DSA Changes
Elaine Shillcock
Head of Disability Support – University
of Manchester
Vice Chair NADP
Challenging Questions
• What do the changes to DSA in 2015-16 and
2016-17 mean for access agreements?
• How can institutions meet their legal
obligations, and ensure that they fulfil the
ambition of their access agreements in
relation to disabled students?
‘Rebalancing’
• A move away from DSA-funded support
towards HEI-funded support
• No (or limited??) additional funding for HEIs
vs Costs
• Provision of NMH support
• Universities do not have to fund support for
which other funding (such as the DSA) is
available
Extent of the changes
• These changes currently only apply to
students funded by SFE
• No changes yet announced by SFW, SAAS,
RCUK, NILB, NHS Bursaries.
• Equality Act Duties on HEIs remain the same.
So …… the impact on students
• There will be students in a classroom funded
by different funding bodies, some with a full
DSA package, some with a new-style DSA
package, some with no DSA support
• Siblings who have previously received DSA will
have younger siblings who won’t get DSA in
the same way for the same type of condition
• Meeting student (and parent) expectations
• Student entitlements and demands
Current DSA

Equipment Allowance




NMH Allowance



Note taker
Specialist tutor / mentor
General Allowance


Laptop, software, printer/scanner, ergonomic
furniture
Literacy, mind mapping, voice recognition
Digital recorder and supporting software
Books & consumables
Travel Allowance
Planned changes for 2015

Equipment




£200 contribution from student
(no high spec computers simply for course reasons)
Printers / scanners no longer automatically funded
General



Additional accommodation costs in HEIs
No fridges in HEIs
No consumables
(course software and special diets not covered)
(source : SFE website)
UoM £200 contributions (SFE)
2013-2014
• Total Assessments 474
• Laptop/Desktop recommended at initial assessment 246
At ONE assessment centre in M/c
• 246 x £200 = £49,200
• 474 x £200 = £98,800
2014-2015
new registrations with the DSO = 1285 students (£257,000)
DSA Equipment
CAN continue to be funded
Low weight computers
Tablet computers
Scanners
Printers
Specialised keyboards, mice,
headphones if needed for voice
dictation software
Larger monitors
Ergonomic equipment (home
use)
Digital voice recorders
Assistive technology
CANNOT be funded
USB Hub
Laptop carry case
Extension leads
Surge protectors
Power leads
Computer stands
Electronic spell-checkers
Course specific software
Special equipment required because of how a
course is run (ag Apple Mac)
Wheelchairs / mobility scooters
Ergonomic furniture to be used at the University
Books
Internet connections
Special diets
Fridges
Planned changes for 2016
• NMH
• “Education Institutions will be expected to
develop appropriate mechanisms to fully deliver
their statutory duty to provide reasonable
adjustments, in particular non-medical help, and
to improve the processes by which disabled
students can appeal against a Higher Education
Institution’s decision that an adjustment would
not be reasonable for 2016/17” SFE Website
NMH provision moving to HEIs
• Practical Support
Assistant
• Library Support
Assistant
• Readers
• Scribe/Amanuensis
• Workshop / Lab
assistant
• Proof reader
• Study Assistant
• Examination Support
Workers
• Manual note-takers
(including for SpLD)
• Specialist Transcription
Tutoring Support
Note-taking and other support
Complaints / Appeals
• Institutions are being asked to improve the
appeals process for students who have
requested an adjustment which has been
rejected. Institutions should seek to minimise
any delay for disabled students seeking
adjustments.
• Arbitration - Disputes between institutions
and SFE on the provision of reasonable
adjustments vs DSAs are still to be confirmed.
How might the DSA process change,
and what will this mean?
Assessments
• Likely to be a reduction in the number of
students having assessments
• HEIs will need to assess what support they are
able to provide
• The DSA will be for complex needs that fall
outside the HEI remit
Threat or Opportunity?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Could be both
Are we open to change?
Improve efficiency
Reduce costs
Improves student experience
Or could drastically impact negatively on the
student experience if we get it wrong
Challenges
• Little, or no, additional funding
• Setting budgets NOW with incomplete
information
• Inclusive teaching & learning - crucial
• Creative thinking
OFFA Expectations
• Access Agreements to set out broad
commitments about how you will provide
support for disabled students.
• Costs of making reasonable adjustments is a
statutory duty under the Equality Act –
therefore NOT countable in Access
Agreements.
OFFA Expectations
• Anything that goes beyond reasonable
adjustments can probably be included
• Additional expenditure can probably be
included
• OFFA guidance due in March?
Discussion 1
• How you expect to replace the Bands 1 & 2
NMH provision from 2016
• How you will maintain disabled student
admissions targets
• Reasonable adjustment appeal process
• HEFCE Base-level provision guidance, 99/04
referenced in the draft BIS DSA guidance
Discussion 2
• How do we deal with the £200 contribution?
• Do we absorb the [extra] accommodation costs?
• Diagnostic SpLD assessments (educational
psychologist)
• Inclusive Teaching & Learning Materials
• Evaluation of policies and procedures
• Podcasting lectures – won’t replace note-takers
Implications 2016
• Potentially massive implications on budgets
• Do we replace like for like or do we come up
with new and innovative solutions?
• Look at staffing profiles – hourly paid vs inhouse etc
• Training needs / upskilling of staff
1. Specialist support for students with SpLDs
and other support – expectation of reducing
level – Change to current DSA practice
2. Bands 1 and 2 NMH provision – Institutional
responsibility
3. A rigorous whole Institution Appeals Policy
for reasonable adjustments – a challenge
with a massive impact on students
• Funding through DSAs should be the top of an
apex of support, underpinned by an inclusive
environment, and institutional reasonable
adjustments where full inclusivity is not possible
• It is recognised that in some cases it may be
unreasonable to expect an institution to provide
an adjustment for the disabled student and
exceptionally the support required may be
considered under DSAs.
http://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/media/847636/guidance_document__second_draft_for_publication_16.10.2014.doc
DSA
Institutional
Reasonable
Adjustments
Inclusive teaching
and learning
environment
References
Draft DSA Guidance
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/aboutus/practitioners-news/bis-1516-dsa-draftguidance.aspx
HEFCE Base Level Provision Guidance
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/2010
0202100434/http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefc
e/1999/99_04.htm