We think blind and partially sighted students should have access to the support they need at university. This is why we have worked hard since our education service was set up in 2019, to make this happen. For Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), this includes working towards better DSA experiences and more consistent access to the right support.
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is a non-means-tested grant designed to help disabled students meet the additional costs of studying that arise specifically from their disability. For blind and partially sighted students, DSA funding can be the difference between accessing higher education successfully or facing exclusion due to barriers in accessing learning, technology and support.
In January 2019, we launched a major policy campaign in partnership with RNIB and the Vision Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research (VICTAR) called Our Right to Study. This campaign highlighted systemic issues in the DSA system that were preventing blind and partially sighted students from accessing the full support they need.
The report identified key barriers such as:
This work laid the foundation for ongoing policy engagement with Government and the Student Loans Company (SLC). Read our 2019 report here: Our Right To Study.
Following the publication of this report, we continued to influence reform discussions. In 2020, we welcomed Government proposals to simplify the structure of DSA funding, a proposal that directly responded to issues raised by our campaign. These reforms, implemented from the 2021/22 academic year, introduced a single, more flexible DSA funding allowance for all students.
Since the Our Right To Study report, we have:
2024 saw further reforms to the processes for accessing needs assessments, assistive technology and technology training. We used our role on the DSSG, and our relationship with the SLC, to help shape these reforms to ensure that the needs and experiences of blind and partially sighted students were taken into account.
Following the implementation of these reforms, we were invited to join the Student Loans Company’s DSA Quality Committee. This committee meets 3-4 times per year to assess the effectiveness of the reforms. We use our voice in this forum to push for better quality processes and support, and to highlight the experiences of the students we support. Through this committee, we have worked towards greater transparency in SLC reporting, improvements in quality assurance processes and changes to the way students are communicated with.
In April 2024, TPT’s Head of Education, Tara Chattaway, gave oral evidence to the Education Select Committee on the 2024 DSA reforms. We welcomed the intent of the reforms to simplify the DSA process, but also pressed for better transparency, high-quality needs assessments and improved communication for students on what to expect. At the committee Tara reported that:
“DSA is so important. It’s the difference between somebody staying in university and dropping out and it’s so important to get that support set up as the student starts university, as early as possible. It goes back to the quality of the needs assessment, taking the time and getting it right. Unless we are measuring the quality of this as part of these changes, then we can say these changes are a success because key performance indicators are being met but they aren’t a success for students. The crux for us is what we are measuring success on.”
Our evidence emphasised that DSA is not just a financial grant: it is essential to retention and success, and must be delivered with student outcomes at the centre of policy evaluation.
We have seen changes to DSA as a direct result of our campaigning, however our work is not done.
DSA is still a high priority for us, as we continue to hear from students about issues with their DSA support. We are determined to continue working towards a DSA process that truly enables the success of all students. We continue to advocate for:
Read our lasted policy position for more information about our current work: Policy Position: Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) Reforms.
If DSA matters to you, whether as a student, parent, supporter or professional, you can:
Our policy position on the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) reforms announced by The Student Loans Company.
Find out more about 'Policy Position: Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) Reforms'Find out everything you need to know about Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA), a grant which helps blind and partially sighted students get the right support at university.
Find out more about 'Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)'Explore how our campaign calls on the Department for Education (DfE) and the Student Loans Company (SLC) to ensure DSA works for students with vision impairment.
Find out more about 'Our Right to Study'Find out about the work we do to lobby Government and decision makers to help ensure blind and partially sighted students can pursue their educational aspirations.
Find out more about 'Education Policy'
This online community is for blind and partially sighted students, family and friends, education providers and other staff in the sector. It forms a supportive environment where relevant news, advice, questions and pieces of work can be shared to enable students with visual impairments to get the most out of their time at university.
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