The Department for Education (DfE) has published a call for evidence inviting views from current and prospective students eligible for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA), and stakeholders working with disabled students within HE, to help improve non-medical help (NMH) provision for disabled students in Higher Education (HE).

Higher Education providers are required under the Equality Act to make reasonable adjustments for disabled students, which for dyslexic students would normally include inclusive learning practice and individual reasonable adjustments such as readers and scribes if needed to access study sessions or exams. NMH funding is available through DSA to fund more specialist support for eligible students and many dyslexic students benefit from this funding so that they can access specialist one to one study skills and strategy support, and for Assistive Technology software training.

The call for evidence sets out the current arrangements for providing DSA funded non-medical help and explains why changes are being considered. The DfE says that the reasons change is needed include:

• the current lack of integration of support between DSA and the higher education provider.
• the onus on the student to make arrangements for their own support, which can be challenging for many students.
• the number of students failing to take up the support offered.
• considerations over value for money and the availability of suitable suppliers.

You can find out more and complete the call for evidence: Deadline 3 July 2024