DSA Assessment - What should I talk about?

I'm currently applying for DSA for my Depression and Mixed anxiety disorder. When I have my assessment, what should I talk about? I see many posts talking about Computers or Printers, but I feel that doesn't really come under my needs. Any advice for talking points that /can/ help my needs and any info for those who have gone through this process for a similar diagnosis?

Just talk about the things that you are struggling with. Make sure you know exactly what you are talking about. Its okay to stutter a bit if you are nervous. If it goes well, you might be able to get a diagnoses that you need to help you

I'm already diagnosed, that's not my worry. I appreciate your response! However, I'm looking for a bit more on the specifics. I'm really nervous about this. I want to plan out what areas I should talk about or if I missed anything in my current plan

yeah sorry i misread the first post (my brain isn't working properly today so im a bit slow)- but i understand what you said now. So i have some better advice (hopefully correct): So try and talk about how your condition is effecting your life in the negative ways it can be hard to get any allowance (I applied for PIP cause i have a medical condition but my application got declined, i was close in getting it though) but try and make sure that you include every single thing about your condition. Its okay to be nervous. Try and create a rough plan about what you are going to say and once your happy with it then it will be easier for you! (i hope this response is better)

It is! Thank you, that does help a bit more. I know it doesn't work like pip, once approved the assessment isn't about "how disabled" I am, but more-so what support I need, or how they can help me in a material way. I appreciate all your help ☺️

I'm currently applying for DSA for my Depression and Mixed anxiety disorder. When I have my assessment, what should I talk about? I see many posts talking about Computers or Printers, but I feel that doesn't really come under my needs. Any advice for talking points that /can/ help my needs and any info for those who have gone through this process for a similar diagnosis?

Hi Kay, I’m a needs assessor. Your assessor will go through a structure talking about the different areas of study. Reading/research, writing assignments, note taking, organisation, practical activities, exams, travel and communication. Have a think about these and the assessor will be able to suggest some things that may help.
Do keep an open mind about the assistive software, as some of it can be good for note taking, planning, organising yourself
You will probabaly benefit from regular mentoring as well
I hope it goes well.

Hi Kay, I’m a needs assessor. Your assessor will go through a structure talking about the different areas of study. Reading/research, writing assignments, note taking, organisation, practical activities, exams, travel and communication. Have a think about these and the assessor will be able to suggest some things that may help.
Do keep an open mind about the assistive software, as some of it can be good for note taking, planning, organising yourself
You will probabaly benefit from regular mentoring as well
I hope it goes well.

Thank you so much, this eases my anxiety about it so much. I'll write down some main points based on this and talk it through with my assessor at the meeting! I really appreciate your help

When is your assessment? I am literally in the same boat as you. My doctor diagnosed me with anxiety and depression but my DSA form, on the assesment page with capita, its weird, it just says "mental health" but I googled what can be given under both and it looks like different things and I can get etc.
Unfortunately SFE confirmed my eligiblity last month but I couldnt get my first appointment until 17 June, which is a bummer. If your appointment is sooner than that can you ask your assessor how that would work with funding especially for this year eg anything they give you eg equipments (I see from other posts it take a few weeks/months before you get it and if thats true then those equipment prob wont arrive until the new academic year etc and idk whether that would then come under the 25/26 academic year or this 24/25 academic year) and anything else you might need eg help with assignments/mentors etc. If your assessment is before mine in June I would say those might be questions that you might also be asking as its almost the end of the academic year now etc

I'm afraid you'll be ahead of me, I have only just received my DSA form back from my GP. There's another post on here by an assessor that might be useful to you, it's here in this thread. If I get any info more I'll let you know, but if you could do the same I'd appreciate! <3

Ha then I'll get back to you then. There I was thinking my gp was slow because it took him a month and half to fill in my form and do the letter for my dsa form lol. Well just be aware, idk where you live but I got clearance from sfe that I was eligible for dsa funding but it does say on the booking thing that you need to book the appointment within 7 days but when you book (for me) the next availablitiy was well over a month and half away (I got the email from sfe just after the easter bank holiday so I think it was around 23 to 25 april for me)

Thanks! My GP took about two weeks but I went to pick it up on Friday the Receptionist couldn't find it lmao. I've been away for a few days so I can't pick it up until tomorrow. It seems like you just have to make sure you book that appointment within the 7 days, but the appointment doesn't need to be in that timeframe. It's just a matter of preventing forgetfulness or the prolonging of the time it takes, especially if the availability is so sparse. Thanks for your help <3

