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Written question asked by Lord Addington (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 14 March 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 28 March 2025. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Friday, 28 March 2025 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Disabled Students' Allowances: Assistive Technology

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government whether any additional training requirements have been put in place for students in receipt of Disabled Students Allowance following changes made to the technology packages available to those students.

Answer

The department engaged with disability experts who support disabled students to gather their feedback and insights on the decision to remove non-specialist spelling and grammar software from Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) funding.

The department does not expect that students will be negatively impacted by the changes, because specific technology packages will no longer be funded where free-to-access versions, with the required functionality, are available to meet students’ disability-related support needs. Specialist spelling and grammar software will continue to be funded where a robust disability-related justification is provided. Assistive technology training and aftercare support for any non-specialist basic spelling and grammar software agreed in a student’s needs assessment report will continue to be funded through the DSA.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL5800
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Disability Training Students Disabled students' allowances Assistive technology
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk