Disabled Students Stakeholder Group
Following the 2003 Funding For Learners review, the Disabled Students Stakeholder Group (DSSG) was established in 2004 with the remit being to bring together the range of stakeholders involved in the information, advice, guidance and delivery of student support, and to consider and address issues relating to the support available to learners with disability related additional needs in further and higher education.
The stakeholders continue to meet twice a year, every May and November to discuss issues relating to support for disabled learners in further & higher education. The group publishes its agendas and papers from each meeting.
Evaluation of the Pilot of the Toolkit of Quality Indicators for Needs Assessment
The Toolkit of Quality Indicators was designed by the Disabled Students Stakeholder Group in 2004-05 in response to Scottish students in higher education having to wait unduly long to be assessed for the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA). The Toolkit and the validation policy were created to offer Scottish universities and colleges a route by which to become validated to assess their students for DSA.
In 2005 institutions were invited to take part in the pilot of the toolkit for needs assessment
The aim of this research was to evaluate the pilot of the Scottish Government's validation policy based on the Toolkit of Quality Indicators for Needs Assessment.
The evaluation of the pilot and final report is now complete.
Toolkit of Quality Indicators for Needs Assessment Guidance
Following the evaluation of the pilot of the Toolkit of Quality Indicators, the Disabled Students Stakeholder Group (DSSG) discussed the evaluation report and considered feedback from disability advisors and it was agreed that the pilot had been a success. It was decided that, subject to some amendments, the Toolkit should be mainstreamed.
The Scottish Government has now, in consultation with the DSSG, prepared formal guidance on the revised validation procedures to accompany the revised Toolkit. This guidance along with SAAS guidance on the Disabled Students Allowance (available on SAAS' website through the HEI staff log in area) both contain case studies and clarification on several key themes and inconsistent practices which the annual reports and the DSA assessment reports have highlighted exist across the sectors.
DSSG appendices
Examples of good practice
DSSG Workshops
The Scottish Government, on behalf of the DSSG, has in previous years facilitated regional workshops designed for institution staff to share practice and experience and to facilitate communication and discussion on issues relevant to the toolkit.
Papers and presentations from past workshops are now available to view.
DSSG Sub Groups
Monitoring & Quality Enhancement
A sub-group of the DSSG met to discuss the taking forward of the monitoring and quality enhancement of those assessment centres validated under the toolkit of quality indicators pilot. The minutes of meetings are available.
Review of Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)
A sub-group of the DSSG was established, as part of the Review DSA, to examine and provide recommendations on the need of having a diagnosis of a disability for the purpose of claiming DSA. Minutes and papers of meetings are available. SAAS reviewed the evidence accepted for DSA as a result and details can be found on their website.
Non Medical Personal Help Subgroup (NMPH)
A subgroup was set up to examine the roles, responsibilities and rates of pay for non medical personal helpers and what part institutions should play in supporting students the NMPH needs.
The recommendations to come out of the group have helped to shape policy on non medical personal help and been incorporated into updated guidance on NMPH published by SAAS and the Scottish Government/Skill Scotland. Minutes from NMPH subgroup meetings are available.
SAAS guidance: Student's Guide to the DSA NMPH Allowance
Scottish Government/ Skill Scotland guidance: Employing Support Workers in Higher Education
Transcription
A working group is currently looking at the issue of transcription costs for converting materials to alternative formats and what DSA pays for. A survey has been carried out of institutions and the group are currently considering the results.
Related Topics
Partnership Matters
A revised version of Partnership Matters has been published. Partnership Matters is a guidance document which describes the roles and responsibilities of all agencies supporting people with additional support needs who wish to, or are currently studying at Scotland's Colleges or Universities.
Alongside Partnership Matters there are information leaflets for potential and current students of further and higher education, parents and carers which provide an overview of the roles and responsibilities of all the agencies involved in providing the support for people with additional support needs.
FE Students with Complex Needs
The Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council jointly commissioned the BRITE Initiative to undertake a mapping study of the current provision of further education across Scotland for students with profound and complex needs. The published report and a copy of the Scottish Government's response to the report's findings, endorsed by the Scottish Funding Council are available.
This response outlined a number of actions. A feasibility study was carried out by the Scottish Funding Council into regional hubs of specialist provision for students with profound and complex needs. It looked at a number of models and concluded that a 'network of excellence' model was most appropriate. A two year project has begun by Scotland's Colleges - the Profound and Complex Needs project - to build such a network. More information can be found on Scotland's Colleges website.
The Scottish Government also commissioned a consortium of BRITE, Scotland's Colleges and Skill Scotland to develop a transitions toolkit which would assist students with profound and complex needs, and their carers, make the transition out of school into college and beyond. This toolkit - Transitions Information and Planning (TRiP) - is now available through the BRITE website.