Unlocking Your Potential: A Guide to DSA

Empowering you with the skills and tools to excel in higher education

Why apply for DSA?

Accessing DSA funded specialist software and specialist human support is a great way to develop efficient and effective study skills. These resources work together to streamline your academic life, helping ensure you preserve your mental and physical energy for intensive study related activities such as advanced research and critical writing or busy labs and placements. Throughout this journey, your university disability support service will be available to provide encouragement and expert help.

Examples of Specialist Software

These tools are examples of what may be available to help you work more effectively. Please note these are provided as examples and are not specific endorsements.

Productivity and Organisation

  • Genio: Formally Glean, excellent for recording and organising lecture notes. Visit Genio
  • Global Tasks: Visual task management to help you stay on track. Visit Global Tasks
  • Booost: Support for mental health and daily study organisation. Visit Booost
  • Brain In Hand: Digital support for anxiety and problem solving. Visit Brain In Hand
  • Aspire: Guidance for transitioning into and through university. Visit Aspire

Literacy and Research

  • Read&Write: Comprehensive support for reading and writing tasks. Visit Texthelp
  • Scholarcy: AI summary tool to help you process research papers quickly. Visit Scholarcy
  • Pro Study: Management tool for bibliographies and research notes. Visit Pro Study
  • TextAid: Cloud based literacy support and text to speech. Visit TextAid

Planning and Writing

  • MindView: Powerful mind mapping to plan essay structures. Visit MindView
  • MindManager: Advanced mapping for complex projects. Visit MindManager
  • Dragon: Leading voice recognition and dictation software. Visit Dragon
  • Lightkey: Predictive typing to help you write with confidence. Visit Lightkey

Specialist Equipment and Ergonomics

Physical tools can significantly improve your focus and comfort.
  • Ergonomic Support: Chairs and desks from providers like Posturite or Back Care Solutions help prevent physical fatigue.
  • Noise Management: Noise cancelling headphones and attenuating earbuds help create a quiet workspace.
  • Audio Tools: Digital audio recorders allow you to capture lecture content for later review.
  • Home Printing: Personal printers reduce screen fatigue by allowing you to proofread work on paper.

Specialist Human Support

One to one support builds your independence and helps you master your unique learning style.
  • Mental Health Mentoring: Collaborative support for wellbeing and motivation.
  • Neurodivergent Mentoring: Strategies for thriving in the university environment.
  • Study Skills for Dyslexia, ADHD and Autism: Personalised techniques for reading, writing and executive function.

Achieving Support: The Journey

The process is a collaborative journey where your university disability support service is available to offer guidance at every single stage.
1. Application: Start your request via Student Finance. Your university can help you gather evidence.
2. Eligibility: You will receive a letter confirming you can proceed to your assessment.
3. Needs Assessment: A positive chat to decide which software and equipment will empower you.
4. Confirmation: Receive your support package and begin using your new skills!

Empowering Yourself

You play an active and vital role in this process. Preparing for your needs assessment by discussing support with a disability adviser first is very important. This ensures you can identify exactly which tools, such as Learning Labs or FindMyFlow, will help you study most effectively. Being proactive allows you to lead the conversation and secure the support that fits your academic goals.