tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post1154769554911539958..comments2024-02-15T00:49:12.299-08:00Comments on Rolling with the Punches: Vital Disabled Student Support to be Cut. Save DSA!Spoonydochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05530660179706960529noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-23974609502904773032014-04-28T08:13:24.028-07:002014-04-28T08:13:24.028-07:00I am a part-time post-grad student who returned to...I am a part-time post-grad student who returned to studying after 16 years. I get funding for two disabilities (dyslexia and a long-term autoimmune illness - Behcet's). I would not have been able to get through my first year without the help I got from the DSA, both kit, the training to use that kit and helpers at uni. I have been very ill this term, and its been a real struggle at times due to a long Behcet's flare up. If I had not had my laptop & software at home and my support helpers (proof reading and non medical helper) I would have dropped out because I would have fallen too far behind. I am very concerned that if I do not get the same type of assistance - to put me on a level playing field with my peers - as I did this year, next year I might not be able to get through the dissertation, let alone the final major project. Suzannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06569990890095312875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-42378241465035633332014-04-23T23:46:02.885-07:002014-04-23T23:46:02.885-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04748293294555322958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-31356438608560012232014-04-21T09:34:19.708-07:002014-04-21T09:34:19.708-07:00Thanks. Have added your links in to my post.Thanks. Have added your links in to my post.Spoonydochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05530660179706960529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-27829915183639285962014-04-21T09:29:50.112-07:002014-04-21T09:29:50.112-07:00Access to learning is not designed to pay for comp...Access to learning is not designed to pay for computer equipment. If someone is just about making ends meet then they would not be eligible. On the other hand they won't have a spare £150 lying around for a computer either.<br />DSA does exactly what it is meant to: pay the extra costs due to disability. If that is a basic computer, then that should be paid for. Or are you advocating that disabled students and employees should themselves shoulder a part of the costs of adaptations?Spoonydochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05530660179706960529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-44444215680804047482014-04-17T12:41:48.360-07:002014-04-17T12:41:48.360-07:00I got a first class BSc and an MA, with the help o...I got a first class BSc and an MA, with the help of DSA, but actually, I agree about the 'basic computer'. (Even though I have had two good computers through DSA myself.) That should not include any specialist software, such as your own copy of software other students may have to access on cluster PCs. Anyone who really arrives at university with no computer at all can apply for access to learning funds and get a refurbished computer from someone like Partners IT for around £150. The human support is a much bigger problem and can be well outside of the average student budget to replace.<br /><br />My experience of the assessment process was radically the opposite of yours. I sat there while they told me I needed a bunch of things I didn't, based on preconceived notions of what people with my disability need, rather than what I told them. I got a digital recorder and various pieces of software I did not want, need or have the ability to use (due to my disability). I could source much better computer equipment for the same price as their preferred suppliers, but they certainly didn't make it easy. There was no actual 'assessing' involved that I could detect. In the end, I wrote the assessment with the help of a knowledgeable advocate, the assessment organisation adopted it word-for-word and charged DSA £500 for it! They also charged something like £100 for in home set up that I told them from the outset I absolutely did not want under any circumstances. If they could get rid of waste like that, they might not have to make such heavy cuts in essential help like scribes and study support.Lenehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13556338646128725960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-16220226665431743212014-04-16T13:38:49.813-07:002014-04-16T13:38:49.813-07:00I have written my own blogposts about this at http...I have written my own blogposts about this at http://natalyad.dreamwidth.org/10553.html summarising the changes and then http://natalyad.dreamwidth.org/11093.html making suggestions of what people can do. <br /><br />I have linked to your blogpost along with social media stuff in updates to my second blogpost. <br /><br />Now I'm off to write to my MP.Natalyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02415413831805589079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-42043874741537165432014-04-14T17:47:52.077-07:002014-04-14T17:47:52.077-07:00#ProtectDSA I feel so angry and helpless. I am not...