Well the letter, its weird if reception cannot find it. Idk about your gp, but mind also put my DSA form (filled in) on my NHS account, so if reception at your GP claims they don't have it or can't find it, I would say double check your NHS account maybe its on there and you can download it from there - depending if yours put it up.
The 7 days thing it's weird, because when I was booking it, it says 1) you need to book within 7 days of receipt and 2) the appointment needs to be within the next 7 days (of receipt of them telling you, you're entitled to DSA), because when I booked, as the next available appointment was a month and half after I got the email, when I booked it, it then asked "why are you booking an appointment that is past the 7 day requested?"
Well I have my appointment is tomorrow, so hopefully I'll see what happens.

That's great! I've got my form back and emailed back! Let me know how yours goes

It is! Thank you, that does help a bit more. I know it doesn't work like pip, once approved the assessment isn't about "how disabled" I am, but more-so what support I need, or how they can help me in a material way. I appreciate all your help ☺️

Well that appointment was stressful, is an understatement. I don't know where you live or who you have your appointment with. But so I live in London permanently and I had my appointment with Capita. They were totally useless.
So what happened was, the building I had it in, (in London) was an office building, just off oxford street. When I arrived they told me I now need to apply for a VISA. I live in London, have Republic of Ireland passport. SFE and my university (and gov.uk) stated Republic of Ireland nationals have a right to be in uk because Northern Ireland is part of UK passport etc and I am classed as "home student" with SFE anyway. I was then told I needed to produce the paper copy letter that DSA gave me (I wasn't given one, they emailed it to me, there was no indication I needed to bring this paper letter as everything was done via email).
Anyway my appointment was with Capita and they are really not so great. My application was filled in and submitted middle of March and SFE/DSA got back to me on Monday 23 April to book the appointment and in for today. My assessor, some of the stuff I needed eg someone from my university ASSIST department to be in my lessons to take notes as I needed one and DSA could not provide claiming its a free service with the university and vice versa.
I also needed the university mental health team meetings, which my university does provide but they only provide ALL students with 6 sessions but any further would need DSA funding, I was lucky because my assessor was suggesting someone from DSA/SFE funding and I had to beg them for the university to be the sole and ONLY option even had to tell a little white lie about my relapses that I have. White lie in terms of when 2 of my relapses actually happened (I did have 2 relapses but I needed the help during term time as well as during the holidays and said it was harder without it during the holidays for me, it is true I do struggle with it harder during the holidays) and had to fight tooth and nail for it to be the university to be the sole consideration for it because 1) the person I see works for the university and knows the university term dates 2) that person knows how the university does things eg if I need extensions or deferrals with the applications for any exams or assignments etc 3) as the university already had some meetings with me over, they might as well keep it for the university because they already know the situation and if you use someone else then you need to consider the "waiting time" after SFE approves the funding and suggest who to use etc
The equipment, they do suggest it and the one that seems extremely good for me is they have something called bibi, which automatically does your referencing eg the bibliography, footnote referencing, whether you are using Harvard or Oscola referencing etc. It looks good, I havent tried it yet. They did also suggest laptops etc but they said I'd only get a standard one with basic things on it. But if I wanted to upgrade, I would have to ask the supplier myself. The assessor would and could not have a say in this. Thats what she told me anyway. I don't know about printer etc. My university has free printing/scanning etc.
Thats all that was offered to me. I don't know why I wasn't offered other stuff as my depression causes me to not be able to get out of bed most days and they couldn't and wouldnt suggest I get one on one mentoring sessions to help with concentration, which sucks like hell as the university cannot provide that and they said DSA would and one of my friend was in the exact same situation as me and got offered that but I was told I wouldn't get it because SFE wouldn't approve and maybe my friend has different funding. Nope, my friend attends the same university as me and is on the same course as me and has the exact same disability as me but she lives in Milton Keynes and I live in London so we both fall under SFE funding.
They also said that the DSA form said that it would state what year you want the application but it doesn't. I looked. But she claims its now for the next year which means I get nothing for this year. I had to fight tooth and nail for her to go make sure the stuff is for this year. So be aware of this and ask this question in your appointment and if they say next year, fight tooth and nail for them to put it for this year in your initial assessment.

❤️ I’m sorry your assessment didnt go well. As it was Capita saying these things, could you get in touch with the DSA team directly to check this is all correct? And did they have any problems with your disability evidence?