DSA is awarded by your funding body, such as Student Finance England or Student Finance Wales. It does not need to be repaid and is based on your individual needs. The support provided through DSA might include:
Ergonomic equipment or assistive software: For example, a student with dyslexia might receive dictation software to help with writing or read-aloud software for reading and research.
Non-medical help: This could include support from a specialist 1:1 study skills tutor or a specialist mental health mentor, where appropriate.
DSA covers costs that arise specifically because of your disability and that are necessary for your studies. It does not cover:
Day-to-day disability-related costs that you would have even if you weren’t studying, such as personal care services.
General costs that any student might have, such as standard printing or purchasing art materials. However, if your disability means you need to print more than usual, DSA may provide a printing allowance.