Needs Assessments

When can I arrange a Needs Assessment?

As soon as the funding body has established your eligibility for DSA support and you can provide us with supporting evidence of your disability, you can arrange your Needs Assessment with Access South West. Examples of funding bodies can be found at Useful links.

How do I arrange my assessment?

If you have already applied, or are applying to your Funding Body for Disabled Students’ Allowances, you can contact us to arrange your assessment. You can contact us in a variety of ways.

Where can I be assessed?

Our two main assessment centres are in Plymouth University and Truro. We also have assessment outreach facilities at University College Falmouth (UCF). If you are studying at UCF, we can see you at Tremough or Woodlane, please contact us or the Accessibility Team at UCF to arrange an assessment. Alternatively we can visit you at home if you are unable to travel to the centre.

What is a Needs Assessment?

The assessment, which usually lasts between 1.5 – 2 hours, is a one-to-one meeting between the student and one of our qualified assessors.

It is not a test – you do not have to prove your disability in the session.

What will it involve?

The assessor will discuss the needs and demands of your course and identify strategies to help you achieve your goals.

Following the assessment, the assessor will make appropriate recommendations in the form of a report. The report allows the funding body to determine the cost of the recommended support and the amount of your award.

What next?

We send you a copy of the report within 10 working days of your appointment.  Upon your approval of the recommendations made in the report, Access South West will send a final copy to your funding body for authorisation.

Note: your assessment will be carried out in the strictest confidence and the report will not be sent to your university or college without your permission.

If your application is successful your Funding Body (SFE/LA) will inform you of the amount of support you can receive from the DSA. The Student Loans Company will make DSA payments either to you, or directly to the supplier of equipment or services.