Once your funding body has sent you a letter to say that you are eligible for the Disabled Students' Allowance, you then have a Needs Assessment.

A Needs Assessment is an informal meeting between the student and a Needs Assessor. It helps work out what support the student will need at university. The Needs Assessments are now supported by two organisations, Capita and Study Tech.

You can request a Needs Assessment by online or in person. Further details about how you find a Needs Assessor can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-assessment-centre

The Needs Assessment comprises of a discussion of your individual strengths and difficulties in relation to aspects of academic study, assistive hardware and software to facilitate study, 'non-medical helper' support (specialist tuition, note taking, mentoring etc.) which may help and a demonstration of equipment and software. You do not have to pay for the Needs Assessment, and the Assessor will send any relevant information to the university where you study.