Government review of what IT hardware software the DSA should pay for
Hi
The government department BIS has just announced a review of various aspects of student funding and one of these relates to part of the DSA. In my experience this is the sort of thing that tends to get circulated to university staff and students thtrefore miss out on the chance to provide feedback. It's a public consultation so I hope it's okay to post the details here:
DBIS has announced a HE sector review of various elements of student funding. They have stated that the DSA itself including the four individual elements and the funding limits for these ARE NOT under review. What they are seeking to establish is whether some of the equipment and software that is commonly recommended could now be considered items that all students are required to have access to in order to study. The link below is for the call for evidence which closes at 14.00 on 31st May 2013. The pages covering the DSA part of the call are 12-15.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/172949/bis-13-739-targeted-support-for-higher-education-students-review-call-for-evidence.pdf
The key questions being asked are:
The following questions are designed to help us better understand what, if any, IT equipment (i.e. hardware and software) is now considered to be ordinarily required by all students to enter and remain in HE, as against what remains specialist or additional and primarily required by students with a disability or long-term health condition.
Based on your knowledge of Disabled Students’ Allowances, disabled students and the general student population, is there any IT equipment currently supplied through DSAs that you think is generally required by the majority of students entering HE? Please give reasons for your answer. Please refer to any evidence you have to support your answer.
If you haven’t done so, please indicate what IT equipment you feel is generally required by all students. Please try to be as specific as possible and give reasons or evidence supporting your view.
What types of IT equipment do you believe should continue to be regarded as additional i.e. it is required specifically by disabled students as a result of their disability? Please refer to any evidence to support your answer.
Is there any IT hardware or software that you feel disabled students need that they are currently unable to get? Please refer to any evidence to support your answer.
To respond there is a format the bottom of the Call for Evidence or you can use one of the following:
You may complete this survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WBBPKDN
Alternatively you may email completed forms to [email protected]
or send hard copies to
Paul Higgs, Higher Education Directorate, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0ET
The government department BIS has just announced a review of various aspects of student funding and one of these relates to part of the DSA. In my experience this is the sort of thing that tends to get circulated to university staff and students thtrefore miss out on the chance to provide feedback. It's a public consultation so I hope it's okay to post the details here:
DBIS has announced a HE sector review of various elements of student funding. They have stated that the DSA itself including the four individual elements and the funding limits for these ARE NOT under review. What they are seeking to establish is whether some of the equipment and software that is commonly recommended could now be considered items that all students are required to have access to in order to study. The link below is for the call for evidence which closes at 14.00 on 31st May 2013. The pages covering the DSA part of the call are 12-15.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/172949/bis-13-739-targeted-support-for-higher-education-students-review-call-for-evidence.pdf
The key questions being asked are:
The following questions are designed to help us better understand what, if any, IT equipment (i.e. hardware and software) is now considered to be ordinarily required by all students to enter and remain in HE, as against what remains specialist or additional and primarily required by students with a disability or long-term health condition.
Based on your knowledge of Disabled Students’ Allowances, disabled students and the general student population, is there any IT equipment currently supplied through DSAs that you think is generally required by the majority of students entering HE? Please give reasons for your answer. Please refer to any evidence you have to support your answer.
If you haven’t done so, please indicate what IT equipment you feel is generally required by all students. Please try to be as specific as possible and give reasons or evidence supporting your view.
What types of IT equipment do you believe should continue to be regarded as additional i.e. it is required specifically by disabled students as a result of their disability? Please refer to any evidence to support your answer.
Is there any IT hardware or software that you feel disabled students need that they are currently unable to get? Please refer to any evidence to support your answer.
To respond there is a format the bottom of the Call for Evidence or you can use one of the following:
You may complete this survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WBBPKDN
Alternatively you may email completed forms to [email protected]
or send hard copies to
Paul Higgs, Higher Education Directorate, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0ET
Scroll to see replies
Then don't all students need a computer to run it on?
Interesting that this has appeared. DSA funding will in theory never be cut but a review of what is provided is necessary. It amazing how many students blatantly lie about not having a computer. I heard of one who had a Apple laptop vis DSA and when the delivery driver installed it- set it up next to an Apple desktop, laptop and iPad.
Interesting that this has appeared. DSA funding will in theory never be cut but a review of what is provided is necessary. It amazing how many students blatantly lie about not having a computer. I heard of one who had a Apple laptop vis DSA and when the delivery driver installed it- set it up next to an Apple desktop, laptop and iPad.
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by NJones
Then don't all students need a computer to run it on?
Interesting that this has appeared. DSA funding will in theory never be cut but a review of what is provided is necessary. It amazing how many students blatantly lie about not having a computer. I heard of one who had a Apple laptop vis DSA and when the delivery driver installed it- set it up next to an Apple desktop, laptop and iPad.
Interesting that this has appeared. DSA funding will in theory never be cut but a review of what is provided is necessary. It amazing how many students blatantly lie about not having a computer. I heard of one who had a Apple laptop vis DSA and when the delivery driver installed it- set it up next to an Apple desktop, laptop and iPad.
