Female student typing on a laptop with long pink nails

February 4, 2025, by Leah Sharpe

How DSA software improved my writing skills

By Havanah Virtue-James, student blogger

Image by ThisIsEngineering from Pixabay

As a student with a specific learning difficulty and anxiety, I have received support from DSA (Disabled Students’ Allowance), which has hugely helped to progress and improve my writing skills over the past couple of years. This has also been hugely beneficial in terms of completing career-related tasks.

DSA supports the cost of studies for students with a mental health problem, long-term illness or other type of disability. This can include providing a personal tutor, the necessary equipment, and access to software like Grammarly and Read & Write.

My writing struggles  

I struggle with grammar when spelling words, misplacing apostrophes, overusing adverbs like ‘also’ and ‘very’ and misplacing modifiers (e.g. adjectives and adverbs) that make sentences sound different than I intend. This would make it difficult to construct a concise CV or job application. These writing challenges impacted my confidence, and I would submit assignments at a later date, even after completing them. I used to repeatedly perfect my work and never be satisfied with the final edit.

Discovering software through DSA 

I have accessed several software programs through DSA to help with my writing, grammar, structure, vocabulary, and more. The two that I use regularly are Grammarly and Read & Write.

Grammarly comes with app features that include:

  • Rewriting complete sentences to make them sound better
  • Use of writing tone, i.e. formal, informal, persuasive, friendly, etc
  • Identifies and corrects mistakes such as spelling errors, missing apostrophes, repeated wording
  • Extensions for Internet and writing platforms, such as Microsoft Office Word
  • Identifying plagiarism

 Read & write includes several features on the app. The ones I use mostly are: 

  • Screen masking for background colour and using a highlight ruler
  • Web search
  • Dictionary

How it helps  

Grammarly has aided me in improving my writing a lot. I use the app on my PC, phone and iPad devices. This helps me spot errors in grammar, punctuation, sentence phrases and structuring from anywhere, allowing me to use the correct writing tone for different projects, for instance, using an informal and friendly tone for a blog or a formal tone and action verbs in job applications.

Read & Write is very useful for me when using screen masking that enables me to quickly read black writing on a colour background, where I struggle to read black on white for long periods. This makes viewing PDF files, online articles, textbooks, and job profiles much easier for me.  

The results  

In previous years, I would get grades between third and 2:1 in written assignments. Now I get grades that range between 2:2 and first. I have been more successful in job applications, using my persuasive writing tone, correct grammar, and structure for cover letters and updating my CV.

The more I write, the more results I get, as practise is critical. It helps that I enjoy writing, too.  I am very thankful for the support I can access, so it is important to request support when you need it and never feel the need to continue to struggle. 

Find out more about the Disabled Students’ Allowance.

Please note, the amount of DSA you receive will depend on your funding body and on your DSA needs assessment.

If you need support with your job applications, CVs or cover letters, get in touch with the Careers team.

Posted in DisabilityEquality and inclusivityStudent Bloggers