DSAs and long term health conditions

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 04/01/2016 - 11:40

Could you be eligible for extra help at Uni?For those with long-term health conditions, DSAs can be a lifeline, writes Jess, a sufferer of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) who blogs about her experiences. Disabled Student Allowances (DSA) is available for students with a range of debilitating medical problems, including diabetes, cerebral palsy, fibromyalgia, epilepsy and Crohn’s disease. But how can tech help deal with the symptoms of these kinds of long term health conditions?

How computers and IT can help

When using technology, those with CFS and fibromyalgia will particularly have to factor in their pain and fatigue levels. DSA could help by providing sufferers with ergonomic equipment to improve comfort and enable longer studying periods.

A broad range of equipment can be recommended under DSAs. As well as the more obvious items such as a pc and printer it may include things like a mini-fridge and whiteboard for your room, kitchen equipment and lightweight keyboard.

Money also may be provided to cover the delivery cost of internet shopping and travel or a parking permit - useful shortcuts for saving energy. In some circumstances DSAs will cover your taxi fare if your condition prevents you from using public transport.

Felixibility to accommodate change

Some long-term health conditions are volatile in nature and need flexible solutions. Luckily, DSA accommodates this.

Jess was grateful to find that as she became increasingly disabled, the amount of funding available for her increased up to the maximum allowance. She felt able to continue studying in the knowledge that her Disability Adviser could apply for additional funding when her condition deteriorated.

She says DSAs gave her the confidence to pursue her education despite her illness.

The equipment provided for Jess helped her enormously. She was given a lightweight laptop to allow her to work from home, with software that enables anything on screen to be read out- vital on fatigue-heavy days or light-sensitive days when the screen has to be so dark that it is almost illegible.

Her ergonomic fully-adjusted chair and laptop stand mean that working for extended time periods causes as little pain as possible and her printer allows her to avoid reading on a screen. Finally, her voice recorder means she can review lectures she was too tired to engage with at the time, or missed due to illness.

Nathan is a student at the University of West England studying a BA in Business Enterprise. He has cerebral palsy, but is able to run his own website business and meet class deadlines due to extra support from DSA. He is provided with twenty hours of library time per week with a helper, to whom he can dictate his work.

More information about DSAs

Any student who is eligible for Disabled Student Allowances can be given extra support to ensure that they succeeded in their higher education. For more details check out our guide to DSAs.

How AbilityNet can help

AbilityNet’s website includes a range of blog posts explaining tips for easier computing, aimed at those with long-term health conditions such as Motor Neurone Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Fibromyalgia amongst others.

Elastic donation will help upgrade AbilityNet expert resources

Submitted by Mark Walker on Thu, 24/12/2015 - 13:07

Every year AbilityNet helps hundreds of thousands of disabled people use digital technology to achieve their goals at work, at home and in education. Although thousands of people use our face-to-face services and call our free telephone helpline, our web-based resources are the number one way for people to access our expert knowledge. The support of Elastic will help us upgrade our resources and reach more people.

AbilityNet received £16,750 from the sales of tickets to the Elastic(ON) conference in londonThe AbilityNet website offers free access to our expert resources and knowledge, through factsheets, blogs, free webinars and My Computer My Way - our guide to every accessibility feature built in to every mainstream desktop computer, laptop, tablet and smartphone. As a charity we need to continually invest in these expert resources and a recent donation from Elastic will help us reach even more people.

Elastic is a fast-growing global supplier of knowledge-based technologies, used by some of the biggest businesses in the world to power a huge range of services. From live trading data used by banks to the Guardian newspaper’s live content, their tools are designed to take data from any source and search, analyse and visualise it in real time. A key part of its success is that Elastic works with a huge community of developers, who actively help grow the open source tools at the core of the Elastic services.

Nurturing this community has been a vital part its success and the Elastic team recently hit the road for a whistlestop global tour to connect with users and share knowledge. Each of the Elastic{ON} Tour conferences featured a charity partner and AbilityNet was chosen as the beneficiary for the London event. AbilityNet’s Head of Marketing Mark Walker attended the London event to accept a cheque for £16,750:

“We want to say a big thank you to Elastic for choosing AbilityNet. Not only did we receive the ticket money paid by delegates but we also had a chance to tell people about our work, learn from the case studies and network with some amazing people.”

elastic is a global leader in real data analysis and visualisation“This support will help upgrade My Computer My Way, our interactive guide to the accessibility features built into every mainstream digital device. So many people can benefit from small changes and My Computer My Way is a unique source of practical tips and advice – whether they are changing the font size in a Windows PC, setting up speech recognition on their Android smartphone or changing the speed of their mouse on a Mac. “

“Elastic is at the cutting edge of knowledge solutions so this is a great fit with our desire to share the expertise that helps disabled people harness the power of technology."

