Thousands sign petition against cuts to tech support for disabled students in England

Key points

• Disability campaigners have called on the government to halt plans to cut funding for specialist tech support for tens of thousands of disabled students in England.
• Almost 10,000 people have signed a petition opposing Department for Education (DfE) proposals to withdraw funding for specialist assistive software available as part of the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).
• The petition says it risks “widening the attainment gap for disabled students, increasing student withdrawals, worsening mental health pressures, and reducing progression into employment”.
• The DSA is a grant that helps students with additional costs they may face in higher education because of their disability.
• In 2023-24 more than 88,000 students benefited, at a cost of £203m.