DSA - dslyexia assessment ?

[Charlieandlola]

My son has ADD and dyslexia. He is applying for DSA and needs an assessment for his dyslexsia and I have no idea where to start looking for someone /an organisation to do this . Does anyone have any recommendations/advice thanks

Do you not have a copy of the original assessments done by the school?

I had copy of dyslexia assessment done in primary and my DC used that for uni.
And the university also arranged their own assessment once my DC had already started so they could apply for funding for any extra equipment, software etc.

Sorry don't know specifically about DSA application though but would imagine evidence would be the same

Definitely use the one the school did if it meets the criteria the DSA specify (I think the person doing it has to have a certain qualification). We had to get one for DS for DSA last year and used a company recommended by a friend which seemed to be used by lots of the schools around here. It was very in-depth but (I think) very expensive - £700 ish I think. The assessment was via zoom/teams - I think the organisation was based in London.

You could also try speaking to the disability services department at the uni and see if they have anyone they would recommend.

Just had my dd retested as the one for school does not carry through for uni, paid £500, this now covers her for exams and applying for DSA

Does your child have an official diagnosis report confirming a dyslexia diagnosis? If not you can find assessors on Patoss-dyslexia.org look for those with an APC (assessment practicing certificate).

It obviously varies, My DC's university have someone they use (and pay for) to do the assessment for exams, funding for equipment etc

@AyBeeCee Is that the diagnostic assessment in order to apply for DSA in the first place with Student Finance? Or is it the ‘needs assessment’ done by all universities following the original DSA application? If it’s the former how did you arrange that outside student finance please?

AyBeeCee makes a good point about the uni paying for the assessment. I'd forgotten that my DS uni mentioned on their website that they would pay for assessments if needed but when we asked they said that they no longer had the budget (maybe since Covid) and that we would need to pay ourselves. I think they said that if it would be a struggle to pay then to contact them again and they would see if they could help.

Where in the country are you?

ask for recommendations via sen team at college /school - 1 of the support team at college did my DS assessment as she worked part time for the college and then a company that did assessments.

My DC doesn't get DSA @ComplexNeeds We didn't apply for it as their needs are not that great. But I would imagine the evidence you submit will be similar to what the university will require.

My DC's university accepted the dyslexia assessment done by specialist teacher in primary school (which I had kept copy of) as proof of dyslexia. That was sufficient for adjustments for exams.
And DC was given an appointment with the co-ordinator at the uni who then organised further assessment to advise on and access funding for any additional equipment.

Is your DC still at school or college? If so it's worth asking the school for a copy of their assessment. It has to have been done by someone with specific qualifications though.
If not then it's worth approaching the university and asking their advice. They may, like my DC's uni, have their own person who they use and pay for. Or they may be able to point you in direction of someone suitably qualified.

That’s incredibly helpful @AyBeeCee thank you!

My DD was screened through school last year which counted towards extra time and coloured paper.
However to receive DSA she had to have a proper assessment through a diagnostic assessor, in her case we used a specialist psychologist. It cost a little short of £500.
DD then had a needs assessment as pp has mentioned. The assessor suggested several things for her which had included several really useful assistive technology programmes, training for said AT, a printer of her own as she needs coloured paper and reimbursement for ink, plus 60 hours a year for a specialist tutor while she's at uni.
Our eyes really have been opened as to how DD must have struggled over the years; both school, the psychologist and uni assessor said she's clearly got great coping skills. But as a parent, albeit with no experience of anyone with dyslexia etc before, we feel incredibly guilty. However she did really well in spite of this in her exams so the DSA will be amazing for her.
OP I don't know where you are in the county but if by any chance you are in West Yorkshire I can give you the name of the dyslexia assessor as she was great.

Forgot to add a good starting point would be the British Dyslexia Association.
www.bdadyslexia.org.uk

If you do not already have a formal diagnostic assessment, conducted by an assessor with an Assessor's Practising Certificate (denoted by the letters APC after their name), then you will need to get one, either through Patoss Tutor Index or the British Dyslexia Association. I think BDA add quite a premium to their charges, so it's probably cheaper to go through Patoss, but still in the region of £500.