DSA summary as of September 2014
Sep. 2nd, 2014 06:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
natalyadI'm seeing more inaccurate posts about the DSA changes on social media. I recommend reading my longer posts tagged DSA at http://natalyad.dreamwidth.org/tag/dsa
The latest update about DSA changes is at http://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/media/796005/bis_dsa_policy_update_for_2015-16_entry.docx
An update is promised for early September... In the politest possible way I don't anticipate this being on time.
In summary:
1) The changes ONLY affect students starting NEW courses in 2015-16. The academic year starting this month is 2014-15.
2) Banding refers ONLY to "non medical helpers" aka support workers. The banding is linked to the Non Medical Helpers Reference Manual which you can find at http://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/media/705785/non_medical_help_manual_v16.pdf
The new DSA changes propose that higher education institutions (HEIs) fund anything in Band 1 or 2 of the NMH manual. The expectation is that DSA Needs Assessors would make recommendations and universities/etc would have to fund the support. If they do not fund support the student could complain and the university would have to justify their actions.
Manual notetakers are band 2. Library or practical assistants are Band 1.
3) Equipment changes are mainly that computers/laptops will no longer be supplied as standard. We are not sure about printer/scanners. The expectation is that students will have their own laptops.
Assistive or specialist software for disability purposes should still be DSA funded and just installed on student's own computer (which is a pretty terrible idea for many reasons but...). Other specialist equipment e.g. radio aids, magnification systems or ergonomic equipment should still be funded via DSA.
I will take questions in comments or by email to natalya dot dell at gmail dot com and try and share my answers and citations.
The latest update about DSA changes is at http://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/media/796005/bis_dsa_policy_update_for_2015-16_entry.docx
An update is promised for early September... In the politest possible way I don't anticipate this being on time.
In summary:
1) The changes ONLY affect students starting NEW courses in 2015-16. The academic year starting this month is 2014-15.
2) Banding refers ONLY to "non medical helpers" aka support workers. The banding is linked to the Non Medical Helpers Reference Manual which you can find at http://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/media/705785/non_medical_help_manual_v16.pdf
The new DSA changes propose that higher education institutions (HEIs) fund anything in Band 1 or 2 of the NMH manual. The expectation is that DSA Needs Assessors would make recommendations and universities/etc would have to fund the support. If they do not fund support the student could complain and the university would have to justify their actions.
Manual notetakers are band 2. Library or practical assistants are Band 1.
3) Equipment changes are mainly that computers/laptops will no longer be supplied as standard. We are not sure about printer/scanners. The expectation is that students will have their own laptops.
Assistive or specialist software for disability purposes should still be DSA funded and just installed on student's own computer (which is a pretty terrible idea for many reasons but...). Other specialist equipment e.g. radio aids, magnification systems or ergonomic equipment should still be funded via DSA.
I will take questions in comments or by email to natalya dot dell at gmail dot com and try and share my answers and citations.
