Neurodivergent Students’ Essential Guide to Applying for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) in 2024
Neurodivergent Students’ Essential Guide to Applying for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) in 2024
This guide is designed specifically for neurodivergent students who are considering applying for Disabled Students’ Allowances in 2024. We understand that navigating the application process and understanding available support options can be daunting, which is why this guide aims to clarify the process.
Whether you’re a prospective student preparing for university or a current student seeking additional support, this guide is here to assist you every step of the way.
Guide summary:
- What is Disabled Students’ Allowances?
- How much is the DSA allowance
- What support can neurodivergent students get?
- Eligibility criteria – Can you get DSA if you’re neurodivergent?
- Evidence required
- How to apply for DSA
- How long is the DSA application process?
- Application Deadlines for 2024
What is Disabled Students’ Allowances?
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is a UK government grant designed to support disabled students in higher education by covering extra study-related costs or expenses that arise due to their long-term health condition, mental-health condition or specific learning difficulty.
It aims to ensure that all students have equal opportunities to access higher education and achieve their academic potential.
DSA can help with the costs of various types of support tailored to individual learning needs, including:
- specialist equipment, such as a computer if the needs assessment identifies this could help with their studies
- specialist study skills support *HYPERLINK
- specialist mentoring *HYPERLINK
- other disability-related study support, covering day-to-day stationery costs like photocopying, printing, and stationery supplies
- Travel allowance, helping with extra travel costs related to disability, such as taxi fares or mileage expenses to and from university
These resources are designed to alleviate barriers to learning and enable students to fully participate in their academic studies.
How much is the DSA allowance?
2024 to 2025 academic year
Undergraduate and postgraduate students may receive support of up to £26,948 annually.
What support can neurodivergent students get?
Some neurodivergent learners will have challenges and strengths associated with: ADHD, dyslexia, autism, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, and developmental language disorder.
DSA can give neurodivergent students access to support to individual needs, such as assistive software for reading and writing difficulties, and specialist mentoring for study skills and strategies. By accessing DSA, neurodivergent learners can receive the tools and support they need to thrive academically.
Eligibility criteria
Can you get DSA if you’re neurodivergent?
Neurodivergent students can apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) if they live in England and their condition impacts their ability to study. This impact can include difficulties with reading, writing, organisation, time management, and social interaction, among others.
DSA covers various experiences and diagnoses, including:
- mental health conditions like anxiety and depression
- specific learning difference, such as dyslexia and ADHD
- autism spectrum condition
- physical disability, for example if you’re partially sighted or have to use crutches
- long-term health conditions
- deafness
- chronic illness and/or chronic pain
To qualify for DSA, students must also:
- be an undergraduate or postgraduate student (including Open University or distance learning)
- qualify for student finance from Student Finance England
- be studying on a course that lasts at least a year
Learners can’t access DSA if they’re:
- eligible for tuition fee-only funding
- eligible for NHS Disabled Students’ Allowances (this is a separate scheme)
- receiving equivalent support from another funding source, such as a university or social work bursary
- on a higher or degree apprenticeship course
Courses that can be funded by the DSA
- a first degree, for example BA, BSc or BEd
- a Foundation Degree
- a Certificate of Higher Education
- a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
- a Higher National Certificate (HNC)
- a Higher National Diploma (HND)
- a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
- a postgraduate course
- Initial Teacher Training (ITT)
Evidence required
When applying for DSA, all applicants will need to provide documentation to support their disability or condition. This may include diagnostic assessments, letters from healthcare professionals, or educational psychologists’ reports.
These documents should clearly demonstrate how your neurodivergent condition affects your learning and the specific areas in which you require support.
How to apply for DSA
To begin the application process for DSA, neurodivergent students can reach out to the Disability Support Services or Student Services department at their university or college. These departments are equipped to provide guidance and support throughout the application process.
You don’t have to have a confirmed place at a university before you apply for your DSA. You can contact the relevant student finance agency for your region, such as Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, Student Finance Northern Ireland, or the Student Awards Agency for Scotland. They will provide information on how to initiate the application and may offer assistance with completing the necessary forms.
You can find out more via the government’s website *HYPERLINK
How long is the DSA application process?
The DSA application process typically takes around 14 weeks from the initial application to the delivery of equipment.
Application Deadlines for 2024
While there are no strict deadlines for applying for DSA, neurodivergent students are encouraged to start the application process as early as possible to ensure timely access to support services. Beginning the process early allows for thorough assessment and implementation of support measures before the start of your academic studies.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD is characterised by a predominance of either inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms, or a combination of both. The condition involves challenges in managing attention, with considerable variability in how individuals focus on tasks based on their relevance. ADHD individuals often seek sensory stimulation and may have a strong need for movement, which can aid in concentration, anxiety regulation, or serve as a form of release. Organisational tasks can be particularly challenging, and there may be difficulties in retaining information in working memory. Written instructions or note-taking can be beneficial. Support in breaking down tasks and managing organisation is often needed.
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Neurodiversity
Neurodiversity acknowledges the natural variations in human brain function and behavioural traits as integral to human diversity, viewing conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia not as disorders but as different aspects of neurocognitive functioning. It advocates for societal shifts towards greater acceptance, rights, and accommodations for those with neurological differences, emphasizing inclusion and support. The concept of a "spiky profile" integrates with this view, illustrating how individuals may exhibit significant strengths in certain areas while facing challenges in others, further highlighting the diverse spectrum of human abilities and the need for tailored support.
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Dyspraxia
Dyspraxia affects both fine and gross motor skills, significantly impacting writing, typing, and self-care activities. Dyspraxic individuals may also face challenges with memory, attention, perception, and processing, leading to difficulties in planning, organisation, executing actions, or following instructions in the correct order.
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Dyscalculia
Individuals with dyscalculia struggle with mastering arithmetic skills, calculations, number sense, and mathematical reasoning. Challenges often extend to understanding quantities, time, and abstract numerical concepts. Dyscalculia is frequently accompanied by working memory difficulties. Approximately 50% of individuals with dyscalculia also face reading challenges, and many experience significant maths anxiety.
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Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that affects the ability to develop automatic and fluent word reading and spelling skills. It is often associated with challenges in phonological awareness, which involves understanding and manipulating the sounds in words, and may also impact orthographic processing—the recognition of whole words, letter strings, or spelling patterns. Dyslexic individuals might be self-conscious about reading aloud, which can also hinder comprehension, and may avoid using complex vocabulary in writing to prevent spelling errors. Though not officially part of the diagnostic criteria, dyslexic individuals often struggle with organisation, sequencing, and may have low academic self-esteem. A notable discrepancy exists between their confidence in verbal tasks versus written tasks.
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Autism
According to current diagnostic criteria, autistic individuals face challenges primarily in social communication and exhibit restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour. The severity of these challenges can vary significantly. Many autistic individuals have sensory sensitivities that are particularly challenging in new and unfamiliar environments. Furthermore, they often prefer structured and predictable settings, benefiting from ample time to process information and adapt to changes. Social anxiety can pose a significant challenge in unstructured and unpredictable social situations. While the challenges of autism might be less visible in certain settings, they can still have a profound, cumulative effect on mental health, well-being, and may lead to burnout.
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