Dyslexia /dyspraxia and university anybody any experience

[zippitippitoes]

ds is hoping to go to higher education in the autumn, theoretically he is being offered a plcae at the one he wants to go to and they have quite good provision there including amenuensis (sp)...he didn't get the required grade in gcse maths but they have asked his school to confirm that he has improved in maths while doing business studies avce. They have also asked for him to have a full psychologists assessment.

He has been identified with specific learning dificulties since seven but I now am confident that he is dyspraxic, do I mention this when he is tested or will it be autmatically covered (I think ten years ago it wasn't identified as such)

and is it realisitic for him to go on to higher education..I think the dyspraxic part is actually hardeerthan the dyslexic?

I am pretty sure my dh is dyspraxic (our ds has been diagnosed) - it didn't stop him! He is a successful solicitor now. His biggest problems are his handwriting (appalling) and his organisational skills (aagh!!). My ds is allowed extra time for exams. I would mention your concerns to the psychologist - as far as I know, there isn't a specific test for dyspraxia.

yes ds has had extra time for exams. his main problems are lack of ability to process info and reorganise ie no extended essays, he basically doesn't write at all but uses keyboard and is disorganised. He also gets frustrated and gives up easily if things go wrong. but he has improved a thousand fold at secodnary school. I wasn't very keen for him to go into highr education but i think he has found a suitable course and college, if any was to be.

He is quite volatile and quickly suffers from low self esteem, but also doesn't necessarily recognise where he is making mistakes.

I am just interested to know whether theses obstacles can be overcome ..the course he is hoping to do is an HND but if does well enoiugh then he can change to the degree which he wants to do I just thinkmhe is being rather ambitious

I can echo Pollyanna's post. My DD has dyspraxia and I'm completely convinced DH is too. He read "Caged in Chaos" and said so much of it was familiar to him. He has a first degree and a Masters. Also agree that you should mention it to the psycholgist. I'm sure that there are lots of adults who have achieved a high level of success professionally and personally who would have been diagnosed as having dyspraxia if they were children now.

zippitippitoes have a look at this web site there should be a centre near you. my son 15 has had learning difficulties since a very young age he has a reading age of 9 and a spelling age of 7. i found this centre they have started to change his life, since joining in dec we have noticed huge changes all round and the school has confirmed a vast change in his reading and writing. i highly recommend that you give this place a try when you read what they do and how easy it is to acheive you like me will realise the whole process totally makes sence and it will make you and your son understand why he has these problems. the whole process is non medical no drugs or anything like that it done completly by doing two simple exercises twice a day. the whole learning difficulty thing is all to do with the cerebellum (small thinking brain) an awlful lot of children and adults have a lazy/ not fully functional cerebellum and through the program they get the small thinking brain to function how it should and once it is working properly it will stay that way for good.and the on board doctor told us that most people with this problem are actually very bright but the brain doesn't allow them to acheive to there ability, apparently where most people would use there small brain , people like my son have to use there big brain which takes longer and is the reason why people like this, get or seem to be very tierd. website is www.ddat.co.uk read it with interest, let me know what you think. when i first read it i could see that i had to give it a try and i'm so glad we have even his confidence has leaped forward big time.

Hi Zippi

I can't give specific advice, but I'm a lecturer and have taught lots of people who are dyslexic (not sure about dyspraxic). My advice would be to get in touch with the disability services unit (or equivalent - they have different names in different places) and find out what's available. This won't just be extra time in exams and stuff, but they may be able to buy him a laptop to use, some sort of recording device so he doesn't have to take notes in lectures, etc. Good luck.

Dont give the ddat people too many contact details. We contacted them once but decided not to follow their path. We have been utterly badgered ever since by call, Emails, letters. I have been driven to become very rude with them

My sister is dyslexic and currently in her 2nd year of her law degree. She is also allowed extra time for exams and was given a laptop by the university to help her to write her essays.

I'm not keen on the ddat (which is actually based near us so a lot of info in this area)

Apparently he would be eligible for DSA which helps wtowards paltops

Encouraging to hear others have coped well. It is a very small place he is hoping to go to so i think the support will be quite good.

What is DSA?

disabled (disability) student allowance which is not means tested and applied for from the LEA along with the other finance like student loans