Studying with dyslexia

Hi,

Thats a difficult situ. I found Mary Sparkes (student support advisor) to be helpful when i had a problem with dyslexia.

Thank you magic

Hi,
I to suffer from Dyslexia and Dyscalculia(Number blindness.)Another suggestion would be to contact the place where you had the assessment and ask them for a copy, there might be a small charge for this but it would be better than paying £500.00 for a total Re assessment.

I did Ash, but I had my original test at uni in 1996. When I contacted them they said they kept them on record for 10 years or so and then destroyed them. I think I was a year or two two late.

I've never understood why you get anything extra for having dyslexia (or any other disability for that matter), surely everyone should be treated equally when it comes to getting a qualification. I'm open to hear anything that might convince me otherwise (i've come up with a few ideas why I may be wrong while writing this comment but I want to hear others' views).

Interesting point jon.bombadil. Especially as conditions such as dyslexia and autism are considered to be syndromes more than actual diseases, ie. there are differing levels of disability. I agree that some people may need more help than others, but do universities assess an individual's level of ability, or do they take a diagnosis of dyslexia and automatically give extra time or an amanuensis in an exam? Interesting.

We have always believed that my husband had something like Dyslexia, on returning to education last year my husband was assessed and diagnosed with one of the forms of Dyslexia. Having learning support made a world of difference to him, not just helping him to understand his subject's rules (he was studying English) but finding ways that he could apply the rules necessary, in a way that he would remember. Part of his learning difficulties suggests that he is no good at remembering things like numbers, unless converted to a rhyme for example. My husband worked extremely hard to gain his qualification, won a Student of the Year award and gained an A in in final exam.

Because of his success I encouraged him to continue and further his studies, at the same college. This year he has been denied learning support in anything that needs a good written understanding of what ever subject he is studying on the grounds that he gained an "A" in English last year. That's like saying to a visually impaired person, we won't help and support you now you have a guide dog. Mad or what?

Dyslexia, if I understand it correctly, is when someone has reading/spelling difficulties disproportionate to their IQ measured by symbolic testing. I'm sure Nimmy will correct me on this, but I think I've got the gist of it.

If you can demonstrate you're dyslexic, you can get extra time in exams. Therefore, if you're particularly good at reading/spelling, should you get less time?

If the main point of an exam is to test an individual's aptitude in a particular subject, surely we shouldn't be trying to give everyone an advantage (or a handicap) such that their final scores will be identical? I for one would not appreciate being dispensed the wrong drug (penicillamine instead of penicillin?) by a dyslexic pharmacist who has only got through the final exams due to the extra time granted for being dyslexic.

I got 15 mins more in exams.

My dyslexia is spelling and so on.

But also, confusion between left and right. Very clumsy, poor perspective. Not good a judging distances. Have difficulty in communication verbally, cannot get out of my mouth what's in my mind and when it does get there can be muddled, words in wrong order and all that. Poor concentration span, bored easily and so on.

**surely everyone should be treated equally when it comes to getting a qualification.**

Because the person is at a disadvantage at the start of the exam. what's difficult about that to understand?

I am left handed. Very left handed, in that it appears that I am almost totally "right-brained". I once had to sit an exam (for my nursing) on those seats with a foldaway table attached. This was attached to the right hand side of the chair. There were no left hand ones. There was no special dispensation given to me, nor the other left-handers in the lecture theatre. It was awkward for me to write during that exam, and the questions were lengthy, essay-based questions. If we start giving special dispensation to one group of people, then where could it end?

You equating being left handed with a learning difficulty? You a nurse as well? Seen it all.

Do you ask about about getting a better desk before the exam started?

Dyslexia and Autism are recognised legal disabilities. Being left handed is not. Life is tough so best just get over it

**surely everyone should be treated equally when it comes to getting a qualification.**

>>Because the person is at a disadvantage at the start of the exam. what's difficult about that to understand?

Here's an absurd example which may clarify it for you Nimmy.

I'd quite like a gold medal in the 100m at the Olympics. Unfortunately I can't run as fast as I think. I can easily visualise myself getting over the line in 9.5 seconds, but because I have dysvelociambulation (a medical term I just made up which means I can't run very fast) I can only actually run 100m in 15 seconds. Because of this I think I should get 5.5 seconds start over Usain Bolt so that I'm not automatically at a disadvantage at the start of the race.

Would this be fair? Of course not. The point is that if a significant component of an exam is to test one's ability to read and write then just because a person has less ability in those areas shouldn't mean they get extra time.

Karen's example about being left-handed is not comparable. That one is more akin to being in a wheelchair and being unable to sit the exam because there's no ramp into the exam hall - probably illegal under equality legislation, as long as you agree that being left handed is a disability :)

You are not worth debating with Nimmy, as you are always so aggressive and offensive and your debates centre around belittling others. The moderators must be on holiday.

For the interests of others though, my situation was unforeseen before actually being seated as we were not familiar with the lecture theatre before sitting the exam. I am also accustomed to having to cope with being left handed.

This could also apply to a diagnosis of ADHD/ADD, autism and Asperger's syndrome. I am not opposed to people who have difficulties being given all the help they need to achieve. However, maybe an individual assessment is in order from the universities concerned.

Wrighty: I was just trying to provide an example of where this could go. I wasn't comparing being left-handed with dyslexia, despite what Nimmy thought. Saying that, the university should have known that there was a chance that left-handed people would be taking the exam so should have thought about that when choosing the venue!

There is still much debate about dyslexia, ADD/ADHD and autism. I am fully aware that people suffer with these disorders, but diagnosis is still so subjective. I just think that there ought to be individual assessments, or people such as myself feel like they are being put at a disadvantage.

Wrighty, dude, special Olympics.