Find out more

Find out how you can help disabled people benefit from technology.

DSAs and mental health - a footnote on loneliness and disillusion

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 12/12/2015 - 12:54

A National Union of Students (NUS) study conducted in May 2013 shows that one in five students consider themselves to have a mental health problem. New students face enormous pressure to be having the time of their lives, when many are struggling with academic, personal or peer-related issues.

After launching an investigative campaign in early December 2015 The Guardian’s student blog site received more than 200 stories from students struggling with mental health issues,. "I stay up all night crying" was a common phrase.

Support our DSA CLaim It CampaignCan mental health issues be eligible for DSAs?

According to the eligibility guidelines on Gov.uk, a mental health condition is considered a disability if it has a long-term effect on your normal day-to-day activity. Your condition is ‘long term’ if it lasts, or is likely to last, 12 months. In this situation, students could be eligible for DSAs, although any application for funding would require the person to present medical evidence of their condition.

What are the symptoms?

Experiencing any of the following difficulties while studying could suggest you would benefit from a DSA needs assessment:

  • Maintaining concentration and attention.
  • Side effects from medication such as drowsiness and nausea.
  • Low motivation and self-confidence.
  • Fatigue from insomnia, or oversleeping.
  • Higher levels of absence.
  • Difficulty organising your thoughts and planning your workload.
  • Worrying about or inability to start or complete assignments.
  • Intrusive thoughts and worries.
  • Difficulty participating in classes due to low mood.

How could DSAs help someone with mental issues?

If you are eligible for funding then DSAs can provide a tailored package of technology and other support to help you succeed in your studies. This could include a computer to aid study, or a printer and scanner to save travelling to the library during periods of ill health. You may find it useful to have a digital voice recorder to use in lectures and seminars to ensure you have taken in all the information.

Software may be available to assist with organising thoughts or ideas and weekly sessions with a mentor could help with stress management. In addition, your tutors will be guided (with your permission) on how to support you with different learning activities and work patterns.

For example mental health charity Mind identifies common forms of support including flexibility around absences and deadlines, adjustments to your timetable and one on one advice and support.

You can also speak to your GP or student nurse – or your student union should help point you in the direction of relevant medical professionals. They can help if you are experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety or other problems that are interfering with your life, says Mind.

Everyone is different

The most important thing to understand is that every person’s need and course requirements are different. DSAs do not provide a checklist of solutions but will always reflect the specific circumstances and needs of each student and AbilityNet's experts can provide a one-to-one assessment to understand the issues and provide recommendations.

However the following experience of a fresher who posted on The Student Room is a good example of the mix of support which has helped him succeed:

“I have depression and anxiety and recently applied for DSAs. My recommendations include: laptop (with anti-virus and warranty lasting the duration of my course), an ergonomic pack which includes a board to raise the laptop, printer, money towards consumables , non-core textbook allowance, traditional mentoring, a post-grad mentor, 25% extra time in exams, use of the click & collect system at the library, more library assistance and the ability to extend loans, a special pen that can record lectures, money towards an internet allowance, computer software for planning essays and proofreading, a smaller room to sit exams in, and insurance for all my equipment.”

What next?

DSA changes bring uncertainty for disabled students

Submitted by Mark Walker on Tue, 08/12/2015 - 11:42

AbilityNet helps students in all stages of educationAbilityNet is concerned that disabled students face greater uncertainty about their ongoing studies, following the government’s recent announcement that it will restructure Disabled Students Allowances (DSAs) from 2016/17. Many disabled students rely on DSAs to level the playing field in higher education but the new plans will affect many thousands of students and put a question mark over the future of the existing scheme.

Nigel Lewis, chief executive of AbilityNet said:

“We recognise the need for the Government to spend tax-payer’s money wisely and gain the greatest return. However, these are substantial changes and we are concerned that any dissipation of support will directly have a direct impact on disabled students' success in higher education, which in turn will impact their future employment opportunities.

“It is essential that our education system is available to everyone and that there is fairness across the sector. The new plans shift the emphasis onto the individual higher education institutions, which may create a postcode lottery for disabled students if we are not careful.”

AbilityNet is a national provider of DSA assessments and works very closely with disabled students and universities across seven centres in the UK to ensure the students receive the assessment, support and adjustments they need. The changes place a greater emphasis on higher education institutions providing increased support to students under the Equality Act 2010.

