FabSwingers.com forum: Disabled Student Allowance

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I've just got off the phone to my brother who's just told me he is entitled to a brand new laptop, microsoft office, new printer/scanner, his broadband bills paid for, a new dictaphone and special software that he talks and it types.

I know he has battled with Dyslexia throughout school and please he's gone on to start a HNC, but i cant help but think being given all that is a bit OTT

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

"I've just got off the phone to my brother who's just told me he is entitled to a brand new laptop, microsoft office, new printer/scanner, his broadband bills paid for, a new dictaphone and special software that he talks and it types.

I know he has battled with Dyslexia throughout school and please he's gone on to start a HNC, but i cant help but think being given all that is a bit OTT

so if you have a child and go to college and get free creche/nursery places and adjusted hours to help you would that be going ott

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

[Removed by poster at 27/06/12 20:16:40]

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

someone seemingly being given something for nothing...

here we go again

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

ok im gonna sound harsh now, but what good is a course to my brother if he will partially cheat his way through it (by receiving so much help via technology) that he wont be able to use in a practical working environment once his grades have been achieved.

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

"ok im gonna sound harsh now, but what good is a course to my brother if he will partially cheat his way through it (by receiving so much help via technology) that he wont be able to use in a practical working environment once his grades have been achieved."

Do you think employers dont have technology? How is it cheating?

Colleges and universaties cater for disabled students on many levels, are they all "cheats" for using the technology or adapted equipment they need

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

if he has being given the stuff to help him because of his dyslexia and he is entitled to it how is that cheating?

would you prefer he failed cos it kinda sounds like it

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I know he has battled with Dyslexia throughout school and please he's gone on to start a HNC, but i cant help but think being given all that is a bit OTT

He will be entitled to more funding when he does his HND (next year) and more funding when he does the Diploma. All of this is his too keep, surely they could have just lent it to him for the duration of the course"
if they lend him the equipment they have to maintain it and when his cours is over it will be out of date so will end up in a skip so far cheaper to give him the gear in the first place

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

He goes to college will hopefully get a good job, earn his way in life. Or not go to college have no qualifications and have to live on benefits

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"if he has being given the stuff to help him because of his dyslexia and he is entitled to it how is that cheating?

would you prefer he failed cos it kinda sounds like it"

course i want him to do well, but its like the technology has replaced all the hours i used to spend helping him with reading and writing when we were younger and lived at home. Just think its replaced the 'man hours'

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

sour grapes..

support your brother and be happy we live in a society that is prepared to help him in his achievement goals rather than hinder him!

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"He goes to college will hopefully get a good job, earn his way in life. Or not go to college have no qualifications and have to live on benefits"

oh i'm chuffed to pieces he never gave up, he has found something he enjoys.

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

"He goes to college will hopefully get a good job, earn his way in life. Or not go to college have no qualifications and have to live on benefits

oh i'm chuffed to pieces he never gave up, he has found something he enjoys. "

so why not be happy for him then and happy that hes getting the help he needs

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"sour grapes..

support your brother and be happy we live in a society that is prepared to help him in his achievement goals rather than hinder him!"

not sour grapes at all, just think the equipment has replaced the human contact that helps him to learn. Now he just talks and its all typed out and spelt lovely, and he scans a book and its read out too him. I can see its quick and convenient for the course but doesn't help when he's out shopping for instance

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"sour grapes..

support your brother and be happy we live in a society that is prepared to help him in his achievement goals rather than hinder him!

He looks at the words and he doesn't see the words properly so the machine reads it out for him? ths is because of his medical condition. would you begrudge the same technology if he were blind?

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

He looks at the words and he doesn't see the words properly so the machine reads it out for him? ths is because of his medical condition. would you begrudge the same technology if he were blind?"

He isnt blind, just think he should be encouraged more to read and write. are these skills no longer important?? Through secondary school his writing improved with more practice. Guess i'm just frustrated that there isn't the one on one tuition anymore to encourage the raw skills. I know he finds it tough but he benefited from it

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

He looks at the words and he doesn't see the words properly so the machine reads it out for him? ths is because of his medical condition. would you begrudge the same technology if he were blind?

He can get the skills, he can sign up for an adult literacy class. BUT he is taking a course, they will teach him whatever he needs to be taught for the course. You wouldnt expect someone in a wheelchair to sign up for a course and be given pysiotherapy would you

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By *yrdwomanWoman
over a year ago

Putting the 'cum' in Eboracum

"I dont think he was refering to all single mothers, thats not how i read it anyway"

Maybe not, but he wrote:

"when the state will payout more to you in benefits as a single mother in a month!"

and unless he knows something about the OP that we don't, then it does seem to come across as a general remark.

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

"I dont think he was refering to all single mothers, thats not how i read it anyway

Maybe not, but he wrote:

when the state will payout more to you in benefits as a single mother in a month!

and unless he knows something about the OP that we don't, then it does seem to come across as a general remark."

Dont think he knows anymore about the op than the op has written on the forums

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By *yrdwomanWoman
over a year ago

Putting the 'cum' in Eboracum

He looks at the words and he doesn't see the words properly so the machine reads it out for him? ths is because of his medical condition. would you begrudge the same technology if he were blind?

To be fair, there aren't that many office jobs left where you have to be able to write. I type 95% of the time for my job, and having experience of a PC is much more useful than learning how to form cursive script.

It's a killer when I have to write, as my writing is now appalling and my hand hurts!

