Post-school Learning Choices for disabled learners and carers

LEAD Scotland have created a number of free guides providing information for disabled people and their families/carers as well as for professionals, related to post-school learning. Our booklets explain what the options are for learning after school – from community learning, further education at college and going to university, to paid internships and training for work. They also cover what support you can expect to receive, what funding is available and what your rights are as a disabled person within educational settings in Scotland.

All Lead Scotland information booklets are available in large print, electronic and Easy Read formats on request. All guides listed below can be downloaded from this LINK

DSA Factsheet – This factsheet explains how to apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). DSA is available from the Student Awards Agency Scotland if you live in Scotland and are studying at HNC level or above.

Local Area Guides – Transitions – these handbooks were produced as part of the Contact Transitions project and contain useful information and listings about local services and education/training opportunities as well as information and advice related to post-school transitions

Guide to Educational Grants for Individuals

Supporting You at College (UPDATED SEP 2020) describes the support available at college, who pays for it and how to arrange it.

Supporting you at University (UPDATED Nov 2020) – describes the support available at university, who pays for it and how to arrange it.

Arranging Support Workers in Higher Education – information about arranging and recruiting educational support workers.

Post School Learning Choices in Scotland – describes the different learning options after school including community learning, training and further education at college. Also covers educational support, funding and benefits for disabled learners and carers.

Higher Education in Scotland – explains the higher education system in Scotland from HNC to postgraduate level with information about applying, funding and support.

The Equality Act in Post School Learning – explains your legal rights and entitlements as a disabled learner.

Child Poverty Action Group Student & Benefit Factsheets:

Benefits for disabled students – If you are a full-time student with a long-term illness or disability you may be able to stay on benefits while you are studying.

Universal credit and students – This factsheet explains the rules for students claiming universal credit in Scotland.

Universal credit for lone parent students – This factsheet has information about universal credit for lone parents on a course of education.

Benefits and tax credits for students – Overview of benefits and tax credits for students in Scotland

Benefits and tax credits for lone parent students – This factsheet sets out the main social security benefits and tax credits that lone parents may be able to claim during a course of education.

Benefits for young people in further education or training – This factsheet covers the rules for young people in further education or on certain training courses claiming means-tested benefits.

Parents claiming for young people in further education or training – Factsheet explaining when a parent, or someone responsible for a child, can continue to claim benefit for a child aged 16 or over.

Benefits for care experienced students – This factsheet looks at when students who have been in local authority care in Scotland and are eligible for a care-experienced bursary might also be eligible for social security benefits, and how the bursary interacts with these benefits

LEAD Scotland have an Information Service available to support with queries related to disability and learning - Free phone helpline: 0800 999 2568.