The Student Room Group

DSA for autism

Hi all,
I’ve recently received an autism diagnosis (not really a surprise and I’m relieved to finally have it) and have been told that I’m eligible for DSA so I was wondering what sort of support people have been able to get for autism.
As the diagnosis is really new I’ve had no support in that past so I’m not really sure what is even available and most things I read online seem to be related to other disabilities.
Anyone with advice or their own experience would be much appreciated!
Reply 1
Hey so I have the same diagnosis and personally I got mentoring and study skills support. Taxi allowance, some software and printing allowance.
They've never given out money. You may have got things like ink allowances which you could claim back. But you were never given any money upfront.

OP - what you get depends on your needs and course.
Original post by Tiger Rag
They've never given out money. You may have got things like ink allowances which you could claim back. But you were never given any money upfront.

OP - what you get depends on your needs and course.


Thanks, I appreciate that it’s obviously different as every person has different needs it’s a bit of a case though if I’m not sure what sort of things are possible so I’m not sure what I should ask for. And my school SENCO said that I should go with suggestions so they don’t just think I’m trying the system.
I know that I need some form of study or organisational support but I don’t know what else and I don’t want to miss out by not thinking about it now. Hope that kind of makes sense, as you can probably tell I’m a touch stressed by it.
You get a free laptop worth about £400 and some other gadgets and special software. And mentor support, that people can find quite helpful.
Original post by NonIndigenous
You get a free laptop worth about £400 and some other gadgets and special software. And mentor support, that people can find quite helpful.


If your funding body is SFE, you have to pay the first £200 for your laptop.
Original post by Tiger Rag
If your funding body is SFE, you have to pay the first £200 for your laptop.


Yea, I forgot about that part. Didn't used to be the case.
I am autistic and I applied for DSA for my first year of university, but in all honesty, it's not worth it. I got a personal mentor who I would speak to once a week, which was pleasant enough, but I didn't need this. I'm unsure if some universities interpret the DSA requirements of students differently.

Despite what others have said, I did not receive a new laptop or any discount/money to go towards it - in my assessment I was told that DSA no longer provides or funds new laptops. The closest thing they do now is provide specialist software to people who require it, such as screen readers for blind/visually impaired people.

In my DSA statement, it says that I am eligible for a "printing allowance", but as it turned out for me, this printing allowance doesn't mean I get to print out any work for free or get an allowance on it. I still have to pay for that with my own money.
It means that whenever my tutors have to print out any extra lecture notes for me to clarify things, then I don't have to pay for them.

I think DSA is more useful for people who'd actually warrant the additional support like mentors, specialist equipment, scribes etc. I won't apply for it this year.
(edited 5 years ago)
Original post by Doppelgengar
I am autistic and I applied for DSA for my first year of university, but in all honesty, it's not worth it. I got a personal mentor who I would speak to once a week, which was pleasant enough, but I didn't need this. I'm unsure if some universities interpret the DSA requirements of students differently.

Despite what others have said, I did not receive a new laptop or any discount/money to go towards it - in my assessment I was told that DSA no longer provides or funds new laptops. The closest thing they do now is provide specialist software to people who require it, such as screen readers for blind/visually impaired people.

In my DSA statement, it says that I am eligible for a "printing allowance", but as it turned out for me, this printing allowance doesn't mean I get to print out any work for free or get an allowance on it. I still have to pay for that with my own money.
It means that whenever my tutors have to print out any extra lecture notes for me to clarify things, then I don't have to pay for them.

I think DSA is more useful for people who'd actually warrant the additional support like mentors, specialist equipment, scribes etc. I won't apply for it this year.


But that's you. Your needs aren't the same as the OP.
Original post by Doppelgengar


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Original post by Tiger Rag
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Thanks for you help. Tbh even lecture notes would really help I think. I have to appointment today so I will update with what was suggested in case this is of use to anyone in the future.
Just to update the assessment wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be and the guy was really nice.
We chatted about some of the issues I have and he gave some suggestions of software, some of which was free stuff and he showed me how it could help with improving my organisation of my work.
He also suggested some software for recording lectures so that the recording is timed with each lecture slide. I think This will be really useful especially as I tend to lose concentration when the topic isn’t particularly interesting as i get distracted by something more interesting especially if there was a previous topic of interest.
He is also mentioning getting lecture slides in advance where relevant so as to prevent the information overload I sometimes experience when having to write notes from the board which don’t match with what is being said.
Due to this all being software based and my poor old laptop (over 6 years old) not being able to run it he also recommend a laptop and case, I said no to the case though as I already have a good one.
I was also recommend a mentor to give me some help with academic writing and understanding how to interpret the vaguer questions.
Original post by Tiger Rag
But that's you. Your needs aren't the same as the OP.


Yea and I wasn't inferring they'd be the same. OP did ask for advice on our own experiences, I'm giving mine. :sly:
(edited 5 years ago)
Original post by Snoozinghamster
Just to update the assessment wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be and the guy was really nice.
We chatted about some of the issues I have and he gave some suggestions of software, some of which was free stuff and he showed me how it could help with improving my organisation of my work.
He also suggested some software for recording lectures so that the recording is timed with each lecture slide. I think This will be really useful especially as I tend to lose concentration when the topic isn’t particularly interesting as i get distracted by something more interesting especially if there was a previous topic of interest.
He is also mentioning getting lecture slides in advance where relevant so as to prevent the information overload I sometimes experience when having to write notes from the board which don’t match with what is being said.
Due to this all being software based and my poor old laptop (over 6 years old) not being able to run it he also recommend a laptop and case, I said no to the case though as I already have a good one.
I was also recommend a mentor to give me some help with academic writing and understanding how to interpret the vaguer questions.

Hey :smile:
Can I ask which course you were applying for?

Did you end up getting the software or laptop in the end? And how did they arrange getting the lecture notes - did someone tell them or did you have to ask your lecturers?
Original post by bfm.mcdermott
Hey :smile:
Can I ask which course you were applying for?


Did you end up getting the software or laptop in the end? And how did they arrange getting the lecture notes - did someone tell them or did you have to ask your lecturers?


Hi,

I do engineering.

I ended up with recordings software (turns out most of my lectures are recorded though so I haven’t always needed it) as well as a grammarly premium subscription.

There’s was a few mistakes and I ended up with extra software that I didn’t need (dragon for speech to text!)

Re getting lecture notes in my department it’s a lot of handout filling in so all the lecturers put the handout out in advance anyway which is generally essentially the PowerPoint! So didn’t require any interaction between me and the lecturers which was nice! Basically I’m pretty lucky and half my requirements are things the department does anyway!
Original post by Snoozinghamster
Hi,

I do engineering.

I ended up with recordings software (turns out most of my lectures are recorded though so I haven’t always needed it) as well as a grammarly premium subscription.

There’s was a few mistakes and I ended up with extra software that I didn’t need (dragon for speech to text!)

Re getting lecture notes in my department it’s a lot of handout filling in so all the lecturers put the handout out in advance anyway which is generally essentially the PowerPoint! So didn’t require any interaction between me and the lecturers which was nice! Basically I’m pretty lucky and half my requirements are things the department does anyway!

Okay, thank you so much for replying!

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