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By *yrdwomanWoman
over a year ago

Putting the 'cum' in Eboracum

"Look if you are going to quote me them make your point valid because what I have read so far is about as relevant as moondust to making bananas ripen. Benefit wise I would put a pound to a penny you were getting more than £200 per month if you took into account all fringe benefits from free dental care, school diners and other ancillaries. Now I don't begrudge people getting benefits but I think its a total disgrace people with their hand out thinking they can take and still moan about how the rest of my taxable earnings are spent.

Laptop costs are sub £200 to organisations as there is no vat to pay and firms including Microsoft make special arrangements. "

My comment was relevant - I am a working single mother. Now if you meant out of work single mothers then I apologise, but that wasn't clear in your remark.

I received no free dental treatment (although my daughter did, as did we all when younger than 16), we didn't qualify for free school meals, and apart from a slight reduction for council tax, received no 'ancillaries'.

I know a lot of people feel strongly about the welfare state, but my benefits were spent on my child. I worked so I could afford food, utiilities, mortgage etc. I probably read your comment differently to how you meant it, but not all people on benefits have pots of cash lying around waiting to spend on luxuries.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I dont think he was refering to all single mothers, thats not how i read it anyway

Maybe not, but he wrote:

when the state will payout more to you in benefits as a single mother in a month!

and unless he knows something about the OP that we don't, then it does seem to come across as a general remark."

I think the more intelligent users on the forums have a pretty good assessment of many of the others especially when so many spell out chapter and verse on the forums about their daily life. The average payout to single mothers including housing benefits is on the top side of £900 per calender month. And your point is if you have one?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

i only quickly browed this... i heard someone from Germany acouple of years ago (not resident of UK visiting student only) was given a bike to travel to uni by UK government.

England is crazy really.... im dead serious.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'm registered blind, during college and uni I didn't get any help with technology but everyone with dyslexia all had the tech.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My high school son suffers a learning disability and currently has a one to one learning support worker who scribes for him as he cannot read or write, he does not lack in intelligence and if he chooses to go to further education their is simply no facility for the same one to one support, if I can I will gladly buy any technology he requires but its nice to know if I am unable to their is a system in place to help him through to better himself.

Everyone has the right to further education and whatever tools are required should be provided IMHO

ps although I could I do not claim disability allowance for him and pay for private literacy classes from my hard earned wages.

Sorry Sassy but I cannot see why you or anyone would grudge your brother the help he needs

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"i only quickly browed this... i heard someone from Germany acouple of years ago (not resident of UK visiting student only) was given a bike to travel to uni by UK government.

England is crazy really.... im dead serious."
foreigners dont just get bikes of our goverment m8 they get hell of alot more

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My daughter is disabled... and can read and write.. she has a tablet at school that can help her as it is difficult for her.

Technology doesn't take away in many cases it adds to their learning.. but makes the individual learning more productive.

I think its great that they are making further education more accessable to those with disabilities.

I have had to fight tooth and nail to keep my daughter out of special school as I wanted her in main stream.. And now the hard work has paid off as she is going to be going to a mixed college.. and her levels are that of an average grade.. She is only expected to get a D maybe a C in Maths and English. However that is a good grade with her level of disability.

Dyslexia is a very complex and often frustrating disability. So its good to see that they are embracing ways to help people over come it..

Cali

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By *atisfy janeWoman
over a year ago

Torquay

I can't for the life of me understand how someone could be so envious of a sibling....particularly when that sibling has a recognised learning disability....

My sons are so fiercely supportive and defensive of each other, when my youngest was in college my eldest would do anything in his power to support him both financially and with advise, and an arm around his brothers shoulder when times got hard during his course.

Seeing this thread has made me even more proud of my own lads....

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By *he_original_poloWoman
over a year ago

a Primark shoebox in Leicester

So a package costing around £1000, may be £1300 if they didn't get the best deals, is OTT.... yet a one to one tutor would cost how much?

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By *phroditeWoman
over a year ago

(She/ her) in Sensualityland

Dyslexia is a very complex and often frustrating disability. So its good to see that they are embracing ways to help people over come it..

Cali "

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By *ishful.thinkingWoman
over a year ago

east london

Each student assessed for DSA has a separate learning support agreement put in place. This is particular to the individual and takes their needs, the needs and level of the programme into consideration when working out entitlement. Universities and employers are legally bound to make reasonable adjustment, the key being reasonable.

I work in HE and have seen the struggle some young adults have to go through to A) get there and B) stay there. In many cases technology can help but at the end of the day your brother has to do the work. It is his ideas, thoughts, concepts and arguments that the staff are interested in. A computer only does what you tell it.

Hope after years of struggle it works out for him

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By *ugby 123Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

O o O oo

I think if it helps your brother get himself a qualification and be able to get a job with it then it is money well spent.

However I do think paying for broadband is an odd one unless he needs it for his disability.

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By *ouple in LancashireCouple
over a year ago

in Lancashire

its only 'recently' that dyslexia has been recognised and support afforded for thjose with the disability..

do wonder about the kids in the 'dummies' class as it was not so sympathetically referred to back in the late 60's, early 70's..

how many people have not fulfilled their potential due to this disability not being understood in the past..

in 'real terms' the financial outlay is peanuts..

any criticism of anyone being supported with their disability saddens me tbh

there are a lot of 'able bodied' folk less able due to their attitude than those whom are disabled..

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Give a boy a fish you feed him for a day, teach him to fish and he is fed for life. I think its common sense you give everyone a chance of an education if they want to learn. A grand on a laptop and the rest is a small price to pay if it helps him get a job and avoids him living off state handouts.

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