Greg Clark appeared hesitant and non-committal about where things go next with the planned cuts to Disabled Students Allowance in last night’s HE Hustings event organized by HEPI, Universities UK, OU and the Times HigherEd.
In response to a question about access to education for disabled students in the context of DSA cuts and the forthcoming judicial review. Mr Clark noted that he had stalled the proposed DSA plans when he came to office. He suggested that things had perhaps needed some more consideration.
For those of us working with disabled students on a daily basis, Mr Clark’s wistful desire for more thinking time was expressed on the day that we had been told final Guidance for DSA administration would be released. No Guidance seen. DSA applicants for academic year 15/16 still cannot have an assessment of need because the administrative guidance has not been released. Instead, we had a long awaited new computer specification document that includes items supposedly on the ‘cuts list’ under DSA modernisation (laptop stands, USB hubs).
Liam Byrne for the Labour Party called for more emphasis on students rights, a suggestion that perhaps reflects the current draft DSA Guidance students that places disabled students without adequate support in conflict with universities without clear or credible means for swift and fair dispute resolution.
Julian Huppert, Lib Dem instrumental in securing a Westminster Hall debate on DSA just before David Willetts left office, continues to support a more rational and steady approach to DSA change.
What now? The judicial review has been granted because the consultation has been challenged as inadequate. The Minister responsible for stalling on the initial modernisation has implied more consultation may be indicated and expressed a sense of what seems almost like a duty of care towards disabled people applying for university. An announcement from BIS soon, surely?