#ProtectDSA I feel so angry and helpless. I am not going to give up but Its one thing after the other , they have no shame!. I have been starting to re-train after 12 painful and isolating years living with SLE , taking two short accredited courses, to see if I could complete them, foggy brain and health allowing I mean. They gave me the confidence to even hope that I would be able to take up Higher Ed, all to help me appear a more attractive prospect for prospective future employers, hoping that they will ignore my illness, its unpredictability and the debilitating way it affects me and be impressed with my training and qualifications...... ta da<br /><br />Each week that I have been able to get up and attend my courses has been so liberating, one slow step at a time, it has been helping my self esteem and building my confidence and I was doing it on my terms no pressure, feeling I would have the safety net of DSA to turn to when I started the HE. Now what ?<br /><br />Now what for those who are not quite ready for study but will be in the future ?, What now for those who will be affected mid study ?<br /><br />This government are so single minded in their quest, and I donot think the general public really understand how the ConDems are moving the goal posts, and unlevelling the playing field again. everything that has been fought for, Inclusion, equality, is being eroded under the guise of austerity<br />.<br />I have shared this, I hope your blog and the petition goes viral.<br /><br />Big hug to thank you for all the work that you do.<br />DeeDeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17517253004188810185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-71912531399002814912014-04-14T17:37:03.194-07:002014-04-14T17:37:03.194-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.DeeDeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17517253004188810185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-67133229665190006252014-04-14T07:19:33.340-07:002014-04-14T07:19:33.340-07:00Thank you. And no, I see no sense in this decisio...Thank you. And no, I see no sense in this decision. It is financially unsound.Spoonydochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05530660179706960529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-69797957686965121642014-04-14T07:18:52.621-07:002014-04-14T07:18:52.621-07:00Thank you. Even the smallest gesture can make a di...Thank you. Even the smallest gesture can make a difference.Spoonydochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05530660179706960529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-52897181372314094092014-04-14T07:18:27.247-07:002014-04-14T07:18:27.247-07:00Agreed. This is very similar to the attacks on Acc...Agreed. This is very similar to the attacks on Access to Work. Just like those it makes no sense. Even taking a purely hard headed financial approach, Disabled Student Allowance pays for itself many times over. Disabled people who don't get qualifications are far less likely to be employed. The exact figures are easily found. <br />With the government so eager to push disabled people into work, this is incomprehensible. It is stopping disabled people even getting out of the starting blocks.Spoonydochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05530660179706960529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-38065435822557863302014-04-14T07:15:48.841-07:002014-04-14T07:15:48.841-07:00Thank you.Thank you.Spoonydochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05530660179706960529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-21254821206109982282014-04-14T05:48:25.068-07:002014-04-14T05:48:25.068-07:00I will sign and support your cause but the governm...I will sign and support your cause but the government isn't doing this to save money, they get off on seeing people suffer. That is the only reason they are doing this. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12625527049014992433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-23814898321550753952014-04-14T04:15:03.269-07:002014-04-14T04:15:03.269-07:00I've signed the petition and spread the word.
...I've signed the petition and spread the word.<br />This government will not stop until they have the disabled ready to die! Their hatred of disabled people goes really deep. They want to purge us. Well it's not going to work because too many of us want to live and do something with our lives, even if it's just spreading the word about the discrimination and petitions. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06475814533210477851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-61286439491287399692014-04-14T03:59:55.953-07:002014-04-14T03:59:55.953-07:00Yeah, didn't finally get a SpLD diagnosis unti...Yeah, didn't finally get a SpLD diagnosis until last year, which was about 30 years too late for my degree, but support would have made things so much easier - and not just for me, lecturers trying to decipher my dyspraxic scrawl would probably have been eternally grateful ;) Cerrtainly couldn't do a degree without support nowadays. It's like the Access to Work cuts (in fact it seems to be a recycled version of the AtW cuts from a couple of years ago*), cutting for cuttings sake, even when the cost of the support is far exceeded by the return on investment.<br /><br />* that would be the AtW cuts they had to back down on because of the disastrous fall in take-up.DavidGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11734028655032503805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-29177513094458217802014-04-14T03:44:18.386-07:002014-04-14T03:44:18.386-07:00Have signed
Have signed<br />Adrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15342743341907026613noreply@blogger.com