DSA Disabled Students Allowance Laptop Upgrade Advice - Please Help!

Hi there,

I've searched through all the posts relating to DSA laptops on this forum, but haven't been able to find a direct answer, and have seen lots of people asking this question - if you can help please respond as I know it will help a lot of people who are wondering!

So basically I'm applying for DSA as part of my uni application due to mental health conditions (I'm also going to be tested for dyslexia in September)

I've heard people usually receive a laptop from DSA, but that you have to contribute £200 towards it. I've also heard this is usually a low spec laptop.
I know that there is an option to upgrade this laptop

I'm planning to buy a new laptop for my studies, but I want to get a Macbook Pro as I'm used to using Mac OS and if I'm going to contribute to a laptop I want it to be one I can use for years to come.

My question is how much does DSA actually contribute to your laptop, and how does upgrading work? I understand it might be different people but even a ballpark figure?
Can you pick the vendor that the laptop is bought from? Will DSA reimburse you if you send them receipts?
Will DSA remove VAT from this laptop purchase?

Any help with this will be greatly appreciated!!

Normally they will offer you a laptop as cheap as possible. By contributing £200, most of us are more likely to get a £349 laptop (in addition to any specifications for your needs. For example, if you have a speech problem, they can added it to the laptop for free) !!!! However I did not get it because I had withdrawn from the course already, neither did I pay the £200. I am profoundly deaf, and I also claimed DSA.

Anyway, if you really want to get the Macbook Pro, you really need to explain them a very good reason why you need a Macbook Pro for. In most cases, they will be supplying you a laptop or any other equipment for your needs.

Therefore, do not get your hope so high for a Macbook Pro laptop, but you never know you might get it, with a very good explanation. Whatever equipment you are going to get, please do claim as soon as possible, preferably before the starting of your studies. I had to wait till December for an assessment, 3 (THREE) months after I made the claim. Therefore it is best to start an assessment before you start your studies

I wish you the best of luck to it

Thanks so much for your reply and advice! I wish you the very best too

Just to clarify for anyone else reading the thread:

I understand that DSA is only going to provide the cheapest laptop possible - I don't expect them to give me a Macbook!
I certainly don't specifically need a Macbook as part of my disability - and wouldn't want DSA to pay the full fee towards it at all, I'm more than happy to pay the extra towards it.
However a laptop is certainly something that will benefit my disability - I just think it would be more efficient to put the standard laptop allowance towards a computer I would actually want & use, rather than one that I would not be able to get full functionality from.

I am just trying to ascertain how much DSA will contribute based on their standard laptop recommendation, whether I can select the supplier myself, and whether DSA will allow the purchase to be VAT free.

I bought myself the laptop I wanted (having made sure it met the DSA specs) and then the needs assessment report quoted just for supply and installation of the software onto my existing laptop. Might be the other way of doing it.

I've since used the licence keys and moved most of it over onto a macbook from personal choice (it was cute and shiny and I wanted it)

Hi there,

I've searched through all the posts relating to DSA laptops on this forum, but haven't been able to find a direct answer, and have seen lots of people asking this question - if you can help please respond as I know it will help a lot of people who are wondering!

So basically I'm applying for DSA as part of my uni application due to mental health conditions (I'm also going to be tested for dyslexia in September)

I've heard people usually receive a laptop from DSA, but that you have to contribute £200 towards it. I've also heard this is usually a low spec laptop.
I know that there is an option to upgrade this laptop

I'm planning to buy a new laptop for my studies, but I want to get a Macbook Pro as I'm used to using Mac OS and if I'm going to contribute to a laptop I want it to be one I can use for years to come.

My question is how much does DSA actually contribute to your laptop, and how does upgrading work? I understand it might be different people but even a ballpark figure?
Can you pick the vendor that the laptop is bought from? Will DSA reimburse you if you send them receipts?
Will DSA remove VAT from this laptop purchase?

Any help with this will be greatly appreciated!!

Also keen to hear the answer to this. 👍

Hi,I have got my acceptance letter for my DSA two days ago, I have tried to contact the supplier for a new laptop but haven't had a response yet. I also don't think I will benefit from the laptop they are offering me. I currently have the Mac Book Pro from early 2015, when I spoke on the phone for my study needs assessment I think it was (correct me if i'm wrong but I have found all of this very confusing), they said that because it is just over 5 years old and doesn't have much space on it, I should get a new laptop to help with my course. I study fashion design, I need the full Abode software which I currently pay for that I bought specifically for mac. I am more than happy to pay for an upgrade if I will use it for the next 5-8 years which is why I would really like to upgrade to the new mac book pro as I don't want to spend money on a laptop that I wont use to its full potential. Do you think this is a strong enough reason to upgrade if I am more than happy to pay more? I have already started my course in September, I am in my final year, will this effect anything?Does anyone know any one that can help me out with this? Any help would be deeply appreciated. I also read a comment about the Ipad pro, this would be extremely beneficial to me also so if I couldn't get the Macbook Pro would the Ipad Pro be an option to upgrade?

Hi Elizabeth, yes you should be able to upgrade to the Macbook Pro if you can pay the price difference between the laptop you were offered by DSA and the Macbook. I personally chose to upgrade for the reasons you said, I wanted longevity and was familiar with the Mac OS.
You don't have to get special permission to upgrade as far as I know, as long as you're willing to pay the supplier will happily accommodate you! I think it wold be harder to get the iPad than the MBP, as some of the relevant accessibility software is not available on iPad, but it may be possible.

Hi!

Thank you for your response, do you know roughly what the price difference is? Is it a certain percentage off?

Kind regards,

Elizabeth

So for me I was recommended a laptop that cost £550, I applied in Northern Ireland where we don’t have to pay the £200 contribution towards the laptops. The higher tier 13" MBP costs £1250 through the supplier I was assigned (Barry Bennet) so I have to pay £700 to upgrade from the recommended laptop to the MBP (there may be some additional costs due to insurance / software price differences, but the supplier will tell you about this.)

Hi all,

I have just booked for my needs assessment and would like to enquire about the laptops too.

I am studying Artificial Intelligence and currently lending someone's laptop. (which is not sustainable, and they will need it back soon.)

According to my course leader, I would need a laptop that would efficiently be able to handle programming software, development software and something with about 16GB of RAM as the next couple of years we are dealing with a lot of Data.

From your experience and knowledge do you think the DSA would consider that while recommending me a laptop. I do not see the point in having a laptop with the assistive software if the laptop can not keep up with the work that is required on the course.

Many thanks in advance to any replies given.