Many students who have been able to claim DSAs will now not be eligible for government funding, but Student Finance will have a process for considering exceptional circumstances and awarding DSA funding where it would not ordinarily be available.

Nigel Lewis continues:

“We hope to strengthen our partnerships with the colleges and universities that our assessment centres support to ensure that there is a fair provision for disabled students wherever they choose to study.”

AbilityNet's DSA Claim It! Campaign continues

AbilityNet is running a campaign to encourage disabled students to claim their DSA during this academic year. This announcement makes it more important than ever that everyone who is eligoble claims the extra support they are enttiled to. For more information on how to support the campaign visit: www.abilitynet.org.uk/claimitdsa

For further information about this story please contact Catherine Grinyer on 07713 248387 or email: press.office@abilitynet.org.uk

AbilityNet and Clear Talents win diversity awards

Submitted by Mark Walker on Mon, 09/11/2015 - 17:17

AbilityNet and Clear Talents have been recognised for their commitment to engaging with disabled jobseekers at this year’s Recruitment Industry Disability Industry (RIDI) Awards. The partnership beat off stiff competition to take home the awards for three categories: Employers Choice, Technology for Inclusion and Reasonable Adjustments in Recruitment.

AbilityNet was a winner in at this year's RIDI AwardsNow in their second year, the RIDI Awards celebrate progress and recognise the success of organisations that are making headway in increasing the inclusion of disabled professionals. The rigorous judging process was conducted by a panel, which included senior representatives from organisations including E.ON, Eversheds, the Civil Service and HMRC. 

Commenting on the win, Dennis Dearden, Sales & Marketing Director, AbilityNet said:

“We are delighted to win the RIDI Awards for Employers Choice, Technology for Inclusion and Reasonable Adjustments in Recruitment. Our partnership with Clear Talents is based on a mutual vision for using accessible technology to promote the greater inclusion of disabled people in employment.

"Together we have developed a tool that de-mystifies reasonable adjustments for recruiters and employers and boosts the confidence of disabled job-seekers in sharing relevant information at every stage of the process."

Congratulating the partnership of AbilityNet and Clear Talents on scooping three awards, Kate Headley, Chair of RIDI’s judging panel and Development Director at The Clear Company, commented: 

“The standard and volume of entries this year was absolutely phenomenal. I think I speak for the entire panel when I say that picking winners from the broad array of quality submissions was incredibly difficult and caused much deliberation.

"Those that took home awards should be suitably proud of their efforts and the three-times winning partnership of AbilityNet and Clear Talents demonstrated real progress in removing barriers to the employment of disabled people. I’m sure that their example will inspire other organisations to focus on their own strategies to boost the diversity of talent.”

View a full list of winners on the Ridi Awards website.

ClearTalentsOnDemand provides a free personalised report identifying Reasonable Adjustments.

Back to the Future: enabling technology 30 years on

Submitted by Robin Christopherson on Fri, 23/10/2015 - 09:49

Thirty years ago Marty McFly travelled ‘Back to the Future’ in the 1985 classic film and encountered a world of futuristic technology. The exact date he travelled back, 21 October 2015 has just passed, so I thought it would look at how much of what Marty McFly and Doc encountered in the film has come true, and whether or not there is a similar technology benefitting disabled people today.

Back to the Future? It's 2015!Flat screen TVs

Obviously these are everywhere nowadays in all sizes and in high definition and 3D. While displaying a better picture and being more aesthetically pleasing than the old-style of TV, flat screens are particularly useful for those with a visual impairment who need larger screens for scale.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

In the film McFly and his pals talked to different household devices. Today we have Siri and Cortana and we can ‘ask Google’ to complete various tasks for us. Voice-activated technology is very useful for disabled people, particularly those with a visual impairment or conditions such as arthritis.

Thumbprint door locks on the front door to the house.

We have Touch ID on our smartphones and face recognition software on Facebook photos. Biometric technology really helps people with learning disabilities easily unlock or authorise access, when otherwise they would need to deal with inaccessible CAPTCHAs or remember long, complicated passwords.

Bionics

Doc says in the film that he thinks Biff’s brain implants have gone wrong. Today we have bionic arms controlled by thoughts, bionic exoskeletons and even artificial skin covering artificial limbs that can send sense signals to the brain.

Holograms, shown in the “Jaws 19” advert

We have Microsoft’s HoloLens device which creates high-definition holograms, which could be helpful for people with learning disabilities, providing a clear visual representation. There are also many different augmented reality goggles. For blind and visually impaired people this technology can help to give us directions in our field of view, or it can enable surgeons perform better operations.

