Teen with learning disabilities made to pay college costs

The mother of a young woman with a severe learning disability says her council is demanding £166 a month to support her daughter attending college.

Lorna Greenaway says her 19-year-old daughter has a mental age of five and has been attending Scotland's only dedicated college for school leavers with complex needs for two years.

East Ayrshire Council, which pays for Gemma's care and support in relation to college, has instructed debt collectors to claw back thousands of pounds in costs, dating back to when she turned 18.

The council said it followed a reassessment of what she was entitled to, but Gemma's mum believes her daughter should not have to pay to get an education.

The Corseford College campus, based at Inchinnan in Renfrewshire, takes students with complex needs up to the age of 25 from local authorities across the west of Scotland.

Gemma's education is paid for by the Scottish government but local authorities pay for care, support and transport.

Students from seven other local authority areas do not pay anything to their council to attend Corseford but East Ayrshire wants Gemma to pay back £5,500 to cover the past two years as well as next year.

It told the BBC the charges were based on a reassessment of Gemma's disability benefits.

Since last year, Gemma has been receiving invoices from her local authority in relation to her place at Corseford.

The charges relate to "support" she receives in college plus transport costs but the council has not provided any detailed breakdown.

It has also not explained why the charges date back to when Gemma turned 18 or why it has decided to charge when other councils do not.

Gemma has now received a final demand from a debt recovery agency - who say they will only speak directly to her.

But her mum says this isn't possible as Gemma's ability to communicate is around the level of a five year old.

She said "My understanding is that no student in Scotland pays for education.

"I think it's an injustice to these young individuals with disabilities that they have to pay for their education."

Students attending Corseford can take part in vocational courses and qualifications, improve literacy and numeracy abilities, and learn vital IT skills.

The site is run by the disability charity Capability Scotland.

Ms Greenaway said Gemma's favourite part of the day was meeting her friends and art class.

She said there had been a clear improvement in Gemma in the two years she had attended courses there.

Liz McConnachie, head of Corseford College, said finances can prove a stumbling block for their students.

She said: "Different local authorities have different approaches to it.

"Some councils are very accommodating, they look at the opportunities at Corseford College as being a positive transition and destination to continue education.

"Others see the college as being day care – which it's not."

In a statement, East Ayrshire Council said: "There is no charge attributed for the college attendance. The attendance is not viewed as day care."

The council said that if an individual requires transport to the college or additional support then this is assessed.

It said the costs could be taken from disability benefits, as long as they were above a certain threshold.

Ms Greenaway said she remained "stressed at the constant demands" to make payments, and she was concerned about setting a precedent.

She said: "I feel if I pay for Gemma, any other student that follows through from East Ayrshire to this college, they will have to pay as well."

She added that the whole situation is "definitely" forcing her to reconsider her daughter's future education.

"It is getting to the stage that for Gemma to continue there, it's probably going to have to come from our source of income," she said.