DSA and 1-1 support at uni - autism

[MazzaMaisie]

Hi,
Anybody got any advice for me? My daughter has autism and had 1-1 support at college after a severely disrupted high school experience. Basically couldn’t attend due to anxiety after term 1 year 7. Eventually after years got some help from complimentary education. College were brilliant with her and she did well in A levels, she had 1-1 for emotional support. She applied and has DSA but 6 weeks in she is struggling with the environment and not having that 1-1 support. I’ve read that others got 1-1 support at university. She’s close to dropping out. I am going to ring DSA to see if they can help with funding. Anybody been in this situation? Many thanks, it’s so stressful to see her struggling. Student support offer an hour mentoring but it’s not sufficient to meet her needs!!

Did she have a Needs Assessment to determine what support she needs? Can she revisit Student Support or speak to her personal tutor?

It wasn't for f/t 1-1 support , but my dd had other support which didn't materialise/wasn't suitable. Think also people who got her to sign timesheets for hours not done.

I started with provider and moved on to our DSA officer who did get things sorted.

Recommend getting straight in touch with DSA officer. Hope yours is as good as ours .

Best wishes

i rang DSA - they won’t fund 1-1 support only 1 hour mentoring and 1 hour study support a week. She (we) have spoken to student support:personal tutor and 1-1 support not available. I am so sad for her as she’s really tried but the environment is so overwhelming. They insist on full attendance from her as well so no offer of anything remote to help with transition. 🙁

Could you pay for someone privately?

Does she receive PIP?

Sadly, I can’t afford to. I’m a single parent and had to reduce my days to 3 (I teach primary) when she fell out of school (developed anorexia and had a breakdown after CAMHS refused to see her twice) and being an ‘older more expensive’ teacher I’ve not been able to get those permanent days back. Also on the two days she attends I drive her to and from university. DSA will pay for taxis but I was trying to ease transition by taking her myself.

Yes, she is being reassessed at the moment so no guarantee for the future.

Have you spoken to the disability service at the uni? Has she started the mentoring yet? Both should be able to suggest strategies for managing uni. Disability service can arrange reasonable adjustments e.g breaks during lectures, getting lecture notes in advance, raising awareness of her needs with lecturers. Also worth asking them if there are any quiet spaces she can go to if she needs to rest between lectures.

Does she get glean through DSA? This can take the pressure off feeling like she needs to keep up with note taking. Has she tried loop earplugs? They are sometimes recommended through DSA and can help reduce sensory input.

Some disabled students get some funded support through social care, but I think that's more PA type support around the independent living aspects of uni. 1-1 support like TA support at schools would be unusual at uni level.

It sounds like the Brain in Hand app might be helpful - was this offered at her assessment?

DSA doesn't pay for 1 to 1 daily support but the University can choose to do, if they consider it a reasonable adjustment. You need to contact Disability Services. Good luck.

Ive not heard of anyone having a 1 to 1 at university. Perhaps its not for her and she just can't manage it.

Has she thought about swapping to something more flexible like Open University?

What's she studying and what role would the 1-1 be doing?

I work in FE and we have assorted help, Uni should be pulling out all the stops to help her, I know uni is less personal than FE but badger absolutely everyone you can think of. Good luck.

My foster son has 1-1 at his college. He is going to apply to do a foundation degree so the 2 years to get this will be at his college but if he wants to make the foundation degree into an hons. degree he will have to do third year at a local university. He's doing so well at college and his tutors are encouraging him to apply for the foundation degree. I'm not sure if he'll continue to get full time 1-1 like he has now. He says his 1-1 also helps other students if he doesn't need him. I think they will allocate him some 1-1 on the foundation degree. He will have one of the same tutors as he gets now. I am just hoping he will have gained enough confidence for the third year in a completely different environment. Could your DD find a college of further education that also teaches some higher ed courses too?