Dyslexia

sophlowe45

Hi

Sorry i'm not sure which would be the best board to put this on so i'm trying here...

I think i might possibly be dyslexic, but then again i might not...

I have problems with mixing up certain letters and not realising that i am doing so, like g and j and n and m, and its always the same letters and numbers that i seem to mix up, i looked at the checklist on the british dyslexia association's website and answered yes to over half the questions...

what should i do next?

thanks for any advice.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

If you are at Uni, you need to make an appointment with the Uni's disability support team. They will organize a test for you.

Nealmason1986

I recently thought i was dyslexic. I was really having trouble reading text books without getting to the end of the sentance and thinking what have i just read. I also have difficulty sing the word Where and were as well as There and their. I am not the fastest reader and cant spell certain words for !!!!.

I booked an appointment with my disability advisor and they told me i was dyslexic. There is acctually a charge for the test but it only cost me 50 pound becasue the uni pays for the rest.

Now i have a free Apple mac, Dictorphone, Microphone and loads of software. I get money back on printing and ink cartridges as well as a Pen drive. And i get them stickers for my work so i dont get marked on grammer.

Its worth it for your own piece of mind. Its just a wonder that teachers dont notice it.

hope this helps.

sophlowe45

thanks i'm going to look into the cost of getting a test - today i kept confusing divide with multiply, then only afterwards when it looks wrong does it click that i've done the wrong thing!!

Firehorse

I'm in my 40s, and my dyslexia wasn't picked up until a couple of years ago whilst studying at college. The college were super, had me tested, got me some help, extra time etc.

I recently progressed to Uni where I was reassessed (although I didn't pay for my test). Like Nealmason I was awarded loads of equipment, tuition time with a support worker, whatever I needed. The only downside, was that my equipment wasn't in place until the second term, which made it very difficult. Although I did have access to free lecture cassettes. So I would suggest, if you think there is a chance, approach your Student Support Services (they're always very helpful) and get tested asap, even before starting the course.

All the best

Bigguy201_2

hi there, I am 22yo just about to graduate from my business and management course, I been identified as dyslexic since I was started primary school. I would suggest like the others that you go along to the dyslexia advisor at you university and have a chat, they will be very helpful I can assure you and will give you some options to go on, theres a good possibility that you might not be dyslexic as dyslexia is a very complicated issue. But I just like to say if you do end up being identified with dyslexia please do not see it as a disability, because really its not, its merely a different way of processing information. You might find that you are more of a practical person than a theoretical person, and this is not a bad thing at all. I mean I have struggeled alot to get where i am today, but now I am about to get my degree (2:1 hopefully) and the future is rosy. I dont think I ever wanna change to be not dyslexic as its shaped the person I am today and I think I am better for that. If you do need anyone to talk to or need advice from someone whos been there I be happy to help. Here are some websites that you might find useful:

https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/
https://www.dyslexia-inst.org.uk/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/dyslexia1.shtml

Best of luck to you

Nealmason1986

I think thats a really good piece of advice. Being diagnosed as Dyslexic at 21 didnt really matter to me. I think you find ways to get around the problem and it helps you deal with them in different ways. I think because of not being the best speller and not being the best reader i have found ways to strenghten other areas so it doesnt effect me as much.

Your university should offer you loads of support and advice as well as just equipment. You can get IT tutoring and I have a nice lady who i meet with and she reads through my work and just genrally helps me.

studentphil

Making sure you are on the right course is important too. If you are on a course where reading is a huge requirement then it might be more difficult for you than a subject that is less text book based.

richt71

sophlowe45 wrote: »

Hi

Sorry i'm not sure which would be the best board to put this on so i'm trying here...

I think i might possibly be dyslexic, but then again i might not...

I have problems with mixing up certain letters and not realising that i am doing so, like g and j and n and m, and its always the same letters and numbers that i seem to mix up, i looked at the checklist on the british dyslexia association's website and answered yes to over half the questions...

what should i do next?

thanks for any advice.

You can get checked for it. I struggled at school for years until I was 14 when they realised I had dyslexica in both words and numbers. I'm sure they can support you if this is the case!

freebie_junkie

my dyslexia and dyspraxia werent picked up until i was 20 and my first uni paid for teh test through their access to learning fund. i was just told i was stupid at school and the adviser at college asked me if i liked to read, i said yes and she said well youre not dyslexic then! i have since had the DSA for 2 years i now have a computer, scanner/printer, digital recorder, palm pilot, money for books, printer paper, photocopies and cartridges plus a book of guidelines that is distributed to all of my tutors so they know how to treat me and how to mark my work and non-medical helpers shoudl i need them such as a proof-reader, exam question reader, exam scribe and study budy. i also have a free bus/metrolink/train pass coz dyspraxia makes driving nigh on impossible.

i wouldnt change your course necessarily as im doing creative writing and writing for stage screen and radio and as you might imagine that requires lots of reading and writing but with the correct support im getting high 60's and 70's and am on track for a 2:1 degree in 2 months time which isnt bad for a girl who couldnt read till she was 8!

i dont see it as a disability at all, i can write poetry and plays that other people could never dream up coz my brain works in a much more creative and original way. i might do my writing and maths in a way only i can understand but i still manage to do my course and run a business part time! i dont think that employers see it as a disability either as i got an unconditional offer to study a PGCE in adult literacy in september and i also used to be a retail manager. i am a member of a thetre group and do most of our writing and im also organising a litarary festival in my town in summer.

i totally agree with big guy's comment earlier, even if it meant i could drive i really dont think i would change to not having dyslexia or dyspraxia its a part of me and makes me the person and writer that i am. when i stand up at poetry readings and read out my poetry i never get any 'you cant spell' heckles thats for sure!

you should definately make an appointment with your dissability adviser to discuss having a test. best of luck.

studentphil

It is striking how much help dyslexics get compared to other disabled people at universities.

If you get your dyslexia comfirmed then you are talking about 6-12 weeks for the DSA process to get sorted.