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DSA cuts for 2016 - summary/upate
What is this Non Medical Helper business?
In DSA 'support workers' are called "non medical helpers" to distinguish from people who provide "personal care" which DSA does NOT do. DSA non medical helpers can ONLY assist with academic support.
Non Medical Helper Roles
Two years ago non medical helper roles were put into bands 1-4 + exceptions based on things like cost, job spec, requirements etc.
The full "non medical helper manual" as a PDF can be found at http://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/media/6192/non_medical_help_manual.pdf
Non Medical Helper "roles" which deaf/deafblind people may use
* Manual notetaking - Band 2
* Electronic Notetaking - Band 3
* BSL/English Interpreters - Band 4
* Language Support tutors - Band 4
* Teacher of the Deaf - Band 4
* Sighted guide (deafblind) - Band 1
* Practical Assistant (deafblind) - Band 1
* Study Assistant (deafblind) - Band 2
* Lipspeaking - exception
* Speech to Text Reporting (STTR)/Palantypy - Exception
* Specialist Deafblind communication worker - Exception
* Braille transcription - Exception
What is this latest news about?
The NDCS tweeted their concerns about DSA cuts at https://twitter.com/NDCS_UK/status/672483147251130368 with a link to http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/dec/02/government-to-cut-funding-disabled-university-students-jo-johnson
As of 2016-17 academic year (next September) the government will no longer fund non medical helpers in *bands 1 and 2.* They only delayed their plans by a year because of legal action and while they carried out a "consultation".
This means that manual notetakers and proofreaders won't be funded by DSA anymore. Universities are expected to "reduce need" by being more inclusive, or in the case of deaf students, fund the those roles themselves.
British Sign Language (BSL)/English interpreters, lipspeakers, STTR/palantypy, electronic notetaking, language support and other band 3-4 roles will STILL be DSA funded (for now).
If you are worried or want more personalised advice
Contact your prospective university's disability services for specific advice as it is impossible for anyone to give generic advice and please be aware the government is changing policy and practice on universities constantly so sometimes things will change.
What I think is more worrying
Recent changes mean ALL non medical helper roles require TWO quotes. The cheapest is always chosen. A named provider has to be agreed. This makes it difficult for freelancer to be chosen as needed and is also difficult with lipspeaking, Electronic Notetaking and STTR and BSL/Eng terps where there aren't many and costs can vary because of high travel costs etc.
In University experience really helps. An interpreter with 5-15 years of experience will usually do a better job than someone who is new. An experienced interpreter may cost more than a newly qualified one. If the student says "this cheap interpreter isn't doing a good enough job, I need more-expensive interpreter who is more experienced" who will cover the difference in cost as the government doesn't recognise "quality" or "value".
Government is trying to identify minimum standards for each non medical helper role. I don't think they understand deafness, so don't understand the difference between Level 6 BSL and Level 6 BSL Interpreting qualifications for example.
In DSA 'support workers' are called "non medical helpers" to distinguish from people who provide "personal care" which DSA does NOT do. DSA non medical helpers can ONLY assist with academic support.
Non Medical Helper Roles
Two years ago non medical helper roles were put into bands 1-4 + exceptions based on things like cost, job spec, requirements etc.
The full "non medical helper manual" as a PDF can be found at http://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/media/6192/non_medical_help_manual.pdf
Non Medical Helper "roles" which deaf/deafblind people may use
* Manual notetaking - Band 2
* Electronic Notetaking - Band 3
* BSL/English Interpreters - Band 4
* Language Support tutors - Band 4
* Teacher of the Deaf - Band 4
* Sighted guide (deafblind) - Band 1
* Practical Assistant (deafblind) - Band 1
* Study Assistant (deafblind) - Band 2
* Lipspeaking - exception
* Speech to Text Reporting (STTR)/Palantypy - Exception
* Specialist Deafblind communication worker - Exception
* Braille transcription - Exception
What is this latest news about?
The NDCS tweeted their concerns about DSA cuts at https://twitter.com/NDCS_UK/status/672483147251130368 with a link to http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/dec/02/government-to-cut-funding-disabled-university-students-jo-johnson
As of 2016-17 academic year (next September) the government will no longer fund non medical helpers in *bands 1 and 2.* They only delayed their plans by a year because of legal action and while they carried out a "consultation".
This means that manual notetakers and proofreaders won't be funded by DSA anymore. Universities are expected to "reduce need" by being more inclusive, or in the case of deaf students, fund the those roles themselves.
British Sign Language (BSL)/English interpreters, lipspeakers, STTR/palantypy, electronic notetaking, language support and other band 3-4 roles will STILL be DSA funded (for now).
If you are worried or want more personalised advice
Contact your prospective university's disability services for specific advice as it is impossible for anyone to give generic advice and please be aware the government is changing policy and practice on universities constantly so sometimes things will change.
What I think is more worrying
Recent changes mean ALL non medical helper roles require TWO quotes. The cheapest is always chosen. A named provider has to be agreed. This makes it difficult for freelancer to be chosen as needed and is also difficult with lipspeaking, Electronic Notetaking and STTR and BSL/Eng terps where there aren't many and costs can vary because of high travel costs etc.
In University experience really helps. An interpreter with 5-15 years of experience will usually do a better job than someone who is new. An experienced interpreter may cost more than a newly qualified one. If the student says "this cheap interpreter isn't doing a good enough job, I need more-expensive interpreter who is more experienced" who will cover the difference in cost as the government doesn't recognise "quality" or "value".
Government is trying to identify minimum standards for each non medical helper role. I don't think they understand deafness, so don't understand the difference between Level 6 BSL and Level 6 BSL Interpreting qualifications for example.