Hi, I am Melanie, ask me questions about being a disabled student now

Ems81

@melaniethorley thank you so much for your reply. I also had a reply from the disability team at the OU and as a result I've registered to start my Access module in May 2021. I could have started at the beginning of February but it seemed a little too soon, I want to get my head around everything and be prepared. 
I'm very excited!
Thanks again ?

melaniethorley

Excellent news @Ems81. May seems a sensible time to start to give you time to prepare. You might find some of this software useful. I use the speech-to-text and text-to-speech apps when my rheumatism is bad:

https://www.callscotland.org.uk/mystudybar/

Ems81

Thank you @melaniethorley I will definitely have a look at this.

littleacorn

@melaniethorley thanks I have just been diagnosed by the university and have an appointment on Wednesday next week where I will hopefully find out what support they can offer me but was just wondering what kind of things they may suggest.

melaniethorley

Hi @littleacorn and apologies for the delay in replying - I am on extended leave until 12 January. You will already have had your appointment but if there is anything else I can assist with, please let me know and enjoy your course 

Cher_Alumni

Hi @melaniethorley

A member has requested I post this question on their behalf, if you could please respond when you have time after your leave has finished 

The question is:

I'm on the Autism Spectrum and I've not been able to work in a formal capacity for 12 years, having previously worked continuously for 16years.
Although I have done adhoc pieces of working and regularly contributed to many voluntary projects in Brighton & Hove.
I'm recently been researching the possibility of receiving Specialist/ Employment Mentoring on a privately funded basis, as there is state funded or charity sector provision available locally in Brighton & Hove.
My question or enquiry is therefore: Is it possible to getting whole or part funding through either the goverment's 'Access to Work' scheme, or the Disabled Students' Allowance, if I were able to pursue either an employment or education pathway respectively?

Many thanks.

melaniethorley

Good morning and thank you for your query.

The DSA is only for higher education qualifications, part-time and full-time. 

Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) | Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Conservatoires | UCAS

Access to Work can be used for any work, part-time included,  except voluntary work 

Get support in work if you have a disability or health condition (Access to Work) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

A higher apprenticeship might suit you best as it combines work and study 

Higher apprenticeships - who offers them & how they work (ucas.com)

I hope this is useful and good luck with what you choose to do 

Cher_Alumni

@melaniethorley Thank you, that's super helpful!  I hope you had a lovely Christmas and New Year 

melaniethorley

Thank you @Cher_Scope. Happy to assist and I did have a restful winter break 

kittydavies

Hi I go to a college for people with ASD I was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called FHH about a year ago. It causes me wrist Pain when I write. I have asked the college if my lsw could write for me when my wrist hurts. The college said that was a covid risk. I have asked if I could bring in my own laptop. They said it equipment has to belong to the college. So I asked if the college could provide a laptop for me to type I said I could get a doctor's note to move it was a medical cause. They said they didn't have the resources so I said do I just have to put up with the pain. They said sorry there is nothing we can do. That was In September. Since then I have mentioned to every member of staff that my wrists hurt. I offered a doctor's note they just say they don't need one they can see it's genuine. It's this fair or do I have rights? Im 19. Thanks also I live in Wales so the disability rights link isn't too helpful for me. @melaniethorley

melaniethorley

Good afternoon Kitty and I am very sorry to read this. The stance taken by your college is blatant discrimination. Although you live in Wales, you are still covered by the Equality Act 2010, which includes fair access to education. I would also recommend using speech-to-text software to save you typing so much. This is used throughout colleges and universities. There are lots of different software which are free. I recommend MyStudyBar as it has many other functions as well Here is the link: MyStudyBar – Eduapps.

You download the software onto a USB stick which means the software will work on any desktop or laptop without interferring with the hardware. I hope this helps and good luck 

kittydavies

Thank you. My mum has spoken to the college again this time she told them I had to have a laptop and she was going to buy one ( my old one needs a lot of repairs and is old) she said it was because of my condition. The college said today I could use when of there laptop until my one comes. I don't know why it took so long but I'm glad things have changed and thank you 

melaniethorley

I am glad this has a positive outcome. However, the college is responsible for supplying you with a new laptop, your mum should not have been the person to buy one. Depending on what course you are doing, there maybe extra funds you can apply for as a disabled post-16 student. I hope you can enjoy your studies a bit more now and thank you for the update 

kkr

As a disabled student in receive of PIP and universal credit. What happens if one receive student finance maintenance loan does it affect your universal credit claim or closes the account. What advice can anyone give please if one takes the maintenance loan  . Currently I am a student receiving this benefit but no money was deducted in anyway so far that’s why I am not sure , because currently I do not take student finance, because it says you take it or not it is calculated as income. So confused need help 

forgoodnesssake

If you get a student maintenance loan (not the fees) it is taken into account by the DWP and counted as income.  It shouldn't be; it's a loan!  However that is the way it stands at the moment.

As an example my son is on income related ESA and has had maintenance loan and gets  much more (his savings are taken into account too) in the 3 months summer vacation than he gets during term time.  Currently he gets about £4 per week ESA during the academic year.  And actually they have just asked for a re-imbursement as they overpaid him last autumn term.

PiP is not means tested, but getting it (and UC) can potentially make you eligible for the "Special Support Element" which is a proportion of your student maintenance loan that is discounted by the DWP for means tested benefit purposes (UC and ESA).  It is however also calculated looking at your savings and the income of your parents (if you are deemed to still live at home when not at Uni)

kkr

special support grant also taken into consideration as an income by UC. 

my issue is maintenance loan is a loan but UC is not a loan and the cost of living alone is expensive . so reducing UC and the amount of maintenance loan is not a lot .

forgoodnesssake

Special support element isn't supposed to be taken into account

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Student-Support/How-does-student-support-affect-benefits

kkr

i was not given the special support element because i have to be in receive of maintenance loan is that correct

forgoodnesssake

Yes, the Special Support Element is a proportion of the Student Maintenance Loan that is discounted by the DWP, if you are eligible.  So you cannot get it if you don;t get a maintenance loan because it is part of that loan.

kkr

@forgoodnesssake i am reading the link you sent , it says benefit where student income is not taken into account is PIP and income related support allowance . i am not in the legacy benefit category where you have to apply each different element of benefit. i am on UC under my UC i am receiving LCWRA does that mean it wont reduce my UC, if i receive maintenance loan