Students: Disability Aids
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of cuts to funding for non-specialist software under the Disabled Students’ Allowance on costs for universities to support disabled students.
Answered by Josh MacAlister
The department has not withdrawn funding for assistive technology under the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). Students who require assistive software and training due to their disability will continue to receive support through DSA. Universities remain responsible for making reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. No new criteria are planned for publication ahead of the 2025/26 academic year.
The department reviewed the provision of non-specialist spelling and grammar software and found that the required functionality to meet students’ disability-related support needs is available through free-to-access software. As a result, the department does not expect that this change will lead to additional costs for universities in supporting disabled students. Therefore, no formal assessment of the impact on university support costs was undertaken.
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