Learning Difficulties - eg dyslexia/dyspraxia, what help were you offered/asked for?

pinkie_pie

I'm having an appointment with an educational psychologist next week for what my tutor suspects is dyspraxia. I've been told that if they confrm this, I will need to have an idea of what they can do to support my learning. What have other people asked for or been offered?

Oldernotwiser

Surely it's more appropriate for you to decide what would help you rather than choose from a "menu" of options?

Driving_Soon

snowedunderitall wrote: »

I'm having an appointment with an educational psychologist next week for what my tutor suspects is dyspraxia. I've been told that if they confrm this, I will need to have an idea of what they can do to support my learning. What have other people asked for or been offered?

Hey

I had a appointment with the educational psychologist, and they comfirmed I was dysexic and dyspraxic! Since then my college has been wonderful! I get to see a support worker in my college 3 hours a week, just to go over work or essays and the teachers now always print off the notes for me instead of me trying to struggle to write it all down!

But the thing is, I had to say what I needed, and I felt the things above would help me! So really you need to think about what you struggle with, and tell them ... as with me .. I really struggle writing down the notes and listening at the same time ... but you may find that Ok! so it depends on the person really.

pinkie_pie

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Surely it's more appropriate for you to decide what would help you rather than choose from a "menu" of options?

It's not that I want a 'menu' of options. I don't know what they can offer, and to have an idea will be really helpful

pinkie_pie

Driving_Soon wrote: »

Hey

I had a appointment with the educational psychologist, and they comfirmed I was dysexic and dyspraxic! Since then my college has been wonderful! I get to see a support worker in my college 3 hours a week, just to go over work or essays and the teachers now always print off the notes for me instead of me trying to struggle to write it all down!

But the thing is, I had to say what I needed, and I felt the things above would help me! So really you need to think about what you struggle with, and tell them ... as with me .. I really struggle writing down the notes and listening at the same time ... but you may find that Ok! so it depends on the person really.

Thanks, that's actally something I haven't thought of

mummytofour

Dont worry once you know for sure that your dyslexic, you will be sent for a needs assessment where you will talk to the adviser who will put forward recommendation's for you.

GlasweJen

My needs assessment was great, they worked out that i need my own space during exams, i get my lecture notes printed on coloured paper and i get my exam papers in large print.

whitfreak

The disabled student allowance which pays for support, equipments etc is quite generous. You just need to get a needs assessment statement stating you need it to get access to it.

So before you go think about what things you think hold you back. As you say your tutor suspects it, it might be worth having a chat with them before your needs assessment as they may have noticed difficuilts your having which you haven't becauses you think they are "normal". A good needs accessor will talk through all the options and all the places they can offer assistance, but it always helps to have to go in with an idea of what you want helping with.

GlasweJen

sorry i thought the OP meant learning support.

On DSA I get:

Equipment: computer, data pen, printer/scanner, read&write gold, memory mapping program, dragon naturally speaking and some small things like speakers and a mic.

Consumables: printer ink and paper (£150 per academic year)

Non-medical help: a supervisor for lab sessions

surfsister

what's the appointment with the ed psychologist like mate has one next weeka nd no idea what to expect. Do you have to read out loud write down add up or what? Ta

Also under the dsa you can have a scribe write for you in lectures every lecture and in exams if needed as some lecturers can be slow to hand out notes after lectures.

Also a different room for the exams and 25% extra time and breaks in the exam if the condition requires it. Also if the exams are not under the student number and no name system dyslexics etc can be given extra leniency when the exams are marked.

whitfreak

Could be anything. For my dyslexia one, I had reading speed/age (so reading outloud), handwriting to assess speed/spelling/grammer/etc (I think that was write something of your choice for 5 min), recall fowards and backwards (read a number sequence, repeat it back), some block thing where you had to create the picture shown, like a jigsaw but not. I'm sure there are other tests/tasks. They basically will try and assess different aspects of assorted conditions to come to a conclusion.

Then presuming there is something "wrong", you then have a needs assessment to assess what help/equipment/concessions are suitable to help you. Your educational psychologists report will probably have recomendations. The needs assessments is just chat to agree want you need. Although I suppose its possible equipment specific tests/trails might be required. And if the needs assessment isnt internal to your uni you'll probably need a meeting with them to get stuff sorted in practice.

Surfsister, you can get pretty much anything under the DSA as long as the needs assessment says its required and it doesnt cost more than the limits. Scribes are pretty rare, although recording devices are relatively common for the note taking issue. Breaks, extra time, reading time (i.e. read the exam paper but not start) are all condition specific and getting one doesnt mean you'll get others. Other fun things alway from exams include photocopying, internet connection, book allowances, proof reading, extended library loans, insurance on the equipment. As I said it all depends on your (the students) need and the needs assessment. I'd try and get more written in than you think you need, as its a non-trivial exercise to get it added later.