Every Monday, firstpoint publishes five points about a topic related to life at university. This week, we’re recognising Dyslexia Awareness week and focusing on support available at university…
POINT ONE: WHAT IS DYSLEXIA?
Dyslexia is a learning difference which primarily affects reading and writing skills. However, it does not only affect these skills – Dyslexia is actually about information processing. People with Dyslexia may have difficulty processing and remembering information they see and hear, which can affect learning and the acquisition of literacy skills. Dyslexia can also impact on other areas such as organisational skills.
It is important to remember that there are actually many positives to thinking differently, many dyslexic people show strengths in areas such as reasoning, visual and creative fields.
(from: British Dyslexia Association)
POINT TWO: WHAT IS DYSLEXIA AWARENESS WEEK?
Dyslexia Week is an annual event from the British Dyslexia Association, designed to raise awareness of dyslexia. Every year they produce resources and share information with teachers, employers and the general public to highlight a different dyslexia-related theme. Dyslexia Week 2025 will be taking place from THE 6th – 12th October.
You can sign up for awareness week updates from the British Dyslexia Association here, or find more information on the Dyslexia Week webpages.
POINT THREE: WHAT SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER?
After an appointment with a Disability Adviser, examples of some adjustments may include:
- Assistance with applications for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)
- Extra time allowance in exams
- Option to record lectures
To start putting this support in place, or to find out about being assessed for Dyslexia, take a look at the Disability and Dyslexia Service webpages
POINT FOUR: WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE DYSLEXIC, BUT HAVE NEVER BEEN ASSESSED?
Getting assessed for a specific learning difficulty (SpLD), such as Dyslexia, is the first step to getting appropriate support from the University to help you with your studies. It also helps you better understand how you learn, why you face certain difficulties and what you can do to overcome these.
To find out more information, please see the ‘Getting Assessed’ webpages here.
The first step is emailing the Disability and Dyslexia Service on: disability@worc.ac.uk or complete a simple self-referral form here, to ask to be sent a link for Quick Screen, which is free to do and takes about 1 hour to complete. It’s a series of mini-tests that can identify traits of dyslexia and, to a lesser extent, dyspraxia.
Once you’ve completed this, the team can then discuss the next steps with you.
POINT FIVE: WHERE CAN YOU FIND MORE INFORMATION?
The University’s Disability and Dyslexia Service is here to provide information, guidance and support. You will find lots of information on the Disability and Dyslexia webpages and you can make an appointment to speak confidentially with one of their specialist advisers online here or by contacting firstpoint.
Our Library Services also support the RNIB Bookshare Scheme, where you can course accessible texts, find out further information and use the online enquiry form.
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