Flying cars

Not quite a reality but the TF-X is in development, which is pretty close and estimated to only take around 10 years to go into production. We do have autonomous cars (cars that drive themselves), which offer obvious benefits for disabled people who for whatever reason cannot drive a standard manually operated car even with adaptations.

Hover boards

Finally I couldn’t resist mentioning the hover boards. The most iconic and memorable technology in ‘Back to the Future’, they are not actually currently in production anywhere, although there are a couple of prototypes doing the rounds. There’s not really an assistive technology angle to a hover board that I can think of, but perhaps once they are here, there will be a life-changing benefit for someone.

In tribute to one of my favourite films, I’ll end with the wise words of Marty McFly, “I guess you guys aren't ready for that yet. But your kids are gonna love it.”

How Boyzone's Shane uses voice control to overcome his Dyslexia

Submitted by Mark Walker on Tue, 20/10/2015 - 15:46

Shane Lynch of Boyzone uses the voice controls built into his phone so that he can join the world of social media. As he explains in our interview with him, his dyslexia means he struggles with reading and writing, so for a long time had shied away from Twitter, facebook or any other social media platform. But now, with the right technology in his hands, he's sending and receiving messages with family, friends and fans. 

Shane is sharing his story to show support for our DSA Claim It Campaign - raising awareness of the extra funding that UK students can claim to help them succeed in education.

Lots of people don't know they are eligible for Disabled Students' Allowances, which can be worth thousands of pounds in extra support. They may not think of themselves as disabled, or don't realise the impact that things like voice control can have on their ability to study and achive their full potential. As Shane says, it can change your life!

Use our website to find out more about who is eligible claim DSA, what they can claim and how to start the process.

Five reasons students don't claim DSA funding

Submitted by Mark Walker on Mon, 19/10/2015 - 13:21

Find out more about Disabled Students' Allowances

Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) can pay for extra help when you’re on a UK higher education course. If you’re eligible it can be worth thousands of pounds to cover the cost of specialist hardware and software, as well as various learning support such as having a personal helper in lectures, extra time in exams or travelling expenses. 

You don’t have to be registered disabled to claim

DSAs can support students with an impairment or condition which affects their ability to complete their studies. It covers all sorts of conditions, from ADHD and dyslexia to Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Migraines and Tinnitus, you can claim it any time on your course and you don’t have to pay it back - it’s a grant not a loan.

DSAs can make the difference between success and failure in higher education, so why do figures from 2013/14 suggest that at least 50% of the people who are eligible for DSAs don’t claim?

"I’ve never heard of them"

Many people don’t know what DSAs are, who is eligible or how to claim. Ideally you’ll hear about them during your University application process, or from advisers in your school or college, but many of them haven't heard of it eiether, or don't realise who can claim, so many people who are eligible just don’t know it’s there. 

“But I’m not disabled..."

Some people may think you need to be in a wheelchair to be disabled, or they don’t realise that DSAs can cover conditions such as dyslexia or IBS. They don’t think of themself as disabled, so don’t connect with the name.

"Other people are more deserving than me"

Some may feel that other people are far more deserving, so don’t claim. However the support available is not a set/guaranteed amount for each person, and is tailored to the individual

“How is a laptop or extra gadgets going to help me?"

DSAs often fund computer equipment or software, but for many people it isn't the equipment that makes the big difference. Someone with dyslexia may benefit from extra time in exams, or someone with a chronic back condition may need small changes to their timetable, or permission to avoid carrying heavy books around. The extra support and changes to your study patterns can have a huge impact on your ability to achieve your full potential.

"I’m too embarrassed to ask for help"

Many people will worry that asking for DSAs will reveal a personal issue they want to keep to themselves. The process for DSA is entirely confidential and no personal details need to be revealed to the University if you do not wish.

Asking for help can be tough, or seen as sign of weakness. It may mean that you have to admit to difficulties that have dogged you for many years. The big plus is that if you get DSAs you will finally get the extra help you need and can really begin to shine.

What next?

Find out more on our site about who is eligible and how to apply 

Upgrade Your World with My Computer My Way

Submitted by Mark Walker on Tue, 13/10/2015 - 17:37

AbilityNet is using a grant from Microsoft to upgrade our free and popular accessibility tool My Computer My Way. The new version will make it easier than ever to find details of the accessibility settings and other adjustments that can change the lives of disabled people. It will include details of the new Windows 10 operating system and provide more dynamic content, enhanced functionality and better usability.

Adjust Your Computer. Change Your LifeMy Computer My Way is an online tool that provides free information and support for disabled people on how to use their computers, laptops and smartphones. In the last 12 monthsit has been used by almost half a million people worldwide with advice and guidance on the built-in accessibility options offered by Windows and other operating systems.

