Higher Education
If you are Dyslexic and are considering Higher Education there are some important choices you should consider in order to help you continue to access and complete your studiesFor example depending on the severity of your Dyslexia you could be eligible for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA).
Indigo specialise in this area of support, if you are considering applying for DSA and want advice, please get in touch.
Initially your eligibility to apply depends on the evidence in support of you having Dyslexia. You may have already been assessed as Dyslexic at school by qualified Special Needs Teaching staff and have that evidence from your time at school. Alternatively if you are now over 16 years of age with no previous evidence of Dyslexia, you will need to produce evidence by way of a report from a qualified Educational Psychologist.
The claim for DSA is made through the Local Education Authority (LEA) and it is designed to provide additional funds to the individual Dyslexic to cover, for example, the provision of appropriate Dyslexia friendly software, a PC, or non medical help like a Proof Reader.
Applicants for the DSA are normally referred by the LEA to a local Assessment Centre where their specific needs can be identified and appropriate recommendations made in order to help the student complete his/her course of study.
In all cases it is recommended that Dyslexic Applicants should discuss applying for the DSA with the Student Support Centre or similar at their college/University. The Student Support Centre will normally have further information on the process and can provide additional information on other sources of funding and support.
Useful information on the DSA can be obtained from the DfES website.