disabled student allowance assessment

[toomanyteens]

Hi, was wondering if anyone knows what happens at an assessment for DSA.
ds is supposed to be starting college in september (he's 18) and has applied for an assessment for DSA. He's worried sick about it.I presume he will have to see whoever carries out assessment on his own being 18. problem being he is likely to say he has no problems with anything as he has high functioning autism (this is also confusing as at 16 diagnosed with aspergers then in a consultants letter discharging him from child services it states high functioning autism. i thought they were different conditions ?)
any info would be gratefully received about what DSA assessment entails

Tell him not to worry . I had a DSA assessment for myself as I was diagnosed with dyslexia (only when I had finally reached university, it was ignored throughout my school life). I also have a DS with HFA and the assessment and application process for DSA was miles easier than what I had to deal with for his statementing. There is no fighting over funding at all, they are really keen to get students to be fully supported and if your EP writes that you need a certain piece of equipment/software, there is no dispute over it, it's as if they have their chequebooks out ready for you!

Most of the information they had about my condition was through an EP report, where I'd had cognitive and handwriting tests done. Has your DS got something like this, or reports from other professionals stating what he needs? Then at the DSA assessment itself, they were mostly asking questions about my lifestyle, study schedules etc to see what kinds of software/equipment would be most suitable for me. It seemed that they had read through the report, picked out the recommendations and just added them to a purchasing list. They also offered things like handwriting grips, a fund for limited taxi costs, a support worker, photocopying costs.

I'm not clear whether the assessment you mention is more like the EP assessment I had (where they assess your abilities and needs and work out what support you'd need) or the Needs Assessment (where they decide what to give you - more an administrative thing). He would have to respond/participate for the EP assessment, but for me it was mostly writing down answers or one word answers for cognitive tests. I am not sure if he'd need a recent EP assessment if he has a history of professionals being involved though, did he submit lots of reports when he made the DSA application?

I didn't bring anyone to my assessment but I don't see why they wouldn't allow you to observe/support him if he agreed/requested it, even if he's 18. The only issue might be with the EP test in case they're worried you might influence his answers, but I have had to sit in on EP tests for DS because he would actually refuse to enter the room if I didn't go with him.

Well done on your DS for getting to college though - it's a real achievement with all the difficulties our boys have .

thanks for that. he hasn't had any tests other than initial diagnosis with adolescent psychologist who diagnosed him. 6th form haven't assessed him, we just told school he was on autistic spectrum and he was left to his own devices with me having to go in when certain situations escalated (such as an altercation with a teacher who 'smiled' as she told him work was not up to A level standard. he thought she was making fun of him, was convinced she was mocking him and walked out of school, i had to go and explain that he was unable to understand 'normal' facial/body cues and needed to be told exactly what was needed )it's really awkward trying to let him sort things out himself when he sees everyone and every situation so differently to others. he can be convinced that someone is being nice to him when they are really taking the p. or that someone is laughing at him or being creepy when they are just being friendly. NIGHTMARE !!
i'm trying at moment to sort out his UCAS application because he has decided he is not going to uni but college instead (fine with that) but he hasn't applied to college yet and doesnt know whether he will get in in september. says he will take a year out! which really means lying in bed til lunchtime, eating biscuits watching jeremy kyle 'to get a laugh at the people' Shocking attitude
i hope he doesn't need EP assessment because he hasn't had one.
student finance are funding DSA assessment which is brilliant. he has appointment end of july.
did your son go to college/uni ? how did he find it at first?

I hope his decision to go to College rather than Uni is not based on his fear of the DSA assessment?

At College he will only get the help the college's own Learning Support Team may be able to give him - which isn't always a lot.

At Uni, with DSA, he would get full support (including 1:1 if necessary). Mine (also HFA/Aspergers) got 1:1, laptop, printer, equipment insurance, tutorial help, book allowance, dictaphone etc etc etc..

The DSA assessment is absolutely nothing to fear at all. Please tell him this.

It's done by an assessor who is familiar with the Uni campus and HE course and who is able to ask questions in such a way as to discover the help he would need - all very friendly and unthreatening.

DS has had 2 assessments - one for undergrad and one for Masters. Both were great!

.... and I accompanied him both times. No problem at all getting them to agree to that.

Also, Asperger Syndrome is a form of HFA, so no conflict there. HFA sounds more serious so can be useful when requesting support, then use AS if you want to play it down...

The need for 25% extra time and own room for exams etc is written into DS's DSA assessment. His Dept has been informed and has always provided these.