Help for students with disabilities

• I've got a disability, what help can I get?
• What financial support can I apply for if I do a further education course?
• What financial support can I apply for if I do a higher education course?
• I need help with my English and maths
• Are there any residential colleges? (RTCs)
• Could I study at home?
• What about New Deal and New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP)
• How could Access to Work help me?
• What is Workstep?
• Can I get advice on the equipment and support I might need?
• Where can I get further help and advice?

I've got a disability, what help can I get?

Colleges, universities and other course providers have to make it clear what help they offer to disabled students. They do this by publishing a ‘disability statement’. This should include details of:

• admission procedures for students with disabilities
• who's in charge of support for students with disabilities
• what support equipment and facilities they provide
• what access to other facilities is like
• their general policy.

It’s illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities in education, training and other services in England, Scotland and Wales. Colleges and universities should offer interpreters and note-takers, and have physical aids such as ramps.

All colleges should have a Learning Support Advisor. They should advise you on courses and the help available for students with disabilities.

Visit the college first, to see if their facilities and equipment meet your needs. If you need support that’s not currently available the college may be able to provide it specially.

What financial support can I apply for if I do a further education course?

Colleges receive money to provide financial support for students with disabilities. If they can’t meet your needs the Learning and Skills Council should refer you to a specialist college.

Your Local Education Authority may offer you help towards the cost of travel.

The Learner Support Fund helps students who may struggle to make ends meet at college or university. Colleges and universities set their own rules on who qualifies but students with disabilities often receive help.

You can apply for all the usual sources such as Education Maintenance Allowance and discretionary LEA awards. If you don’t get any help from the Learner Support Fund you could apply to educational trusts and charities.

What financial support can I apply for if I do a higher education course?

Students studying higher education courses can apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA). DSA is non means-tested and can be used for:

• specialist equipment
• a non-medical helper's allowance
• help towards the additional costs of travelling to your institution
• a general allowance.

Call 0800 731 9133 for a copy of the DfES booklet about Disabled Students’ Allowances, Bridging the Gap, or download a copy from the Directgov website.

DSA is available for postgraduate as well as undergraduate courses and you don’t have to pay this money back.

The Access to Learning Fund is for students who run into financial trouble on their higher education course. If you’re a student with disabilities you’ll be one of the priority groups.

I need help with my English and maths

If you need help with your English or maths, you may be able to learn in your own home if you’re unable to attend classes. Your local course provider will advise you.

Are there any residential colleges? (RTCs)

If your local college can’t provide the help you need, the Learning and Skills Council should consider funding your place at a specialist college.

Residential Training Colleges (RTCs) offer vocational training to people with disabilities, especially those who are finding it difficult to get a job or find suitable local training.

RTCs provide you with accommodation and specialist facilities, such as medical and counselling support. All centres are different and offer different courses, although most lead to National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs). There are over 50 training programmes available in a wide range of jobs such as book-keeping and accountancy, information technology, fork-lift truck operating, secretarial skills and adult teacher training. Some also offer courses running alongside the vocational training, such as English and maths, and skills for independent living. Call us on 0800 100 900 for more info.

Many of the trainees at RTCs were previously employed and have had an illness or accident leading them to need to re-train and make lifestyle adjustments. The training is free and your entitlement to benefits is not affected.

Other specialist colleges cater for specific disabilities – your local Disability Employment Adviser should be able to put you in touch with these.

Could I study at home?

If you'd prefer to learn from home, distance learning providers offer courses in hundreds of subjects. Some providers, such as the Open University, also have specialist advisors for students with disabilities. They may offer support on the occasional time when you need to attend a tuition group. Call us on 0800 100 900 to find out about distance learning courses or search our course database.

What about New Deal and New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP)

New Deal offers high quality training and a chance to show you can do a job well. If you’ve got a disability you don’t have to be unemployed for a certain amount of time before you can start – you can start immediately.

If you’re claiming health-related benefits a ‘job broker’ can match your skills and experience to an employer. They can also advise on any training you might need. This is a voluntary scheme.

Your local Jobcentre will be able to advise you about this scheme.

How could Access to Work help me?

A programme called Access to Work under the New Deal offers support, including alterations to improve workplace access or reading assistants if you’ve got a visual impairment. Your local Jobcentre will be able to advise you what is available.

What is Workstep?

The Workstep scheme provides support for people with disabilities who have more complex barriers to employment. Your local Jobcentre will be able to advise you.

Can I get advice on the equipment and support I might need?

National Network of Assessment Centres have assessment centres based in colleges and universities in England, Scotland and Wales. You can be assessed to find out which support equipment would be best for you. Your college or university may refer you to this service, and you can use your Disabled Student’s Allowance to pay for the assessment.

Where can I get further help and advice?

You can call the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) Higher Education Student Support enquiry line on 08456 020583.

SKILL, the National Bureau for Students with Disabilities, provides info and advice to people with disabilities so they can make the most of educational and employment opportunities. Call 0800 328 5050 (textphone 0800 068 2422) or visit the SKILL website.

Visit the Disability Rights Commission website for advice and information for people with disabilities, employers and service providers.

There's also useful information on the education and training for disabled people section of the Directgov website.