1. Importance of Sharing Good Practice/Reasonable Adjustments for disabled students in the context of DSA Changes Student Wellbeing, Learning & Welfare Support Clare Omissi Disability Adviser 2e

2. Background Supporting your success Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) first introduced in 1990/91; Generous support package given to individual students e.g. computer equipment, software, support worker assistance; For 24 years there was no overall review of support provided by government and where the balance of support should lie – until 2014

3. David Willett’s Statement – April 2014 Supporting your success “The proposals outlined....look to rebalance responsibilities between government funding and institutional support......These are partly anticipatory duties and we expect HEIs to introduce changes which can further reduce reliance on DSAs and help mainstream support.”

4. Key Changes -2016/17 academic year onwards Transfer of responsibility for certain aspects of support to the HEI e.g. some support worker roles no longer funded For items of specialist equipment & support worker assistance, institutional reasonable adjustments should be considered in the first instance, before a recommendation for DSAs funding is made. (E.g. DSAs funding is still available for digital voice recorders however, assessors should first consider whether recordings are provided by the institution)

5. ‘Rebalancing’ of responsibility Supporting your success The student should contact their chosen HE institutions at the same time as completing their DSAs application form, to ensure reasonable adjustments can be considered. Disability advisers should have an up-to-date knowledge of the level and type of support offered by their institution as reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act, or more generally as part of the institution’s support for disabled students. Institutions should also be working towards making this information readily accessible to relevant stakeholders.

6. Reasonable Adjustments/Good Practice at Hull Supporting your success Currently, recommendations are made to departments by SWLWS and DSAs assessment report as to what reasonable adjustments a student requires e.g. needs to take breaks in lectures, use hearing loop; Need a clearer picture re. what additional support/good practice/reasonable adjustments are put in place in departments. Possible inconsistencies in student experience across the University.

7. Other key points from DSA Guidelines Supporting your success The learning environment should be as inclusive as possible, so that the need for individual interventions is the exception, not the rule. Funding through DSAs should be the top of an apex of support, underpinned by an inclusive environment, and individual reasonable adjustments where required. BIS & UUK set up a Disabled Students Sector Leadership Group to explore how to enhance inclusivity in the learning environment. The group will develop a common vision of the provision for disabled students, and share examples of practical approaches and interventions to support this.

8. Provision for disabled students in HE: the Triangle model DSAs For students who need support in addition to that provided by their HE provider Individual reasonable adjustments Adjustments made by HE providers for individual disabled students as part of their duty to make 'reasonable adjustments', and in addition to any 'anticipatory adjustments' Inclusive learning environment An environment that considers and addresses the needs of all students including disabled students as part of the duty to make 'anticipatory adjustments '

9. University of Hull – Impact of DSA changes Supporting your success Story so far: DSA Working Group Financial support with £200 contribution towards computer equipment Lecture capture project Inclusive practice (with LEAP) Embedding of support within faculties (SpLD team) Future activities: Website Removal of funding for bands 1 & 2 NMH support = how to manage this; Document what level and type of support/R.As/inclusive provision we have at Hull & make information readily accessible; Culture shift – DSAs to be the last resort rather than first port of call.