My name is Isabel, and I receive financial help in the form of a Disabled Students’ Allowance, which the University of Exeter helped me to secure. I have Chronic Fatigue and Chronic Pain Syndrome, and have always found it difficult to fund any extra help or technology that I need as a result of my condition, especially in the current cost of living crisis. I’m a second year English student, studying on the Streatham Campus in Exeter. I have many hobbies, such as sports, which with this financial aid I’ve been able to keep enjoying. In this article, I’ll be talking about my experience with receiving a Disabled Students’ Allowance, and other bursary or funding options while studying at the University of Exeter, and how they can provide significant support for those may be struggling financially.
University is a brilliant and transformative experience, but it can be financially daunting for disabled students. The Disabled Students’ Allowance is a government funded programme which provides financial support to fund any assistance needed to help disabled students with their learning. It covers extra costs of assistance technologies, travel costs, and specialised equipment. It helps disabled students to feel equally as able as their peers, helping students to have equal opportunities, with no added financial burden. By alleviating the financial burden of funding a disability, the Disabled Students’ Allowance allows students to focus more on their studies, spend money on themselves and their hobbies, and allows them to have equal opportunities as their able-bodied peers. In my first year of University, I massively struggled to fund my disability, as I was needing to purchase any additional help in order to keep up with able-bodied students. I had support from the University of Exeter regarding my exams and academics, but I was still finding it difficult to keep up with my peers. I found that I would benefit from extra software and orthopaedic furniture, but I didn’t have the money to fund these aids. After a meeting with the University of Exeter’s disability coordinators, I was pointed in the direction of a Disabled Students’ Allowance. As many students are, I was concerned and embarrassed to ask for financial help, and almost didn’t apply. The University’s AccessAbility’s team reassured me that I was eligible for this help, and that they would help me each step of the way, so I would be able to secure the financial aid I needed.
The process of application was smooth and easy, and I was supported throughout every aspect. To apply for a Disabled Students’ Allowance, you can start an application with Student Finance England. Proof of a condition is needed, which I acquired via the Streatham Campus’ Student Health Centre, who were incredibly helpful in providing me with an accurate diagnosis, to help me understand what assistive equipment would help me best. Within six weeks, you will receive an update on whether your application was accepted, and if successful, an invitation to a ‘needs assessment’. In this assessment, the assessor will talk to you about your condition, and try to suggest equipment that would aid your learning. My assessment was incredibly helpful, and the environment created was an open, understanding one, where I felt I could discuss my needs openly and receive any support I felt was necessary. After this assessment, you will receive a report listing the equipment you are being given, and after this is confirmed, it will be shipped to you. Following this, there are appointments to set up your equipment, and make sure everything is suited to your needs. Even once you have your equipment, you are still offered help and support, which I found incredibly reassuring.
This process helped me massively. I received a new laptop, as my old one was old and could not run the software I needed. The display of the old laptop could not change adequately to help prevent migraines, and I found it incredibly difficult to do the necessary reading for my course, as the displays caused me more pain, and increased fatigue. However, the new laptop and software funded by the Disabled Students’ Allowance allows me to be on par with my peers, as I can now dictate my essays, change the displays to be more suitable for my conditions, have reading dictated to me via software. I had always wanted to use these softwares, but found them too expensive, and so I lagged behind my peers in my studies, as I was unable to complete essays or readings in the same capacity. I also received a printer, and this means I can print off work and read it without a screen, which helps me to avoid eyestrain and migraines. I do not have to have walk to campus to print off work, or pay to use a public printer. Furthermore, Disabled Students’ Allowance funded some orthopaedic furniture, for instance a laptop stand, so I can work from home in a more comfortable way, or I can work from my bed if my physical fatigue becomes too much. I also received subscriptions to apps that help me to organise my time, and note-taking. I have always found time management difficult to do, as disabilities can be time-consuming and unpredictable, but the apps have improved my productivity significantly, while still remaining mindful of the time I need to rest and care for my health.
Throughout this process, the University of Exeter was incredibly helpful. Without their guidance, I would not have applied for the allowance, and would still be struggling financially. They provided me with clear instructions on how to go about the process, guided me by staying in contact as I went through the process, helped me to secure a diagnosis of my condition as proof, and continued to check on my progress.
Since securing my Disabled Students Allowance, I have been able to have more financial freedom, and I have been able to catch up in my studies. I am no longer worrying constantly about how to fund my disability, and I am able to spend this money on more healthy food, on society memberships, and fun days out with my friends. Some of my favourite things I’ve taken up since securing a Disabled Students’ Allowance are as follows. Music is a massive interest of mine, and with the money I now have spare, I’ve been able to attend gigs and concerts at the Exeter Phoenix. I’ve also been able to write more; I’m an English student, and creative writing is something I want to pursue in my future. With the software I was given, I can more easily work on pieces, for instance journalism articles for the student newspaper, or my own creative writing blog. This will be massively helpful in writing my CV and my securing future opportunities, and I wouldn’t have been able to spend as much time on writing, if I didn’t have the assistive technologies. I can now dictate my essays, articles, and writing pieces, and I can have any research dictated to me; previously, I could only type or read on a screen for a short amount of time, before getting a migraine. Furthermore, I’ve been able to focus on my mental health and taking day trips into nature, as I can now afford the travel costs to do so. I’ve visited Exmouth, which is one of my favourite things to do. Exmouth beach is beautiful, and calming, and I love being able to feel financially stable enough to visit. The Disabled Students’ Allowance has given me so much stability, and freedom to pursue my hobbies and excel academically.
If you aren’t eligible for a Disabled Students’ Allowance, but are still struggling to fund University life, I’d recommend researching other bursaries and financial aid offered by the University of Exeter. The University is brilliant in supporting students, and you shouldn’t feel ashamed or embarrassed to ask for this support. Examples of other support offered are as follows. The Access to Exeter (ATE) bursary supports UK students via additional funding, based on three different brackets of yearly household incomes; this bursary can be massively useful to provide students with financial stability. The Care Leavers’ Bursary supports students who have been in care; care leaver students meeting the requirements are provided with a fee waiver, and therefore do not have to pay tuition fees. There are also many scholarships available, for instance: international scholarships, sports scholarships, sanctuary scholarships, and many more. I would encourage you to look on the University’s funding webpage to research the many financial aids available, and check out the eligibility criteria.
I would massively recommend the Disabled Students’ Allowance to any prospective students who perhaps struggle with funding their disabilities. It is an essential support system, especially during the current cost of living crisis, when other expenses pile up so easily. It is so relieving to not have to worry about the extra costs of a disability and the equipment I need, and I’ve been able to catch up on my studies, with help from assistive technologies that previously, I couldn’t afford. I’ve massively flourished since receiving this support, and it is thanks to guidance of the University of Exeter that I have been able to do so.