Is this just a rumor or did you actually witness it happening?
Original post by Doctor.
Is this just a rumor or did you actually witness it happening?
As a DSA Assessor I was told by our DSA supplier who's staff completed the delivery.
I completely agree that this is necessary, and am filling the forms out now. As someone who received DSA myself, I was very surprised to hear that I would have been eligible to receive a laptop/printer if I hadn't bought them already, but when I asked for a USB/portable hard drive (as I have joint problems and I was finding it difficult to bring my laptop in), I was told that 'storage is considered a requirement for all students'
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by NJones
Then don't all students need a computer to run it on?
True. But some of us require bigger screens, etc.
Original post by OU Student
True. But some of us require bigger screens, etc.
And I think this is the way DSA is going to go.
Original post by OU Student
I have to admit that I found it strange that we're given Microsoft Office - it's something that all students need.
A lot of the assistive software is optimised to work with the latest version of the operating system and MS Office. In my experience a lot of students don't own these and even if they have a computer it often isn't capable of running some of the demanding software effectively e.g. Dragon Naturally Speaking.
I guess a more rigourous system of checking who owns what could help but I don't know how practical it is e.g. who still has the receipt for a 5 year old computer. Maybe getting people to sign something stating what they own would prompt a bit more honesty if the system is being abused.
Original post by blackeberg
A lot of the assistive software is optimised to work with the latest version of the operating system and MS Office. In my experience a lot of students don't own these and even if they have a computer it often isn't capable of running some of the demanding software effectively e.g. Dragon Naturally Speaking.
I guess a more rigourous system of checking who owns what could help but I don't know how practical it is e.g. who still has the receipt for a 5 year old computer. Maybe getting people to sign something stating what they own would prompt a bit more honesty if the system is being abused.
I guess a more rigourous system of checking who owns what could help but I don't know how practical it is e.g. who still has the receipt for a 5 year old computer. Maybe getting people to sign something stating what they own would prompt a bit more honesty if the system is being abused.
Upgrading specific hardware components / operating systems to increase the speed and power of a computing system is much less expensive than buying a whole new computer, in my experience.
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Original post by Couldxbe
Upgrading specific hardware components / operating systems to increase the speed and power of a computing system is much less expensive than buying a whole new computer, in my experience.
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Posted from TSR Mobile
That is built into the system to some extent at the moment. Anyone with a computer less than three years old is supposed to have it 'health checked' by a DSA supplier who can then recommend no action, upgrade work or replacement.
Original post by blackeberg
That is built into the system to some extent at the moment. Anyone with a computer less than three years old is supposed to have it 'health checked' by a DSA supplier who can then recommend no action, upgrade work or replacement.
This wasn't offered to me - my laptop at the time was 1-2 years old. There is just a lack of consistency, and to be honest I think this is most likely down to the assessors themselves. I had a much better experience at my postgraduate study assessment than at my undergraduate assessment.
Original post by blackeberg
That is built into the system to some extent at the moment. Anyone with a computer less than three years old is supposed to have it 'health checked' by a DSA supplier who can then recommend no action, upgrade work or replacement.
Is there any information on this to clarify?
I have been told that I can't get funding for a medical spell checker as this is something that all nursing students would need , but as I said not all nursing students have dyslexia and therefor I will always be one step behind as my main problem is spelling , but they said there nothing I can do about it , I thought the dsa was to level the playing field ?
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Original post by mallwell
I have been told that I can't get funding for a medical spell checker as this is something that all nursing students would need , but as I said not all nursing students have dyslexia and therefor I will always be one step behind as my main problem is spelling , but they said there nothing I can do about it , I thought the dsa was to level the playing field ?
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But wouldn't you need a medical spell checker if you weren't Dyslexic?
Original post by OU Student
But wouldn't you need a medical spell checker if you weren't Dyslexic?
hi
why would the fund a recording device for lecture as this is something that would benfit all students ?
mallwell
Original post by mallwell
hi
why would the fund a recording device for lecture as this is something that would benfit all students ?
mallwell
why would the fund a recording device for lecture as this is something that would benfit all students ?
mallwell
There's a difference between benefit and need. Most students can take notes. I can't listen and write at the same time.
Original post by OU Student
There's a difference between benefit and need. Most students can take notes. I can't listen and write at the same time.
thats all well and good, my main problem is spelling, so there is a need
Original post by mallwell
thats all well and good, my main problem is spelling, so there is a need
But wouldn't you still need a medical spell checker if you weren't Dyslexic? DSA will cover the extra costs that disabled students need; not what you need because you study.
Original post by OU Student
But wouldn't you still need a medical spell checker if you weren't Dyslexic? DSA will cover the extra costs that disabled students need; not what you need because you study.
hi
dont think so as i would remember how to spell words , i can spell the same word 5 diffrent way, and when under pressure its worse and my hand writting becomes not readable.
not all hospitals use computers, this would help but at the momnet its all paper notes
regards
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