the way you work. I was worried because having only been diagnosed at 29, I wasn't sure how much I would know it was affecting me and how much I'd just managed to cope with for years. Luckily the Needs Assessor will be experienced with people which your condition so should know the sort of things that would help you out.

There were a couple of things that I thought would be useful that I didn't get, for example I have always used Sony laptops and find it difficult to adapt to change. When I borrowed a HP laptop from DUSSD I struggled to use it properly because it was a different brand. The Needs Assessor was sympathetic to my request but said it was up to SFE to decide if I should have a Sony or a generic brand laptop. In the end they did not authorise the additional cost to 'upgrade' to a Sony, (I hate using the word upgrade because in my eyes it wasn't an upgrade at all because the spec was the same). I paid the difference so I could have a Sony.

I also wanted a 17inch screen as my old laptop was also 17inches and I find the large screen useful because i can see more of a Word document on the page when I'm writing essays.

For some reason there was some confusion in the Needs Assessment and the Assessor only recommended a 15 inch one in the paperwork, despite the fact that we discussed it at length. When I raised this when I got my copy of the report I called DUSSD who said the Assessor had recommended a 15 inch one because it was lighter to carry to lectures, I said I wasn't bothered about how heavy it was, and in fact a new 17 inch laptop would be much lighter than my 6 year old brick so it would be lighter than what I was used to anyway.

She did recommend an additional 19 inch monitor which I have but haven't really been able to use it yet because my desk in my room at uni is tiny and not big enough to work on when writing essay so I usually sit on my double bed because I can spread everything out then.


I could have upgraded to a 17 inch laptop but I couldn't afford it and had to really scrape the money together to 'upgrade' to a Sony from the generic brand.

As far as wanting a Mac goes I suppose it depends on your individual needs and the assessor you have. If you are unfamiliar with a Windows based computer there my be an argument there to make sure you get a Mac, but from my experience of talking to people and reading things on this forum, I think they are usually reluctant to recommend Macs unless it is essential/extremely useful for your course.

So I suppose you can only ask and labour the point that it is what you are used to and see what happens. If they don't recommend a Mac you can always pay for an upgrade.

Good luck

[pipsi]

Oh and as far as using your own laptop in exams, in my opinion this is unlikely. I get the use of a computer in exams and there is no option to use my own. Those of us who get this concession have to use the uni computers in one of the computer rooms that is used as an exam hall. We are given log in details of special account that is only valid during the time of the exam, we can't use our personal uni log ins. Obviously this is to prevent cheating, if you used your own laptop you could have a document on it with answers or prompts, depending on the type of exam it is.

For example, a few weeks ago I had a Hebrew exam, we knew in advance that the text used would be two chapters of Exodus, the exam consists of passages from Exodus. It would have been very easy for me to have translated the whole thing in advance and save that as a document on my uni account and then look at that in the exam and simply copy the answers across. Obviously I wouldn't dream of cheating but by providing us with a special log in, it prevents the opportunity to do this.

[homebythefence]

(Original post by pipsi)
Hey just after a bit of advice.

I have a needs assessment on Monday and one of the items I'm likely to have recommended to me (based on my dyslexia/dyspraxia psychologist assessment) will be a laptop. I have one at the moment but it is over six years old and various functions don't work (such as the disk drive is completely broken, wireless is a bit temperamental, the mousepad doesn't completely work, some issues with software shortcuts etc after it almost died about ten months ago) and it's running on XP with Office 97 (). I find it easier to use a laptop as it is portable and easy to take to lectures, the library, other study spaces etc and I also tend to do most of my work on my bed because my desk isn't big enough to spread out my books etc while using my computer.

A friend of mine recently had a needs assessment (for dyslexia and dysgraphia) and despite his laptop only being a couple of years old, his needs assessor has recommended a laptop for him.

I've always had a Sony computer since I had got my first computer 15 years ago and I'm now on my third. I like the way they work and I'm used to using them. I know a lot of people will say that laptops are all essentially the same regardless of brand but I've had a HP laptop on loan from DUSSD (Durham Uni's Disability Service) and I still prefer to use my old Sony laptop to the one they lent me. Although part of the reason for this is that the Admin controls set by the university make it impossible to personalise settings to something i'm more familiar with.

My query is that based on the fact that i've always had a Sony computer for 15 plus years, I've got loads of other equipment which is also Sony so it makes it easy to use because it's all more compatible in a plug in and play sort of way and that part of my learning difficulty means i find it hard to deal with change, is it possible that the needs assessor will recommend a Sony laptop?

I've never come across a student who's been recommended a desktop, but this is just my experience. They usually recommend a laptop so you can work anywhere.

DSA usually use specific suppliers who only carry certain makes of laptop, but you can wiggle this:

DSA will recommend you a laptop, a carry case, USB ports, plugs, a USB stick and other goodies. If you are willing to forgo the extras, purchase a Song laptop yourself and then ask to be reimbursed up to the allowance they gave.

So for example, if they recommend you a laptop and extras totalling £500, you can buy a laptop and get £500 back from SFE. You can spend over the amount DSA recommended but you will have to pay the extra.

I was recommended a Compaq laptop and bought a Macbook Pro instead and paid the extra.

Hope this helps

[homebythefence]

(Original post by unoh)
My needs assesment isn't for a couple of weeks time but I was just wondering what they ask in the meeting?

Also wondering whether you get a choice between mac and windows. My dad pretty much gave me a mac from his company when I was 13 and I've never used anything else! Although macs are great after 5 years it's pretty much dying and I've probably spent more fixing it then what it's worth!!

I have ADHD and have used laptop in my exams and lessons and feel its quite important to my learning because it organises my fast paced thoughts and helps my organisation.

They get a full description of your disability and the problems you face while studying.

You can take your allowance and purchase a Macbook and then just get a refund of what you would have been allocated.

You won't be able to use your own laptop in exams, and I doubt you will be able to use a laptop at all. Unfortunately a lot of unis reserve laptops purely for dyslexic students or students who cannot write (but they usually get an amanuensis).

You can use a laptop in most lectures, it will depend on your lecturer. Some won't let students use laptops in class.

[NJones]

If you have used nothing but Mac's for a while then the assessor is able to recommend a Mac laptop based on the fact that to train you to use windows would be more work. I would advise against buying one beforehand and expecting for it to be refunded as this has some pitfalls and won't necessarily happen. The assessor will recommend equipment based on your need. The poster above who said 'I wanted a 17 inch Sony' but only got recommended at 15 inch is an example of this. To provide a laptop may be a need, but to want a 17 inch may not be justified. The assessor may have got round this by providing an external monitor to meet another need.

To 'forgo' the extras isn't acceptable as these are provided for health && safety reasons- SFE will not supply a laptop without certain ergonomic kit.

[pipsi]

(Original post by NJones)
If you have used nothing but Mac's for a while then the assessor is able to recommend a Mac laptop based on the fact that to train you to use windows would be more work. I would advise against buying one beforehand and expecting for it to be refunded as this has some pitfalls and won't necessarily happen. The assessor will recommend equipment based on your need. The poster above who said 'I wanted a 17 inch Sony' but only got recommended at 15 inch is an example of this. To provide a laptop may be a need, but to want a 17 inch may not be justified. The assessor may have got round this by providing an external monitor to meet another need.

To 'forgo' the extras isn't acceptable as these are provided for health && safety reasons- SFE will not supply a laptop without certain ergonomic kit.

To correct you in my case, I was recommended a 17 inch laptop because that suited my needs best because it has a larger screen and was what I was used to. However, there was a mistake with the paperwork and getting it sorted out would have delayed delivery of my equipment.