How to Organise your Assessment of Need (Disabled Students Allowance )

1. How to Organise your Assessment of Need (Disabled Students Allowance) • This booklet provides a brief guide for disabled Students and/or Students with Specific Learning Difficulties to the following: • The assessment process for the Disabled Students Allowance. • Booking your assessment. • This information is also on our website www.cumbria.ac.uk/disability • Other useful websites are: • www.yourdsa.com owned by Broadbent & Co. • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disabled_students_allowance with links at the bottom to most funding bodies. • www.dyslexic.com/dsaaimed at students with dyslexia and is colour coded in pastel shades for easy reading. • Produced by Student Development and Well Being, • Library and Student Services July 2013

2. The Assessment Process and the Assessment report • Once your funding body has established your eligibility for support, you will be asked to have a needs assessment. This will allow your particular needs to be matched with the requirements of your proposed course. It will also give you the opportunity to try various equipment/ software and discuss the different types of non-medical support such as study coach, note-taking and mentoring. The process normally takes about 2 to 3 hours and takes place at an accredited assessment centre. The assessment, though it sounds very formal, is a very informal and relaxed process. • Following your assessment you will be sent a draft report. It is important that you check this carefully and a checklist is provided overleaf for your use to help you do this. You should be aware that it may be difficult to amend recommendations once they have been approved by funding bodies, or to makes changes within a short timescale of the report.If you need assistance with checking your report please contact us. • If you are satisfied with the report you must contact the assessment centre to give your approval. Likewise if you have any questions, spot any errors or omissions you should refer back to your assessment centre. • Produced by Student Development and Well Being, • Library and Student Services July 2013

3. Assessment Centre Contact Details • You should only contact an assessment centre once you have received written confirmation from your funding body. The assessment centre will need a copy of this authorisation and a copy of the disability evidence you submitted to your funding body. A full list of assessment centres is available at www.nnac.org/students/findcentre.php or www.dsa-qag.org.uk. If you are arranging an assessment prior to coming to the university, or at London, please use the above link to find the nearest centre to you. The University of Cumbria works closely with two assessment centres. You do not have to use these assessment centres, but their details are listed below. • Lancashire/South Cumbria : For students living/ studying near Lancaster or Ambleside Campus: • Lancaster University Assessment Centre • www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/disabilities/assessmentcentrehm • Phone: 01524 592753 • Email assessmentcentre@lancaster.ac.uk • Cumbria: Broadbent & Co. operate a Higher Education Outreach Centre at the Brampton Road Campus, Carlisle. This facility is only available for students enrolled on courses at the University based at the Carlisle group of campuses. • www.broadbentco.co.uk • phone: 01457 835 568 • email info@broadbentco.co.uk • Broadbent & Co. also have a main centre in East Manchester as well as other outreach centres in Liverpool and Bolton. • Produced by Student Development and Well Being, • Library and Student Services July 2013

4. Assessment Checklist • Produced by Student Development and Well Being, • Library and Student Services July 2013