Given that 1 in 10 of the population or thereabouts are lefties, I'd agree with Karen that they should be catered for in exam situations. Saying that, having done my first OU exam yesterday, I'd have been pretty upset if I'd been expected to do it on one of those foldy-half table seats, even as a righty.

Dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, autism - all real, and all part of a spectrum rather than being a black or white diagnosis - are overused terms and kids often get labeled unfairly or inappropriately. Some 'dyslexic' kids are just poor readers, some 'dyspraxic' kids are just clumsy, some kids with 'ADHD' are just over-tired because they're allowed to stay up until 2am on the playstation. Whatever the diagnosis though I don't think there should be extra time allowed in exams. Special teaching, one-to-one attention, extra classes and all that is fine, but final assessments should be a level playing field.

>>Wrighty, dude, special Olympics.

I don't agree with them either, but that's another debate.

**You are not worth debating with Nimmy, as you are always so aggressive and offensive and your debates centre around belittling others.**

I find this attack really quite staggering.

Please, tell me, where I have been aggressive to you (or come to think of it anyone on here), or offensive? what? because I don't like (ironically) condescending post made by people who think they are entirely right? And I don't like those people using science incorrectly?

Or do you mean defending myself from being basically called a liar over and again for weeks about, a, my dyslexia and b, the insinuation I'm a creationist and religious apologist.

What if I was to call you a lair on a public forum constantly?

As far as I'm aware I asked you one question which you found personal and offensive (despite your post being on a public forum). When I saw this, I apologised and did not press the matter any further. Indeed, I was under the impression that I was going out of my way to be nice to you and explain I meant no offence.

Now I can go through and post here every single post I have made to you - none aggressive. I'd like you to post the post where I have been aggressive to you to warrant such an out burst.

I suspect the moderators are here and know I have done nothing against any rules and have received much more in the form of personal slights that I have given out.

If you have read what I actually have written, I have merely countered the claim to atheist on here that it was also easy and simple (as if they where talking to retards), when quite frankly it isn't.

I thought when you wrote 'atticus hun' the other day you was 'side taking'.

Now please go back and read every comment and reply made to you by me. You will see none are what you claim.

Incidentally, I also find it a little odd I cannot debate on a thread I started discussing dyslexia.

You could have explained your exam situation without the unwarranted and unjustified attack on me.

**I wasn't comparing being left-handed with dyslexia, despite what Nimmy thought**

I think it was what everybody thought.

**You a nurse as well? Seen it all**

Nimmy, you call into question my ability to be a nurse just because I happen to have an alternative opinion to your own. That is not debating a subject, that is offensive and mean and has actually hurt me. I take a pride in my work, I do my best for my patients and work numerous hours of unpaid overtime because we are so short staffed and I want to give the best care I can.

Have you been called a liar? Having someone disagree with you is not necessarily being called a liar. It's just someone else's opinion. Regarding your dyslexia; any argument you have encountered is not to do with your personal diagnosis, it is more likely to do with what dyslexia actually is. I personally have no issues with your diagnosis. I work with people who are dyslexic, I have friends who are dyslexic. I know that people have differing abilities regarding reading and writing and am all in favour of people being given equal opportunities regarding examinations, jobs etc.

**If we start giving special dispensation to one group of people, then where could it end?**

That was my closing statement in a previous post here. If you, and indeed others chose not to read being left-handed as an example of what could occur in education then fair enough. Maybe I did not use the best example, for which I apologise. My aim was that we all face some difficulties in life. How would you know if I was clinically depressed or not? That too is a disability, but I may choose not to disclose it here.

Regarding the term "hun", it is a term I use frequently, both in person and online. I use it to lighten a situation, and did not mean it to appear to take sides. I am sorry if it appeared to you that I was taking sides; that was not my intention. I have followed that debate with interest, and have tried not to butt in as I am not as clude up as the rest of you.

I'll follow whatever you want to post on here, but may not reply as I do not think we wil agree anytime soon. I wish there was a private message facility on here as I would love to talk with you more Nimmy; but have a feeling it would detract from the subject. Best of luck with your future studies.

**clude**
Hmmm... like to think I meant "clued" and it was just a typo! Still... nights this weekend and trying to adjust... sorry!

**Nimmy, you call into question my ability to be a nurse **

No I didn't dear, reread it. Everybody thought your comment about left handedness was being compare to dyslexia. You are in a nursing profession, so if anybody on here should know the differe4nce it is you. I was taken aback, clearly I misunderstood your comment, I wasn't alone. I apologise if this hurt you.

You could be the best nurse in the world for all I know, but apparently comparing left-handedness with dyslexia seemed out of place for a nurse.

This is not the first time you have misunderstood what I have said.

Somebody calling into question my dyslexia when I say I am, and saying I'm a creationist religious apologist when I say I'm not, is pretty much calling me a liar. Not once, but over several weeks.

**I wish there was a private message facility on here as I would love to talk with you more Nimmy**

I would like this. If nothing else you would see I'm not the ogre people on here seem to think I am.

I tried making one of those yahoo id addy things, different to my main one. failed, you could have email or left messages on that. Oh well, me and technology

I have numerous email addresses and a Facebook account. Not sure we're allowed to impart that info on here though; might get told off!

Do it now quick, if you don't mind the information being public - I'll not tell.

Heehee! As long as you promise not to tell! One of the disadvantages on here is that you can't delete or edit what you've written. Some might say that's an advantage though...

I'm on Twitter, same id as here. Can let you know more there. Don't often contribute much here, unless I get a bee in my bonnet about something, but I do like to read stuff so don't want to get barred. Look me up!

I shall do just that. Twitter, be first time I've looked at that.

i've been a grumbling about the delete thing a while ago.

Right, I think I'm a twit.