Many of the students we support are dyslexic or have another specific learning difficulty (SpLD) and the support we offer reflects the wide diversity of individual needs we encounter with our students.
Dyslexia definition
Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty mainly affecting reading and spelling. The British Dyslexia Association’s (BDA) definition explains dyslexia in a little more detail.
No two Dyslexic individuals will show the same strengths and weaknesses within their academic studies but, some of the common difficulties they may identify with are:
- Spelling
- Grammar and punctuation
- Remembering facts and figures (e.g. telephone numbers)
- Ordering information
- Slow reading and re-reading information for meaning
- Organisation and time management skills
- Forgetting what you want to say or finding it difficult to find the right words to say
At University these difficulties will have a big impact on your studies. You will certainly have a lot of reading and research to undertake, which you may find extremely time consuming and stressful.
I think I might be dyslexic but I’ve never been assessed
You don’t have to struggle on your own. If you can relate to some of the difficulties and effects mentioned above, you might wish to consider having a screening test. Screening tests are designed to give you an indication of possible dyslexic difficulties - they are not a diagnosis and are not 100% accurate. However, they help you to check whether the difficulties you are experiencing are dyslexic in nature, download our Screening Document (PDF, file size: 68KB) .
What happens if I have been diagnosed with a specific learning difficulty?
Visit our bookings page to to make an appointment with a Student Inclusion Advisor to discuss support and academic adjustments. This may include:
- Applying for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs), which help pay for additional support and assistive technology. The Government's website explains the DSA process.
- Providing you with Student Inclusion Recommendations (SIR) which highlights the recommendations made in your diagnostic assessment, for example, additional time in an exam.
Please view our Student Inclusion bookings page to arrange to see a Student Inclusion Advisor.