Disabled Students Allowance
Assessment Practising Certificate
Only assessors with an assessment practising certificate (APC) are authorised to perform dyslexia diagnosis for students applying for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). Caren Taylor has held an APC since its inception in 2006 (50000267-IF4194).
Please visit the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC) website to view Caren's registration. To search the SASC website, enter Taylor into the surname text box.
Click here to enter the SASC website
What is Disabled Students Allowance?
The Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) is a government grant for UK students enrolled on full-time or part-time higher education courses. These grants help meet the extra costs students can face as a result of a disability or Specific Learning Difficulties, and are aimed at helping disabled people to study on an equal basis with other students.
Eligible for the Disabled Students Allowance? Further information can be found at:
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Directgov – Disabled Students Allowance for students in England
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Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for students in Scotland
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Student Finance Wales for students in Wales
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Student Finance Northern Ireland for students in Northern Ireland
This grant doesn’t depend on your household income, it is paid on top of the standard student finance package, and you don’t have to pay it back. If you are eligible, the Disabled Students Allowance is worth up to £5,849 for specialist equipment for the entire course. Further finance is available for non-medical helpers, these can include: specialist study skills support, mentor, scribes etc.
Further information from Student Finance England can be downloaded as a PDF called: A guide to Disabled Students Allowances - 2017 to 2018. This leaflet gives full details of eligibility criteria and how to apply. The process can take a while, so the sooner you do this the better.