Question: Can Skill NI help me with my College / University fees?

Answer: Skill NI is a small charity and is unable to support students on a financial basis. However we will endeavour to assist you with advice on scholarships and grants.

Question: How is having a disability defined?

Answer: There are several ways to define and measure disability.  The main legal definition is set out in the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995.  The Act says who is disabled and protected from discrimination in education and employment.

You are considered disabled if:

• You have a mental or physical impairment
• The impairment has an adverse effect on you ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities
• The effect is substantial and long-term 

Long-term means your impairment has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months, or for the rest of your life.

The DDA definition is quite broad.  For example, it can include people who have dyslexia, learning difficulties or long-term medical conditions.  It can also cover people experiencing mental health difficulties.

Question: What is the difference between Further Education and Higher Education.

Answer: Further Education refers to post 16 education that does not involve studying at degree level or higher. e.g. NVQs, BTEC or National Diplomas etc.

Higher Education refers to any course which leads to a qualification higher than “A” level e.g. a first degree, diploma of higher education such as Dip HE etc.

However in Northern Ireland most of the colleges can offer courses at a Higher Education level.

You can find out more about a course by requesting a prospectus. This is a guide which gives details of courses, entry requirements, course duration etc.

You can find contact details of the colleges here:

• Southern Regional College (Armagh, Newry, Kilkeel and Upper Bann) www.src.ac.uk 
• North West Regional College (North West and Limavady) www.nwrc.ac.uk
• South West College (East Tyrone, Fermanagh and Omagh) http://www.swc.ac.uk/
• Northern Regional College (East Antrim, North East and Causeway) www.nrc.ac.uk
• Belfast Metropolitan College (Belfast and Castlereagh) www.belfastmet.ac.uk
• South Eastern Regional College (East Down, Lisburn and North Down and Ards) www.serc.ac.uk

Question: I have dyslexia – what type of support might I expect from college or university?

Answer: Depending on your assessed need there may be a number of options available - these include:

• Specialist tuition e.g. language skills or structuring work
• Extra time to read, understand and prepare answers
• Use of a separate exam room, with an invigilator.

Question: How do I find out about Disabled Student Allowance (DSA)?

Answer: The Disabled Student's Allowance (DSA) is a supplementary allowance available to students who may have extra expenses, as a direct result of their disability, arising from attending a higher education course. The allowance is meant to help disabled students benefit fully from their courses and is not means-tested.

There are four elements of DSA support:

1. Non-medical help: for students requiring non-medical personal assistance e.g. readers for blind students or sign-language interpreters for deaf students;
2. Specialist Equipment allowance: for help with the purchase of equipment necessary because of the student's disability e.g. computer, Braille printer, Dictaphone, Specialist Software etc.
3. General allowance: for general expenses arising from attendance at the course e.g. extra photocopying, special dietary requirements etc.
4. Travel allowance: extra travel costs you have to pay as a result of disability and not normally for everyday travel costs. You will have to pay the equivalent to the public transport rate towards your travel.

Question: At school I had classroom support, what support can I expect to have at my FE college.

Answer: An Additional Support Fund is available to meet the additional needs of individual students.

As colleges manage their own budgets, they are required to identify strengths and weaknesses in current provisions for disabled students and to make proposals for improvements.

These may include:

• A support worker to assist with personal care.
• Specialist software
• Notetaker
• Interpreter

Question: Do I have to disclose my disability?

Answer: You may feel you do not wish disclose your disability when applying to College or University. You may have your own coping mechanisms and feel that you don’t need any additional support or that it may jeopardise your place onto a course. However you are encouraged to disclose your disability to ensure the appropriate support systems are put into place. The University or College should have a policy and procedure for recording a disabled student’s wish to either disclose the details of their disability or their request to keep their disability confidential.

Question: What can I do if I feel I have not been treated fairly on my course?

Answer: If you want to make a complaint, you may find it best to approach your tutor or the Learning Support Co-ordinator or Disability Adviser first. This is a more informal way to investigate the problem. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of this, you can make a formal complaint in writing. Ask your college or university for details of what this process involves.

Contact the Equality Commission for advice and information.

Telephone: 028 90 500600

Email: information@equalityni.org