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Barbara Waters, Independent Chair SLC Disabled Students Stakeholder Group (DSSG) England

8 th International conference on higher education and disability Improving outcomes for disabled students through engaging a wide range of stakeholders. Barbara Waters, Independent Chair SLC Disabled Students Stakeholder Group (DSSG) England bwatersconsult@gmail.com.

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Barbara Waters, Independent Chair SLC Disabled Students Stakeholder Group (DSSG) England

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  1. 8th International conference on higher education and disabilityImproving outcomes for disabled students through engaging a wide range of stakeholders. Barbara Waters, Independent Chair SLC Disabled Students Stakeholder Group (DSSG) England bwatersconsult@gmail.com

  2. How Student Loans Company works with us as stakeholders • National review identified need for more transparency stakeholder engagement • High level strategic forum • Working groups including for Disabled Students and Vulnerable Students • Link to Information Advice and Guidance and customer feedback

  3. Disabled Students Allowances • Funded by government on a national basis to support students to meet their higher educational studies • Individual students apply to a national processing centre in England • Students must have a needs assessment from a regulated centre • Evidence of disability requirement

  4. DSSG terms of reference 1 • Review and monitor application processing for the service to disabled students at key points in annual cycle • Bring insights and experience to identifying and resolving issues • Support SLC through joined up communications to students • Raise concerns and challenge process

  5. DSSG terms of reference 2 • Specialist input to IAG on DSA • Review changes and improvements to DSA service and give expert advice and input of stakeholders • Chair +11 members plus quality control and ministry observer/advisor, SLC support • Communication through SLC Bulletin so clear messages sent at same time to all stakeholders

  6. How do stakeholders contribute? • Attending four meetings a year, suggesting agenda items and following up • Raising issues and contributing written papers or comments • Responding to requests from Anthony Hill, Manager of DSA Services • Providing information for BIS – assessors views on the guidance; QA in the DSA journey; • Sitting on subject specific groups eg Assistive Technology sub group with TechDis

  7. Membership • National Union of Students • Student finance advisors • NGO for students with dyslexia • University mental health advisors • University heads of student services • Disability officers/head of disability services • Organisation of access centres providing DSA assessment • Organisation of assessors • Teachers of students with dyslexia in higher education • Open University (distance learning)

  8. Outcomes • DSA service improvements monitored through regular updates from SLC manager • Communication of DSA Message more widely so students more aware • Mental health pro forma to simplify evidence • Addressing issues of quality and value for money in non-medical helper (personal support) procurement through research and short life working group • Stakeholder (including students) training of DSA staff • Standing sub group on Assistive Technology with JISC/Techdis review for example provision of Mac computers; use of freeware software; mobile apps

  9. Customer Insight • Permanent customer feedback mechanism • Includes increasing number of disabled students • DSSG can request specific questions to inform its work

  10. Examples from Customer Insight • Consultation with students on changing name of needs assessment – only 4.8% unhappy with the term • Questions to students on their experiences of non-medical helper support • Annual survey of DSA Stakeholders

  11. Stakeholder values and perspective • Respect • Reflective practice • Analysis and problem solving • Relate reflection to practical context • Communicating complex ideas • Empathy, self awareness

  12. What’s next? • SLC Forum governance review – change to main provider of finance to HEIs as well as students • Linking with changes in Wales • FE disabled student support • SLC to implement non-medical helper procurement plans • BIS quality agenda

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