In February 2001, SKILL, National Bureau for Students with Disabilities, was appointed by DfES to carry out a small survey of DSAs with a view to producing a report on findings and good practice. SKILL was asked to review the needs assessment process, the administration of DSA applications by local authorities (LAs), the role of disability advisers in higher education institutions (HEIs) and the purchasing and supply of equipment.

A summary of SKILL’s findings and recommendations was sent to LAs and HEIs in August 2001.

SKILL’s recommendations for improving the needs assessment process included establishing a national certificate of competence to be an assessment centre and a separate one to be an assessor, for which any organisation or individual could apply. In the subsequent discussions to consider implementation of SKILL’s recommendations, it was agreed that it would be appropriate to create a single national quality assurance system which serves the interests of students, and to form a small group to oversee the quality assurance process to be called the DSA Quality Assurance Group (DSA QAG).

DSA QAG was originally set up by DfES, but is now an independent group made up of representatives from local authorities, the Open University, higher education institutions, DSA-needs assessors, DSA equipment suppliers, SKILL and the NUS. It has designed a scheme to assess the quality of the work of those carrying out DSA-needs assessments and supplying the recommended equipment.

For further information on the work of DSA QAG please click here