The assessment is confidential and conducted in a relaxed and supportive environment by assessors with specialist experience of your disability or specific learning difficulty. The assessment is not a test but the opportunity for you to discuss your additional learning needs within the context of your studies. You will have the opportunity to talk about your past experiences and any strategies you have developed to address your difficulties. Your assessor will consider any items of information and communication technology and/or ergonomic equipment you may need, together with support strategies including note-taking, study skills tuition (dyslexia), mentoring, etc.
Archives: FAQs
Contact AccessCentral if your Funding Body have written to you to confirm your eligibility and asked you to contact an assessment centre.
You can get in touch with AccessCentral by email, by telephone (0121 222 5362 or 023 80 989 178) or text, or by filling in the online application form, and we will agree a convenient date and time for your assessment. This date will be confirmed once you have sent the following information which is required no later than five working days prior to the assessment to enable the Assessor time to prepare.
- Evidence of your disability (a photocopy is sufficient), for example, a letter from your Doctor or Consultant or an Educational Psychologist report.
- Confirmation letter from your Student Finance England/ Funding Body that you can have a Study Strategies Assessment. AccessCentral requires this confirmation in writing (a photocopy is sufficient).
- Completed Assessment Booking form sent to you by AccessCentral with the provisional booking letter.
If we do not receive this documentation AccessCentral will regrettably have to cancel your appointment.
We will also send you written confirmation of your assessment appointment, together with a map and directions on how to find us, and a few details on what to expect during your assessment.
Once your Funding Body has established your eligibility for the DSA and you have provided supporting evidence of your disability or specific learning difficulty from an appropriate specialist to AccessCentral, a DSA assessment can be arranged by calling AccessCentral. If you are about to start you university studies it may be possible to have an assessment before the start of term, and even before you have a confirmed place at an institution.
Your Funding Body will ask you to have a DSA assessment carried out so that your particular needs can be matched with those of your proposed course to ensure that you get the help that you will need. The DSA assessment may identify the types of equipment and other support you will need, how much it will cost and where to get it from. It will also identify any training you might need to make best use of the equipment recommended, and detail any special examination arrangements.
The cost of your DSA assessment will be paid from your DSA allowance and is charged at £660 (+VAT). If you need help with travel costs to the assessment, you should ask your Funding Body whether they can help as this can be paid from the General Allowance of the DSA.
You should not arrange for a DSA assessment without first confirming with your Funding Body (SFE/NHS) that they agree for you to do so.