help for dyslexic uni students

[SkyBluePearl]

Probabaly not the place to post but thought i would as know theres a lot of traffic in this forum.

My eldest sister is doing a degree and happens to be very dyslexic. We were both assessed as dyslexic in our 30's but she has a more serious case. I'm not sure exactly what help she has received from the uni but assume it involves getting more time for essays/exams/a lap top/a scribe.

My parents informed me tonight that they have been taking the rough raw essays written by my siser and changing the sentence/paragraph structures so they make sence. They say the content is already there and they are allowed to do this. I'm not so sure to be honest but would find it hard to say something if it's not allowed - it's quite a huge step that she has gone to uni.

What is normal in terms of help for dyslexic students?

Any thoughts?

RevoltingPeasant we absolutely encourage reading and commenting, and I didn't mean to imply otherwise -- I got the impression that this was a bit more than that, though hard to say without more info.

Right i've just emailed my Dad with bits and bobs that people have said. Awaiting a response but expect he will justify the level of help.

They are not just reading and commenting. Parents say they are changing the essays to make them more readable but that the actual content is already there.

Through out our lives she has always needed lots of extra help in some shape or form - thats always just the way it's been and my parents have always been willing to help out.

Reading and commenting is fine. Perhaps changing one or two sentences for grammar to show as an example to her also fine. Rewriting the whole thing or changing meaning or content = not fine!

sky, I am dyslexic myself - was a student, have just started teaching.

If the level of help is what you describe, whether or not it's a level the university would accept, it's not for your parents to be doing it. Did they study the same subject? At the same university, recently? If not, they will get some things wrong. It's much better for someone provided by the university to do this stuff.

She needs to get herself assessed for DSA.

The Disability Advisor at her Uni will be able to direct her - and there's usually a specific Dyslexia Advisor at most Unis.

Then she can get herself proper support for her degree and also develop some coping strategies for life in the workplace.

Can she not just hand her draft and the completed essay in ?

What qualifications/professions do your parents have ?

Through out our lives she has always needed lots of extra help

Could you elaborate ...
ie what would have occurred otherwise?

There are lots of computer and ict support to help
There is packages to correct spelling and grammar which are far more accessible for people with dyslexia than normal spell checks
There are predictatext [ not sure of the spelling] packages
There is Dragon 11 which converts the spoken word to text but your sis may need training to use it
There are pads that you can write on with a pen that can be downloaded on to a word document

Have a look at
www.abilitynet.org.uk/athome_factsheets

They will even come out and do an assessment

There are lots of adjustments that you can do for free on your pc or mac

My friend was severely dyslexic
Received a first and now is a gifted occupational therapist working with stroke patients after feeling a failure for most of her school life

What happens if she gets an exam marked and they notice that the style/spelling/grammar etc are very different?

troisgarcons fyi many unis are now using Turnitin which checks to make sure that students are not plaigarising from the internet or other institutions.

Thanks for all the websites and links girls.

Cumfy - both the eldest sister (who happens to be dyslexic) and baby sister (mensa girl with a first in maths) have always had most of the parental attention due to birth order more than anything - i am just a typical middle child (also with dyslexia) and have managed to find my own way through things.

sky, you sound like such a caring daughter/sister - I wonder if (esp. given your last post), you're worrying too much? I am a dyslexic middle child too, and my big brother is the disgustingly bright one while my little brother is very dyslexic and got all the help. It's not fun!

I would really suggest you warn your sister/parents about the possibility that their 'help' is harmful. Your parents may think they are 'only' making her essays make sense, but there are so many subject-specific conventions I would be very surprised if it weren't obvious someone had intervened. She could get a far lower mark than if no-one had 'helped' her.