Hi, I'm a dyslexic student currently writing up, normally being disabled I'd be entitled to disabled students allowance (DSA) to cover specialist equipments, proof readers ect, unfortunately I wasn't diagnosed until after I started my PhD and my funding body the EPRSC won't provide DSA as they weren't notified in the first 3 months of starting my PHD that was disable and required DSA even though I didn't have a diagnosis. I'm pretty sure their 3 month rule amounts to discrimination as no one can predict a disability due to a mental health problem, undiagnosed learning difficulty or physical impairment as a result of an illness or accident which may occur after the 3 month period. By not providing DSA for students in this case they are discriminating against these students by not providing an equal opportunity to obtain a qualification compared with able-bodied students and are thus breaking several discrimination laws which as an government and educational body they should adhere to.

I would like to know if any other students have this problem with either this funding body or others or just with disability and post-graduate life in general - my Uni seams geared towards undergrads.

Thanks

Khemkitty

Sounds very unfair and unreasonable given that disability circumstances can change. Afraid that I haven't had a good experience with EPSRC. I was full-time computer science student funded by them over a decade ago, but fell long-term ill. They wouldn't support a switch to part-time study, even though they'd just introduced part-time funding for mature female returners. My illness was incurable and progressive and no short break would help, the only thing they would offer, so I had no choice but to leave the full-time PhD study. So I'm not a fan of EPSRC.

Years later I converted to humanities, part-time, at undergraduate, then Masters, and now Doctoral again. I self-funded my Masters and first year of the PhD, getting no help in the form of DSA (was ineligible for it as a part-time PG) or from my disability unit (seemed no point registering since I couldn't get DSA and they were geared around undergrads), but just negotiating the extra help I needed directly with my lecturers/tutors. After applying for AHRC PhD funding (part-time) and getting it the rules changed so part-timers could get DSA so I registered with the disability services at my uni. They're definitely more geared up towards undergrads (all the focus on exam support etc.) but it helped me get DSA for the first time. But I did apply quickly. Having said that my condition has deteriorated considerably over the last 4 years since I won the funding. But I keep going, using my own tricks, and still negotiating support directly with staff. My latest concern is how I'll cope with the viva given the severe cognitive problems I have including memory. But that's best negotiated in discussion with understanding supervisors, with written evidence from my GP where need be.

Argue the point with EPSRC though. Sounds like they're being stubborn again. Hope you have more luck than I did.

One thing I forgot to mention: you could consider getting your MP involved in this to pressurise the funding council. I tried to argue for better support using the Disability Discrimination Act, but over a decade ago it wasn't as strong as it is now. I think an insistence on being notified of disability in the first 3 months of a long award is downright discrimination.