Students: Frequently asked questions

Do I need to pay you for the training?

The standard procedure is that we directly invoice your DSA funding body for your training sessions, so there should normally be no reason for you to worry about payment.

If you have any concerns, please contact us and we will be happy to clarify.

Can I figure it out on my own?

If you have been provided equipment or software as part of your DSA provision, you might be questioning whether you actually need the training, especially if you are quite computer literate.

Whilst the basics of some technology solutions can be figured out relatively easily, we can help you to really excel in using all of the assistive equipment – and you will soon find that there are lots more useful tools than you may initially have thought:

• We will explore some useful features that you may not have discovered on your own or have simply overlooked.
• We will show you how everything can be applied to save you time and avoid hassle, allowing you to be more productive and to work more efficiently.
• Plus, our trainer will tailor the training to suit your needs and, using the assistive equipment, help you overcome difficulties you may face in your course.

I have been given study skills support – is that the same?

Assistive Technology training is not the same as the study skills support. The IT Training is provided to enable you to get the best use of the equipment and software provided to you.

The Study skills is specialist tuition provided to help you develop proficient learning strategies and effective practices for research, composition, proofreading, note taking and time management. It may include using some aspects of your assistive technology, but will not comprehensively cover how to use or get the best from all of your equipment or software.

You will benefit the most from starting your Assistive Technology training first; to learn all about the software, customise it to your liking, develop a really good personal understanding of how it can benefit you and become proficient in using it. Once you have commenced this, the study skills tuition can then really help with developing personal learning strategies and effective practices for key areas, and can incorporate using your assistive solutions into these study skills.