Does anyone else receive dyslexic support?

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welf_man wrote: »

Have you asked whether you could be given an alternative method of assessment? The University has a duty to make "reasonable adjustments" for you, so if there's some other way the dept. could test your knowledge, that might be a way forward.

Are you able to express yourself verbally? If so, then you could record your essay, or have an amanuensis to put your thoughts on paper.

If you're really struggling, you might need a further Needs Assessment too.

Good luck,

Mel.

I doubt it ... I'm supposed to be a 3rd year now... Ive never had this much hassle in completing an essay ... Its a mixture of a rubbish essay title, lack of time and bleeding dyslexia.

Its not a physical problem, believe me I in no way come over as even remotely disabled. I write very clearly, use good words when I can, have no problem avoiding "I" but getting an arguement together on intelligence theory has never been as agonising as what I have had this past few days ... I also dont suffer with a lack of arguement words as I have loads of sheets on these words, on working out what an essay calls for etc ... I read the journals and think Oh, well I know what I think ... but how do I get an arguement together to answer the blasted question!!

Jen

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GlasweJen wrote: »

I didn't get on with my first advisor so i asked for her to be changed for someone else. Eventually i had to point out that the DSA money was actually mine to spend so i got a cheque for the remaining balance and hired myself a teacher from the local SEN school who taught english and managed to get some essential essay skills across as well as exam technique.

Eventually it got too much and now I don't get any lessons money as such, instead i got a proof reader so i write down the essay and she goes through and polishes my english. I found this works much better as i can email her my stuff and then we meet and have a chat on where i'm going wrong. Could you ask for this sort of arrangement instead?

I've done this previously and its difficult for them to refuse as they are entrusted with your DSA money but I am worried for now I guess, plus of looking an idiot as yet again i'm complaining ...

I think the problem is that maybe she doesnt understand either how essays are constructed or my question, hence looking for yet more matieral ... I used to do this when I was first starting out too as you sort of believe that eventually you will find something useful ...

I used to have a lovely lady called Fiona who went off to be a lecturer and there was another called Adele who went to do a law Phd ... the succesful ones get bored and leave all the part-retired, rather posh older ladies ...

Jen

bitsandpieces

Have you been able to speak to the lecturer? If the question is problematic, s/he may be happy to help explain it...

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yes she was less than helpful ...

Jen

GlasweJen

Oh dear, sounds like this wont be easy.

I think your best bet is to stuff what they think, i mean who cares if they think you're thick? At the end of the day it's your degree on the line here so you get all the help you can do. Get onto the uni and tell them that you need proper support and you don't need to be talked down to by some old bat who doesn't appear to have the correct skills to support herself never mind you. Ask for them to recommend an external agency if they can't provide you with a good supporter and meanwhile ask them to extend your essay deadline until you've got someone who can make sure that you're being supported at the correct level.

bestpud

I'm going against the grain here now, but have you considered the problem may lie with you?

I understand you have a lot going on but sometimes it seems the whole world is against you. I kind of wonder if your depresion/anxiety clouds your perception of people sometimes?

Is it really like that - does everyone really give you such a hard time?

That isn't meant to be critical, but an observation based on all your posts. Maybe it's worth thinking about? If not, please ignore me and I will go away.

srichards

I get dyslexia support from my uni. I havent asked for much though, just hand outs on coloured paper.

The biggest struggle for me is verbal, trying to explain something to my group is like pulling teeth. Im almost banging my head against the desk. Luckily theres only 4 of us on the course and thety are all great, as is the lecture who knows I struggle in this way and she really helps me.

But its a masters Im doing so none of this undergrad hand holding stuff. Gotta man up on this course lol

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bestpud wrote: »

I'm going against the grain here now, but have you considered the problem may lie with you?

I understand you have a lot going on but sometimes it seems the whole world is against you. I kind of wonder if your depresion/anxiety clouds your perception of people sometimes?

Is it really like that - does everyone really give you such a hard time?

That isn't meant to be critical, but an observation based on all your posts. Maybe it's worth thinking about? If not, please ignore me and I will go away.

hi,

Believe me I have thought about it ... but I didnt have a problem with my last tutor, its not an area which is easy to define though as there's no clear guidelines beyond the general on how to write an essay... the thing is the better ones tend to leave.

I don't think everyone gives me a hard time but I know I get myself into what feels like a really difficult situation which other people seem to just shrug about and sort it....

I cant really blame depression/anxiety for the way I feel as ive been off the pills for awhile now, its seems to be more the after-effects which are the problem.

Jen

bestpud

Maybe it's time to stop dropping hints and say straight out what the problem is, and how she is not addressing it?

Are you able to explain how the ex-advisor helped you? Maybe you could take along some of the ideas and/or handouts and ask if she would help you with those techniques, as they worked previously? I realise a bit of diplomacy may be called for though!

I'm not very clued up on dyslexia, but is a different approach needed for every assignment or can you re-use a formula/technique once you have it? Is it worth you going over what you were shown by the other advisor yourself, or with a friend maybe?

I'm kind of worried for you as I can see you heading down the same road you've travelled before...

It's your degree at stake so try and tell them how it is. Sometimes people respond to the direct approach, and I guess it can't do any harm at this stage?

Did you get it handed in after?

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hi again,

I was thinking of asking her tommorrow if we could look at techniques to help me to get things onto paper - its so unfair when I can talk about a question I can see how good the stuff Im saying is (conpared to others) but then my essays come back and theyre not particualarly good especially since the amount of time its taken me to get it written. I was thinking maybe doing some short answer questions might help. Last week when I said this she was like mmm ... lets Google it!! I cant seem to get through to her that this is not a good source ... she seemed to want to avoid it, like she didnt know the answer (the one thing i've learnt about people of this age is that they can't ever admit theyre wrong). Its difficult to say exactly what it is, but getting starting plans/sentences on paper is a good start ...

I'm quite worried too that Im going to end up back where I started, hence why Ive decided that if this session doesnt go well then I will just ask for a change of advisor ... I put up with a appalling advisor at the beginning of my last third year and there is no way I could do that again ...

I got it handed at 4pm the following day, it was about 1000 words short of what I would have liked but the uni has set stupid guidelines (4 pages in Times New Roman) rather than a word count. I am very glad I didnt spend any more time on it as I hated the topic, hopefully it will pass - its about 1 mark towards my overall degree!

Jen