Cambridge Access Centre

You can contact us by email info@cambridgeaccesscentre.com.
By telephone on 01223 223701 or 07967 891 154, and by fax on 01223 223701.

Step 1: Arranging the assessment

You will need written authorization from your funding body (for example Student Finance England) before making an appointment.
It would help us set up a needs assessment quickly if you have some details to hand when you phone. We will need information on the following:
• University: Name of university and name of its Disability Officer
• Course: Title, Length, Year of study
• Funding body: Which one and a contact name
It would help to have your diary and timetable (if available) to hand.

Step 2: The assessment itself

Students are often anxious about the assessment process - please don't be!
It is NOT a test OR an examination. Assessors are trained to put you at your ease, to find out what works for you and what can realistically be provided under the DSA. It is important to remember that the more you engage in the assessment the more you will get out of it. We aim to make the interview a useful, informal and enjoyable experience.

The needs assessment will normally take one and a half to two hours, but an individual’s situation may lengthen the process. It is often a good idea to make a list of all the things you would like to discuss before the assessment so that nothing you are concerned about is missed. Assessments are done on a one-to-one basis. Only under extenuating circumstances will a third person be allowed to sit in.

There is no set pattern to assessments because individual needs are different, but an assessment is usually divided into two parts. In the first part, the assessor will discuss your particular difficulties and identify useful study strategies to help you deal effectively with the curriculum in light of your disability. You will have the opportunity to discuss any particular difficulties and concerns you have accessing your course. In the second part, the assessor may introduce you to the range of adaptive technology that is relevant to your disability or condition .
Assessments can be carried out at the Access Centre, the student’s home, the student’s university or at any other suitable location.

If you require a draft of your report we will normally send this to you within ten working days, and will process the final report to the funding body immediately (usually same day) on receipt of acceptance of draft.

If you do not require a draft copy of your report, we will endeavour to process your report within the DSA-QAG guidelines of ten working days.

Step 3: Student responsibilities

It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to ensure that the recommendations in their report are communicated appropriately. As part of this they should:
• Arrange and attend any appointments to discuss and review your support with the Disability office. Your Disability Adviser will be able to identify how your Institution can implement the institutional recommendation and what actions may need to be taken.
• Arrange meetings with relevant academic tutors to help you to regularly monitor your progress.
• Liaise with disability advisers/course leaders/examinations staff to ensure that the recommendations in the examination and assessment arrangements section are put in place.
• Check with the Funding Body what support has been approved.
• Ensure an order is placed with the recommended supplier/s for the equipment listed in this report once approval has been received. This may need to be done by you or your funding body may place the order – you should check this with the funding body.
• Obtain and keep a copy of all receipts for equipment, general allowance purchases and other DSA-approved support. Forward these to your LEA to reclaim any expenses where recommended in your report.
• Contact the recommended trainer/service to organise Specialist Technology Training.
• With the help of your Disability officer, arrange any non-medical helper support recommended.
• Attend technology-training sessions arranged to learn the specialist software.
• Make early contact with your tutors to ensure that an appropriate work placement / experience is identified if this is an essential requirement of your course.
• Inform the University Disability Office of any change of address and contact details in order that future appointments can be made.
• In future years, ensure that any non-medical helper support and other recurrent funding (including adaptive and anti-virus software updates) is reviewed and approval sought from the funding body.
• Students must; keep anti-virus software up-to-date, perform a system scan for viruses on a regular basis (once a month is recommended) and back-up their work regularly. Neither the ACCESS Centre or suppliers will accept any liability for loss of work due to viruses.

For guidance on any aspect of the assessment process please do not hesitate to contact us.