Disability Support Team

The Disability Support Team at Point Blank is here to help students with a disability, long-term condition or Specific Learning Difference (SpLD) access the academic support you require to engage with your studies. We are here to support your specific needs as best we can as well as help you access academic and non-academic support outside of Point Blank.

How do I declare a Disability, Long-Term Condition or SpLD?

You can declare at any point during your time at Point Blank, most students will do this on their UCAS application or Point-Blank Admissions process. The earlier we are aware of your needs, the quicker we advise and implement support.

We would highly recommend you speak with Izzy, our Disability Support Coordinator, who will be able to advise you on the support we provide through an informal confidential chat. You can reach her through the wellbeing inbox (wellbeing@pointblankmusicschool.com), asking for Izzy on the main Point Blank phone line or asking for her at Reception at Orsman Road (she works on-campus Wednesdays and Fridays).

What support does Point Blank provide?

If you have a Disability, Long-Term Condition or SpLD, we can provide reasonable adjustments to help support you during your studies. These include:

• Audio note taking software (Glean)- This software aids students with taking notes during lectures or seminars. It allows students to organise notes into visual blocks and creates a transcription. You can find more about the software here.
• Disabled access to facilities- For example, seating arrangements, adjustments desks, classrooms with wheelchair access.
• Change of assessment method- For example, amending a presentation to a written piece of work or vice versa
• Automatic Extensions- Extensions put on your summative assignments of either 1 or 2 weeks
• Staggered deadlines- Spreads out your deadlines
• Regular pastoral meetings with the Disability Support Team- Fpr students that need regular check ins. Occurs in weeks 3,6 and 9 during term time.

How do I put Reasonable Adjustments in place?

If you have a disability, long-term condition or SpLD, we will require you to complete our Reasonable Adjustment Form which tells us more about the support you will require. Please email wellbeing@pointblankmusicschool.com to request the Reasonable Adjustment Form, further information on the process or if you are unsure about any of the adjustments listed. We will be happy to talk you through it.

To be able to put your adjustments in place, we will require evidence such as an educational psychologist’s report, a doctor’s note or health documents confirming your condition. The evidence should clearly state the disability or long-term condition and include information about support required or issues that may affect your studies. If you are unable to provide us with any evidence or are unsure of what is accepted, please email us at wellbeing@pointblankmusicschool.com.

Disabled Students’ Allowance

If there are specialist support that we do not provide at Point Blank, we would recommend you apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance.

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is a government scheme to help cover study-associated costs related to a disability, mental health problem, specific learning disability or long-term illness.

DSA can be given on its own or in addition to student finance. DSA is a grant, so you do not pay this back.

DSA can help with costs such as:

• Specialist equipment e.g. software or laptop/computer for your disability
• Non-medical helpers including a BSL interpreter or a notetaker for classes
• Assistance for travel costs for your disability

To note, DSA does not cover disability-related costs if you are not on the course, or any general study-related costs that you would otherwise have as a student.

Computer/laptop purchase support

You can get a new laptop under DSA if it is confirmed after assessment that you require one, in circumstances such as:

• If you don’t currently have a laptop or computer
• Your current laptop or computer does not meet your study and disability needs

Please note:

• You will have to pay £200 towards any laptop that is purchased under DSA
• DSA does not reimburse for retrospective purchases, so do not buy equipment until you have been assessed

Alternatively, Point Blank offers a Laptop Loan Scheme. To find out more about this, please email Jamiylah via support@pointblankmusicschool.com.

How to apply for DSA

For more information on the scheme, eligibility and how to apply, please see the following link: https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsa.

Once your eligibility for DSA is confirmed, you may be asked to contact an Assessment Centre to work out what help you require on your course. Do not book the assessment until DSA has told you to do so.

If you would like some guidance and advice on DSA, or the adjustments Point Blank can offer, please feel free to contact Izzy, our Disability Support Coordinator, via wellbeing@pointblankmusicschool.com.

International Students

As mentioned on the DSA GOV UK website, disabled students who are not a resident in the UK will not be eligible for DSA. However, at Point Blank, we are committed to ensuring that all students are appropriately supported as far as reasonably possible.

In the first instance, we would encourage you to contact our Disability Support Coordinator (Izzy Diliene) via wellbeing@pointblankmusicschool.com as soon as possible to discuss your support needs.

We will also encourage you to explore the following funding options for additional academic support if it falls outside of the support we provide:

• If you have a sponsor, ask if they can contribute to cover disability-related expenses.
• You may be eligible for a grant or scholarship from your own government, so contact your educational department to ask what support they can provide
• You may be eligible for support from Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) in your home country.