Dyslexia at uni

[fridayfreedom]

DD has just been tested at uni. They test all students as it is a creative arts uni and they reckon a high percentage of their students have problems in this area.
Had her tested before 16 and she came back on the border but we kept saying there was an issue as her spelling is poor and she reads very slowly. Also has visual stress which we knew about as we got her tested. But she wouldn't wear her glasses and we couldn't afford the therapy both in cost and time.
Uni say they will provide her with support.
Am particularly concerned re her written work which forms a small part of the course at this stage. No exams thank god, but loads of course work which takes her hours.
The last essay took her hours , I proof read it and helped with altering a few phrases, spelling but no content. But I obviously can't do this for all her work and it has to be her work.
Any experiences of the help they are likely to give her? Positive please, am feeling wibbly!

Ds gets extra time in all uni exams, and is able to use a laptop in exams - which was also provided through some scheme organised by the uni. He was also provided with a microphone and speech recognition software, which he doesn't use.

The uni were very keen to ensure that he had everything he thought he needed to help him, and wasn't disadvantaged in any way. He is in his final year now, and actually, his written work has improved tremendously, and he has got a lot faster.

Thanks, that all sounds really helpful.
I was worried when she went to uni that they would think that she wasn't up to it interlectually due to her spelling and sentence construction so it is actually reassuring that she has this explanation.
Have just been reading the uni website and it all sounds very reassuring with articles from previous dyslexic students

My step daughter in uni at England got a grant towards computer stuff. My son at uni in Scotland got a grant that had to be spent on specific things and he got a printer (they specified the brand) and Dragon speech recognition software. My stepdaughter got completely reassessed where as with my son they just went with his Dyslexia Action assessment from primary school.
God knows why we've got all these dyslexic kids as none of the parents (4 of us) are dyslexic.
They both put on their UCAS forms that they had dyslexia in the special needs bit and both got special arrangements in school exams.
My son hasn't had any special arrangements for exams at uni but is doing engineering so hasn't needed it so far, he just uses Dragon for essays.

Dd was assessed at 17 and qualified for DSA so got £3000 of computer equipment, specialist software and training to use it. She gets extra time in exams and met with someone at student support to discuss her needs.

Uni have said they will help fill in the forms to claim for equip and extra printing.
What is Dragon speech recognition?

www.nuance.co.uk/dragon/index.htm
I'm not sure which version of it he's got.

Thank you

The last essay took her hours , I proof read it and helped with altering a few phrases, spelling but no content. But I obviously can't do this for all her work and it has to be her work.

There's no reason you shouldn't proof-read for her. It is normal to advise students to ask each other/friends/parents to proof-read essays. It doesn't make it not her work.

Obviously that doesn't help for exams, but I just wanted to reassure you that there's nothing wrong with proof reading for someone.

Thanks. I don't want to interfere with her course unless she asks me but she is also miles away so we would need to do it by email.

"Fridayfreedom" you mention that your DC's university will help them fill in forms to reclaim for equipment etc. That is not how it currently works (although it is about to change). Once a student has been tested they then apply for Disabled Student Allowance. The SFE either say yes or no. Then the student has to go to be assessed. The assessment is to see what equipment or human help might be advantageous and after all this the student then recieves the help.
It all works well in the end. My DS has a laptop, a dictation machine, print allowance, extra time etc. He also has a sticker to put on the cover sheet of any coursework he submits which says dyslexic student. He was told this means that he can't have marks taken off for dyslexic mistakes unless they affect his argument.

Thanks for the info. My comment was just a quick comment, I realise that there is much more to it.
I like the idea of the sticker. She definitely knows her stuff but needs more support with her written work.
Am feeling more hopeful.

My older daughter who is very bright (Haberdashers, Bristol U, City lawyer) is slightly dyslexic although she manages it very well. She had extra time at university at law college for exams and really did need it. The universities can be very helpful. My older son typed his exams including at university - again they were helpful too. We did not need or ask for money for it as they each already had a lap top etc.

DD3 is Dyspraxia and in 2nd year of uni. She applied for Disabled Students allowance. She has been provided with a laptop and printer. digital recorder for recording lectures and has a support worker for an hour a week to help her organise her work. She also has use of a computer and extra time in exams.

It probably depends which UK country you are in. People in England tend to assume all of the UK do things the English way

We are in England.

My son was diagnosed dyslexic at 7yrs old and has been tested regularly. He got extra time for exams, not really necessary he needed someone to make sure he read the question probaly . Did 1st degree at Southampton. Up to this point we had paid extra for everything. University special needs tested him to their satisfaction and then laptop and specialist computer software was provided FREE with lots of advice and support. Local education authority gave him an annual book and photostating allowance
. A lady on my son's course was blind and her support worker approached my son to ask whether he would find the typed lectures she did for the blind lady would be helpful for him. He then has gone on to do post graduate medicine in Swansea and has had the same fantastic support and new laptop when his previous one broke. You have to sort and pay for the school years but he has had superb help in english and welsh universities. As a postscript his primary school told us he was of average to low ability - l cannot praise enough the educational help he received at The Dyslexia Institute in Bath and Kingswood school.