What is Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)?
Disabled Students’ Allowance (usually called ‘DSA’) is a form of financial support from the UK government and administered by the Student Finance body in your country. It’s designed to support students attending UK universities or equivalent higher learning providers who have mental health challenges, long-term illnesses or disabilities.
It does this by covering the additional study-related costs that occur as a result of those conditions. And many students with reading needs like dyslexia use this to purchase a reading pen!
Eligibility*
DSA is granted on a case-by-case basis based on conditions you may have that impact your ability to study. This is usually a:
💸 specific learning disability, like dyslexia or ADHD
💸 mental health condition, like anxiety or depression
💸 sensory disability, for example, if you have vision differences or a hearing impairment
💸 physical disability, for example, if you use a wheelchair, crutches or a special keyboard
💸 long-term health condition, like chronic heart disease.
And in order to be able to claim DSA, you must typically be:
💸 Be an undergraduate or postgraduate student (this includes distance learning and the Open University)
💸 Qualify for student finance from your UK Student Finance provider
💸 Be studying on a university-level course that lasts at least 1 year
*Eligibility guidelines may vary between UK countries. For specific guidance, consult your country’s Student Finance provider.
You can apply for it here!
So what can DSA pay for?
DSA isn’t just a top-up to your student loan: you don’t have to pay DSA back, and most payments will be sent directly to your suppliers depending on what support you’ve been awarded.
If you’re eligible for DSA, you can get help with the costs of:
💸 Specialist equipment. This could be a contribution towards a computer, or it could be a more targeted form of support, like a reading pen
💸 Non-medical support professionals, like British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters or specialist note-takers for your lectures and seminars
💸 Extra travel costs that may be incurred travelling to your course or placement that may arise because of your long-term illness, mental health challenge or disability
💸 Other disability-related study support, for example additional printing costs, or proofreading costs.
What DSA can’t pay for is disability-related costs you’d have if you weren’t attending a course. It also can’t pay for costs that any student might have, such as general living expenses like rent, utility bills and food, and regular travel expenses that aren’t explicitly linked to your disability.
It also doesn’t fully cover the cost of standard equipment that all students might need during their studies, such as a basic laptop. If you’re judged to need a computer due to your disability, DSA typically acts as a top-up and requires you to contribute £200 toward the cost. This is because a basic laptop is considered a general study necessity rather than a disability-specific piece of equipment. Any additional assistive software or adaptations to that laptop that you might require, however, are typically funded in full.
How much DSA is it possible to claim?
Undergraduate and postgraduate students in England can get up to £27,783 a year for support, and students in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can access a similar amount. It’s important to note that this isn’t a standard allocation, however, and most people are judged to need far less than this at their Needs Assessment.
But do I need a reading pen at university?
Managing a university workload is tough.
Those first few weeks on campus involve a lot of step-ups and changes: learning how to use the university’s knowledge and information systems, navigating the increase in difficulty, and figuring out a more self-led way of working are all part of the process… but they’re not easy. That applies especially if you don’t have absolute confidence in your reading. The academic demands are high, and there’s no SENCo on hand. It’s during this transitional period that many dyslexic students realise that they need extra reading support to thrive academically.
A reading pen like C-Pen Reader 2 can help break down the barriers that emerge between new university students and the reading that unlocks their futures. This level of study expects students to be able to hit the ground running, and the pace moves fast – when reading is compromised, it’s easy to fall behind, and with assessments coming constantly in the form of labs, essays and semester-end testing, there isn’t much time to catch up again.
But C-Pen Reader 2 allows students to pick the pace back up and dive into learning again, and manage their workload in a workable way. Leaving more time for the things that university study is supposed to be about: exploring learning, skilling up ready for jobs and careers, and working out who you want to be in three years’ time.
What can C-Pen Reader 2 do for me?
🎓 Turn every sentence into audio – instantly!
🎓 Boost revision materials as you save what you scan
🎓 Voice record lectures, presentations and meetings
🎓 Instantly define words with built-in dictionaries
🎓 Keep it discreet, with comfy headphones
🎓 Read in other languages to unlock a world of research
Alright, I want a reading pen. Can’t I just ask the university for one?
No. These things work differently in universities, and getting hold of support technologies is a little bit more self-led. That said, your university’s student services will be able to support and guide you.
Generally, as students leave college, EHCP provisions end. Loaned technologies get returned, and for the most part, you have to reorganise reading support at university from the ground up. The responsibility shifts too: whereas previously it was your school or college’s responsibility to provide your primary means of reading support, now it’s yours, with support from DSA.
You’ll need to apply for DSA using the information in the link above, attend a Needs Assessment, and then you’ll receive a recommendation on the equipment you need. After receiving the recommendation from your Needs Assessment, the DSA team processes the approval for the recommended items, and provides funding through authorised suppliers (that’s us!) – and then your reading pen wings its way to you, free of fuss.
Do I need to do anything to prepare for my Needs Assessment?
It’s not a test, and you don’t need to revise, but there are some things you should go into the Needs Assessment prepared to discuss, and some evidence you should take with you. Don’t worry – it’s totally confidential, will take place in a relaxed, informal and supportive atmosphere, and you’re absolutely allowed to take notes and prompts if you think you might find remembering things on the spot or responding to unseen questions challenging on the day.
You’ll talk about things like research and reading, writing and reviewing academic work, note-taking, time management, technology access, communication with your peers and course leaders, travel to and from university, and any practical or field elements to your course of study.
Your assessor may also ask you to provide certain information before your appointment to help them get a better picture of your specific support needs.
They may request:
💸 Your DSA1 confirmation letter
💸 Your medical evidence
💸 Information about your current tech setup
Here’s how to use DSA to buy a reading pen from Scanning Pens
Once you’ve had that Needs Assessment, things start moving! …But you don’t really have to do that much from this point onwards. So put your feet up and make a brew!
First, the assessor writes up a report recommending the tools that’ll support you best—like a reading pen. That report then goes to the funding body, who review and approves the support plan. Once approved, you’ll get an email or letter confirming what equipment you’re entitled to. Then it’s over to a supplier (that’s us), who’ll get in touch to arrange delivery and any training needed.
Before you know it, you’ve got your reading pen in your hand, ready to support your studies with more independence, more confidence, and less stress.
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Need to know more? Get in touch with the education experts!
We know that starting university study isn’t easy, and that having literacy or language needs can make it feel more daunting still. If you’re a student seeking advice on where to go next—or even a university professional looking for advice on how to ensure the students in your institution are supported in a way that unlocks learning, our friendly team of experts are on-hand to help five days a week.
📧 Email us: ukinfo@scanningpens.com
☎️ Call us: +44 (0) 207 976 4910