Robin Christopherson, Head of Digital Inclusion at AbilityNet said:

"Last year over 200,000 Windows 7 and 8 users accessed My Computer My Way guides on topics such as how to use their keyboard to control their mouse pointer, or how to make it appear larger on the screen. These are among our most frequently asked questions at AbilityNet and our job is to make sure that disabled people can find out how to use their computer in a way that works for them.”

Microsoft is promoting AbilityNet's work as part of its UpgradeYourWorld initiative#UpgradeYourWorld

As part of the #upgradeyourworld campaign, AbilityNet has been awarded a grant of £30K by Microsoft to upgrade the My Computer My Way portal to support the accessibility features in Windows 10. Robin went on to say:

"This generous support not only allows us to expand the reach of My Computer My Way to include the exciting new features in Windows 10, but also enables us to update information across all areas (including Windows Mobile, Android, iOS and Mac) and to enhance and improve the design and overall user-experience no matter what device or screen size they use."

My Computer My Way was originally developed ten years ago with the support of Microsoft to provide older and disabled people with easy to follow instructions on how to make their computers easier to use.

Try it now at www.mycomputermyway.com

How can disabled people get the most from their technology?

Submitted by Mark Walker on Tue, 13/10/2015 - 17:30

Technology comes in all shapes and sizesComputers and the internet are possibly two of the greatest inventions of our time. They have transformed our daily lives, at home, at work and now even when we are on the move. For disabled people being able to get online opens up a world of possibilities for completing everyday tasks, enjoying games or films, working and connecting with friends and family.

Not everyone is online yet, and not everyone owns a computer or mobile device, though the rate of ownership is growing. According to Ofcom 66% of adults in the UK own a smartphone and 80% of adults have fixed or mobile broadband. Whether you are one of the majority of “connected” adults or not, not everyone knows how to use them to best effect.

Where's the instruction manual?

Most tablet devices don’t even come with an instruction manual, they are meant to be intuitive to use. Older and disabled people can find it difficult to know where to start. To get your device to accommodate your specific access requirements you have to know where to find the settings, what to choose and which apps might help. Giving people the confidence, skills and training to use their computer is an important part of what we do everyday.

Getting up-skilled for IT at home

Maxine has developed her IT skills and is now writing a recipe bookMaxine Turkington lost most of her sight some 30 years ago due to a type of inherited macular dystrophy. 

After her husband died she called in AbilityNet’s IT Can Help team to come to her home so she could develop the IT skills she needed to live independently.

Maxine said:  “I was very reliant on Syd for everything computer related, but with my IT Can Help volunteer, Paul, I have discovered a whole new world.”

Independence through voice recognition

Northumberland-based Belinda Sidebotham is a tetraplegic – the result of a motorbike accident 35 years ago when she was only 17 years old.  She is paralysed from the chest down, uses an electric wheelchair and has only very limited use of her arms. 

When she first met Fred Godfrey, her IT Can Help volunteer in 2009, she was using her computer courtesy of a stick attached to her hand with a Velcro band – a device which had been created for her all those years ago in the Spinal Unit.  Typing a short email could take up to half an hour and was not only difficult but also uncomfortable.

Fred introduced Belinda to voice recognition (VR) technology via Dragon Naturally Speaking software and she has never looked back. 

Our IT Can Help volunteers visit disabled people in their homes across the UK and Northern Ireland and help people like Maxine and Belinda to get the most out of technology.

Upgrading My Computer My Way

Adjust Your Computer. Change Your Life.Many disabled people are also happy to search online for information on accessibility and usability.

Ten years ago AbilityNet launched My Computer My Way, a comprehensive guide on how to set up your computer or device the way you need it to work for you. My Computer My Way provides free advice on how to use the accessibility features that are built into your desktop PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone.

It is now one of our most popular products - almost half a million people from all around the world have used it to help make adjustments in the past year.

Thank you Microsoft

The great news is that we’re going to be rolling out a comprehensive update of My Computer My Way in the coming months to improve functionality and usability. As part of the #upgradeyourworld campaign Microsoft has chosen 5 charity partners to receive a grant of £30K to support the transition to Windows 10.

We’re delighted to have been chosen as one of those partners and we’re planning to use the money to upgrade My Computer My Way so that it covers the full range of features that make Windows 10 the most customisable version of Windows yet, as well as every one of the excellent accessibility features built into Windows 10 that continue to make it the powerful and empowering platform of choice for disabled users the world over.

How AbilityNet can help

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