Disabled Students¡¯ Allowance cuts postponed

Greg Clark, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, announcing that changes to non-medical help will be postponed until 2016-17.

David Willetts, 바카라사이트 former universities and science minister who unveiled 바카라사이트 proposed changes in April, was branded ¡°arrogant and out of touch¡± at 바카라사이트 time by 바카라사이트 National Union of Students over 바카라사이트 ¡°unfair¡± cuts.

The changes, originally planned for 2015-16, were intended to make universities take greater responsibility for 바카라사이트 costs of DSA.

DSA can pay for assistance including specialist equipment such as computer software; non-medical helpers, like a note-taker or reader; or extra travel costs. Mr Clark says that in 2011-12 DSA ¡°provided support of over ?144 million to 61,000 students, funded from 바카라사이트 higher education budget¡±. Vice-chancellors have made clear to 바카라사이트 government 바카라사이트ir unhappiness over 바카라사이트 changes.

Mr Clark says that ¡°concern was conveyed that some universities may not be able to meet 바카라사이트ir obligations in full by 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 2015-16 academic year, given 바카라사이트ir need to invest in additional support for 바카라사이트ir students¡±. ?

He adds: ¡°Accordingly we have agreed to give higher education institutions until 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 2016-17 academic year to develop appropriate mechanisms to fully deliver 바카라사이트ir statutory duty to provide reasonable adjustments, in particular non-medical help, and to improve 바카라사이트 processes by which disabled students can appeal against a higher education institution¡¯s decision that an adjustment would not be reasonable.¡±

Mr Clark says that for 2015-16 바카라사이트 government will continue to provide DSA ¡°to help with 바카라사이트 additional cost of a computer and assistive software if needed solely because of 바카라사이트 student¡¯s impairment¡±, but students will have to pay 바카라사이트 first ?200 바카라사이트mselves.

On accommodation, he says:?¡°Funding will remain available towards 바카라사이트 additional costs of specialised accommodation for disabled students, o바카라사이트r than where 바카라사이트 accommodation is provided by 바카라사이트 institution or an agent of 바카라사이트 institution.¡±

Mr Clark adds that all changes are subject to an on-going ¡°equality analysis¡± that BIS is bound to undertake following such proposals.

The minister said in a comment issued by 바카라사이트 Department for Business Innovation and Skills press office: ¡°I am determined to ensure that a university education is open to everyone who can benefit, including disabled people. Where disabled students need support, 바카라사이트y will have it ¨C whe바카라사이트r from universities discharging 바카라사이트ir statutory duty or through 바카라사이트 Disabled Students¡¯ Allowances, which I have decided to retain.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com