- Specialist equipment, such as a voice-activated computer
- Sign-language interpreters
- Tape or digital recorder for lectures and notes
- Extra tutorial help
- Changing the height of desks
- Allowing you extra time to complete essays or exams
- Providing handouts on different colour paper, or in a larger font
- Transport to and from college
What is considered reasonable depends on each individual case. You can get more suggestions on possible adjustments by reading our Factsheet F11 – adjustments for disabled students.
You should be able to have a confidential discussion with the staff member responsible for disability, usually called the additional learning support adviser or disability adviser. They should arrange for a needs assessment a face-to-face meeting with a trained assessor who understands about your disability.
If you have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan, with your permission your school/careers adviser will pass on information about your support needs to the college.
This is usually called Learning Support. If you’re aged 19-24 and have very high support needs, you’ll likely to have an EHC plan and will get individual funding from your local authority. If not, the college can apply for extra money called Exceptional Learning Support.
In higher education, you can apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs). DSAs are for extra costs you have on your course because of your disability. They are divided into four categories: specialist equipment, non-medical helper, general expenditure and travel. You can get more information on DSAs from our Factsheet F18 – applying for disabled students’ allowances.
In England the Local Authority (LA) must publish a transport policy statement each year which sets out the travel arrangements available to all young learners aged 16 to 19 to participate in education. This can include subsidised bus passes or transport provided by the local authority such as a mini bus or taxi.
There are different sources of funding to help with help with travel costs
The LA also has a duty to encourage and assist disabled young people to participate in education up to the age of 25. It therefore follows that it is good practice for LA’s to include information about what transport arrangements are available for disabled young learners. Guidance says that transport should enable a young person to reach their place of education or training without such stress, strain or difficulty that would prevent them from benefiting from the education provided.
The assessor will send you a report summarising the extra help that you will receive
The LA does not have to provide free transport and can ask you to contribute towards the https://www.worldpaydayloans.com/payday-loans-mt/dillon/ costs of travel.
The 16-19 bursary can help with education-related costs, including transport if you meet the eligibility criteria. Young people over 19 can apply for financial assistance through the colleges discretionary support fund.
By law, Social Services also have the power to pay for transport to and from college. But Social Services may have limited resources and are allowed to take this into account when deciding whether to provide services, including transport.
If you’re unable to get the funding you need for transport from any of the sources we have listed, you could consider applying to a charitable trust. For more information refer to our information Factsheet F25 – funding from charitable trusts.
Social services have a legal responsibility to meet the day-to-day needs of disabled people and this includes personal care support as well as practical and emotional support that you may need to manage your life and be independent. Education providers on the other hand have a duty to provide educational support.
