Important information for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) Needs Assessors Dear Colleagues, You will know that from September 2016 there are changes to the way DSAs will be delivered for students making their first claim for DSAs. You play a critical role in communicating these changes to students, as nearly all DSAs students will have face to face contact with a needs assessor. We therefore wanted to provide additional information about various aspects of the changes, so that you are able to support students in their understanding of how these changes will affect them. This includes some high level detail on how the new Exceptional Case Process (ECP) will work. This note sets out the following information: A brief overview of the ECP A reminder of responsibilities of Higher Education Providers (HEPs) with regard to the Equality Act HEP provision of support and the Needs Assessment Report A reminder about the importance of up to date information about a students’ chosen HEP Clarification on some issues raised around DSAs guidance A The Exceptional Case Process (ECP) The ECP is intended to help students who are in dispute with HEP over reasonable adjustments. It provides interim funding to pay for support which will enable the student to study whilst the dispute is being decided. It applies to students eligible to receive DSAs support from Student Loans Company who are studying on a higher education course. Students can be studying at a university, a college providing higher education courses, or an alternative provider of higher education. The important for the students wanting to take advantage of the ECP are as follows: The student must have applied for DSAs; The dispute must be about support which a student believes they require because of their disability to access their course, and which the HEP has stated they do not deem as a Reasonable Adjustment under the Equality Act 2010 (the HEP may have suggested an alternative means to address the specific barrier, which the student does not think is sufficient); The disputed support must address a barrier that has been identified in the Needs Assessment Report; The disputed support must have been previously available via DSAs, and within the scope of DSAs regulations; The student must have commenced their HEP’s formal dispute or appeals process.
Important information for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) Needs Assessors Dear Colleagues, You will know that from September 2016 there are changes to the way DSAs will be delivered for students making their first claim for DSAs. You play a critical role in communicating these changes to students, as nearly all DSAs students will have face to face contact with a needs assessor. We therefore wanted to provide additional information about various aspects of the changes, so that you are able to support students in their understanding of how these changes will affect them. This includes some high level detail on how the new Exceptional Case Process (ECP) will work. This note sets out the following information: A brief overview of the ECP A reminder of responsibilities of Higher Education Providers (HEPs) with regard to the Equality Act HEP provision of support and the Needs Assessment Report A reminder about the importance of up to date information about a students’ chosen HEP Clarification on some issues raised around DSAs guidance A The Exceptional Case Process (ECP) The ECP is intended to help students who are in dispute with HEP over reasonable adjustments. It provides interim funding to pay for support which will enable the student to study whilst the dispute is being decided. It applies to students eligible to receive DSAs support from Student Loans Company who are studying on a higher education course. Students can be studying at a university, a college providing higher education courses, or an alternative provider of higher education. The important for the students wanting to take advantage of the ECP are as follows: The student must have applied for DSAs; The dispute must be about support which a student believes they require because of their disability to access their course, and which the HEP has stated they do not deem as a Reasonable Adjustment under the Equality Act 2010 (the HEP may have suggested an alternative means to address the specific barrier, which the student does not think is sufficient); The disputed support must address a barrier that has been identified in the Needs Assessment Report; The disputed support must have been previously available via DSAs, and within the scope of DSAs regulations; The student must have commenced their HEP’s formal dispute or appeals process.
2016.11.08-DfE-communications-on-changes-to-DSAs-for-Needs-Assessors-re....docx