It is now official I am dyslexic!

mummytofour

At the age of 30, I finally have the results from my assessment and I am dyslexic.

I have now filled in the DSA form via the Uni and from what I understand I will be contacted soon with regards to a needs assessment.

I was just wondering what type of things I would be offered to support me?

Many thanks

ScottyBoy_2

Hi,

I was found to have dyslexia at university, when I got the DSA I got a free PC with software (MS Office, Voice recon software etc), a voice recorder for lectures. a printer, 25% extra time in my exams. I could also claim costs for photocoping/printing the lecture notes I needed and some costs towards text books etc, but I guess what you get varies from Uni to Uni.

These were excellent and I went on to get a good degree and I really enjoy my current job!!

BTW: I am using the PC I got for free via DSA

Best Wishes

bestpud

At my uni you can get a pc and printer with voice recognition software and extra time in exams, plus they take it into account when marking - this used to involve the student placing a sticker on their work but they've changed it for something a little more subtle now.

If it is severe enough, you can also sit exams in a different place where you can get help with them - I'm not altogether sure what they do as I'm only going on what people have told me but I know one girl was able to use speech recognition software to speak her exam answers.

Another person on my course has used a laptop during an exam - she typed hers.

They also provide copies of lecture notes/slides and these will be in the colour(s) and size you find easiest to work with. They must inform lecturers before the semester starts as they always hand them out automatically at the start of each week.

I think there's lots they can do once they have worked out what will work best for your individual needs.

Oh, and they have access to an advisor too, for so long a week (I think it's an hour) and they will help with specific problems they may have.

One, or a combination, of the above seems to help the people I know with dyslexia.

Good luck with it - I hope it makes a difference for you too.

sweetstudent

I was diagnosed in my third year, I got a high spec pc, printer, scanner, MS Office, Read & Write Gold, Inspiration, A Voice Recorder, 25% extra time in exams, i also got £200 worth of consumables for printer ink, paper and core textbooks.

I also got 3 hours a week help with my work, to check for any mistakes.

Then again it does depend on what your assessment has recommended and what your LEA will pay out.

because i was in my final year i was lucky enough to be given the option to purchase for an extra £100 as opposed to the lea renting it!!!

MrsManda

Your university plays no role in the process other than if your assessment suggests you should get extra time,longer library loans etc...
What you get depends on what your assessor decides you need after a discussion with you - if there's anything particular you can already think of which would be useful make sure you mention it in your assessment.

Once your LEA has confirmed you are eligible for DSA and it is willing to pay for a needs assessment it is rare that they'll reject any of the recommendations made by the assessor as they'd have to provide proof you don't need it which is kind of hard when the needs assessor has said you do

I got my DSA report from my Needs Assessment this morning So my LEA ought to have it on their desks Monday. Hoping they confirm it quickly - they took months to confirm my student grants and to say I could be formally assessed for DSA.

Here's a list of some of the equipment available that may be recommended CLICK but a lot of it is also support - you, with your assessor may decide that you need a note taker - some one to take notes for you in your lectures, or proof-read for you etc...

whitfreak

I do not believe you can get core textbooks from your DSA. Specialist dictionaries yes, adapted textbooks (brail not that that is relavent here) yes, a book you would have had to have bought anyway for the course. Unless the rules have changed or the person you deal with is particularly kind.

While the maxium budgets are quite large like £5k for equipment for the entire course, a combination of the needs assessment and the approved surplier/equipment list will bring your total spend down. So you can't go and spend £5k on a mega fast PC, although some LEA's will allow you to upgrade at your cost. (i.e. the suggested PC costs £1000, the one you want costs £1200, you pay the extra £200).

Before you go to your needs assessment, think about what type of help you want, and what you think will be useful. Think about where you think your dyslexia is holding you back, as they will have ideas of what can help you. In theory it is supposed to be a personalised package of help, but don't reject suggestions you dont think you'll need, as you dont have to use all of them. (E.g. I never used the proofreading, extra long library loans, in the end). And if its not in your needs accessment its harder to get them for pay for it later.

Unfortunately the needs accessment isnt the end of it. Once you've got the report, make sure the bits that are important to you get actioned. Its normally easy to do, its just that internal systems dont always work the way or as fast as they should.

Oh and if you need to record lectures, make sure you ask/tell the lecturer in advance and dont let the needs accessment guys get you a minidisk recorder, get something designed for purpose...

QuirkyChemistry

I get a £100 per year allowance for textbooks. I buy them then a lecturer signs the receipt to say that it's a required textbook. The theory behind it is it's easier for me to concentrate and work if I have my own textbooks rather than going to the library.

I also got laptop and software, printer, scanner, dictaphone and allowance for help/training. I get annual budgets for batteries (for my dictaphone), printing and photocopying, ink cartridges, printing paper and an internet allowance (pay for an internet connection to my house and I can reclaim the cost up to £20 per month).

It does vary on the assessor though as different people with different assessors get different things i.e. my boyfriend doesn't get a book or internet allowance.

Just be clear what you want when you go in there if there is something specific you need. The whole process is fairly straightforward.

veggie4life

Hi could I just ask how you verified you had dyslexia? I'm in my last year of college and am pretty sure I am dyslexic but have no waying of proving it that I know of.

QuirkyChemistry

You have to be officially assessed. There will be someone at your college that deals with dyslexia and other learning disabilities (maybe look on their website or ask a member of staff). Go and talk to them and they can arrange an assessment.

littleemmie

Depending on the nature/severity of your dyslexia you might be able to get a note-taker for your lectures

whitfreak

QuirkyChemistry, I suppose that just proves how flexible the system/assessors are... And as such, it makes it even more important to have an idea of what help you actually need.

Veggie4life. You first need testing by an educational psychologist (or alike), and if you are dyslexic they'll write a report which you then use to get a needs assessment etc etc. You need to talk you disabled students office, or learning disablities person and if they can't test you in house they should be able to point you in the correct direction. Just be warned that the intial assessment isnt cheap and to my knowledge its not easy to get funding for it. (Hopefully they've changed that though)