Equipment
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Specialist equipment could assist or even be essential to your studies: it can be used at home, at tutorials, or at residential school.
If you are eligible for a Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) you should use it to buy any equipment you may need. The necessary equipment will be identified during a needs assessment.
If you are DSA eligible the University will only provide study support that cannot be provided by a DSA.
If your module includes a residential school, see also Equipment at residential school.
If you are not eligible for a DSA, relevant equipment can be loaned to you from the OU through the equipment loan schemes (listed below) on an annual basis, or for the duration of your studies.
The equipment is only loaned for disability-related reasons. For example, if your module requires the use of a computer you will need to provide your own. However, if you need specialist software or hardware adaptations because of your disability or additional requirements, the loan schemes can provide these.
Access Technology Loan Scheme
If you are not eligible for a DSA, this OU scheme (ATLS) may be able to provide free loan of various types of equipment, to help with your studies.
Small equipment loan
Small items of equipment can be borrowed from the Disability Resources Team by students not eligible for a DSA.
Interim Kit Loan Scheme
Students who have applied to the DSA, or the OU's Access Technology Loan Scheme, but who do not yet have the specialist equipment they need, can apply for a loan of equipment until it arrives.
Information for all students:
Information about:
Disabled Students' Allowance - are you eligible?
Take part in the DSA eligibility quiz to find out if you are eligible for funding. It should take you less than three minutes to complete.
Remember
You will need to use a computer for your study. Most modules require assignments to be submitted electronically, or use online resources for teaching. If you think you will need additional equipment or software in order to use a computer effectively, you should arrange this well before the module begins as the provision of adapted computers can take some time to organise.
