Student starting HE who have disabilities, additional needs, mental or physical health issues -support thread

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

I find general support threads very useful but there are additional issues when our dcs have needs beyond the standard. I thought that it might be useful to have a place where we can discuss our concerns, pass on tips and information and support each other.

My dd is (results permitting) starting a degree at a university hundreds of miles away. She has mobility and chronic pain of unknown origin, ASD, mild dyslexia and a variety of health problems,
none of them serious but adding to the complexity.
We have had her needs assessment but it has needed some tweaking so isn't finalised yet. She has also done a transition course for students with ASD which has given us a chance to see what the difficulties might be and put some plans in place.
I am still terrified of how she will cope though.

For context I also have ds (ASD, OCD, dyslexia, hypermobility) who has been away at university for two years. He has struggled a bit (a lot at times) but the disability services at his university have been very supportive.
Anyone with dcs already at university or studying themselves are also very welcome. (So that we can pick your brains!)

[TheThirdOfHerName]

HardwickWhite if she feels able to send a quick email to disability services at the university, that will hopefully start the ball rolling.

DS1 did this and asked how to set up what the university is supposed to be supplying directly (in his case this is just a weekly meeting with a specialist mentor). When they emailed back asking for clarification, he sent them a screenshot of that section of the report.

[TheThirdOfHerName]

He found it more difficult to contact the equipment supplier (had to be done by phone) but managed it and equipment is hopefully being delivered at the end of next week.

[jewel1968]

Thanks. Will check out bracelets. He does carry 2 epipens with him.

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

Hardwick Have SFE approved the report?
It is usually really quick. Contact disability services at the university as soon it comes through (or before as it is exceptionally unusual for SFE not to approve the needs assessment).
Dd hasn't been allocated her mentor yet but had an email to say it is being done so it shouldn't be too late to get it organised for the start of term.

[BasiliskStare]

So probably not terribly helpful but Ds has done a degree with Spld ( dyslexia ) all went well. By phoning the university admissions dept - very useful. Also let SFE know . not just for money but also extra time etc.

[HardwickWhite]

No approval from SFE for the report yet NoHaudin. It was sent yesterday (complete with the wrong name in a couple of sections) from the local assessment office. Do you know how long it is likely to take?

I'm struggling to get DD to understand that she needs to give people time to do their job, and that she is not their only concern.

I'm wondering if we could/should just get in touch with disability services at the uni and say we'll pay ourselves for the mentor until the SFE paperwork all falls in to place.

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

Definitely get in touch with disability services now. I am sure they would rather know now that a mentor is required while they are still doing the allocations. I don't know about payment - you could offer but the university might fund it itself.
The approval only took a matter of days I think.

[jewel1968]

DS clearly thinks I am silly to suggest the medical alert bracelet. I just worry as at his school all his friends knew his allergies as did many of the staff but at university nobody will know. As with many teenagers he doesn't want a fuss. Is there anything I can do as a parent or do I just accept he is an adult? He is also asthmatic but he manages that reasonably well.

[TheThirdOfHerName]

If any of you have experience of software that enables students to type maths (algebraic expressions) I would be grateful for your advice on this thread for DS2.
Thank you

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

jewel that's worrying but as he is an adult you obviously can't force it.
Would he at least carry a card which is more discreet.

the third I am pretty sure that ds has something he uses. I will ask him when he eventually wakes up.

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

It was dd not ds. I have put some information on your thread.

[TheThirdOfHerName]

Thank you NoHaudin he has picked a topic and is experimenting now.

[jewel1968]

Thanks. Will mention the idea of carrying a card.

[cakesandtea]

Please tell me about DSA, do they use reports from school, from the EHCP process? How do they decide what to provide?

DS went through clearing, he just applied to DSA, took an appointment to get a letter from GP. Is it going to be enough? How long will it take?

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

They use medical reports not school stuff although some of the reports used to get the EHCP may be useful.
Basically they want to know the diagnosis and how it affects study. The only potentially difficulty is that if you are claiming for dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties they want an educational psychologist's report that was done post 16.

Student finance are usually quite quick in approving if they consider the evidence sufficient. You then have to book a Needs Assessment with an approved centre. If he is going to university very soon the centre at his own university would probably be best.

There are time limits for the assessment centre to get the report out and it then has to be approved by Student Finance but this is usually a formality and happens quickly.

Any equipment then has to be ordered from the nominated supplier and mentoring etc put in place.
It doesn't take ages (unlike an EHCP) but it is unlikely that everything will be in place for the start of this term.

It is worth contacting the disability services at his university to see what they can put in place while waiting. Worth doing anyway so that he is known to them. They can also advise about e.g. letting departments know and exam arrangements (which are done internally by the university not through DSA).

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

The needs assessment is very thorough and it that which decides what is needed.
Technology and software, mentoring and study skills tutoring are the standard things recommended but obviously it depends on the disabilities.

[TheThirdOfHerName]

It's just been pointed out to me on another thread that there's no chance that DS1 could cope with university and that he is not university material.

So that's me told.

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

I replied to that poster.

!!!!!?????

[TheThirdOfHerName]

Thank you.

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

She has form.

[Stressedoverkids]

@TheThirdOfHerName I haven't read the other thread but just remember the person on Mumsnet who knows your Ds best and is working in their best interest is you anybody else's two cents worth are not relevant.

If I had a penny for everytime somebody told me Dd would never achieve this or that she wouldn't be where she is today.

I am heartily sick of people who think they can define these children. I am sure your Ds has overcome more hurdles already than she ever will!!

[TheThirdOfHerName]

DS1's equipment arrived today, so it feels a step closer towards him being ready to go.

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

Is he having training on it?

Dd's arrived on Wednesday. Online training is booked for 4o'clock today. We are also expecting her new chair to be delivered this afternoon. It increasingly looks as if they are going to clash.

[TheThirdOfHerName]

He has registered the software using the authentication codes, and phoned the recommended insurer to request a quote for insurance. He can't face making another phone call this afternoon and is resting now. He has the contact details of the training provider and will phone them at the beginning of next week.

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

Yes making phone calls can be exhausting so I don't blame him.

Dd can't process what people are saying on the phone so she does as much as possible by email. If it is necessary to phone I do it for her.

I hope she won't have to do much phoning at university. She can make GP appointments and book taxis online. I am kind of expecting some panicky texts though.