Dyslexia

Support for learners with Dyslexia

Dyslexia support can be offered to students across Dudley College of Technology by a team of specialist tutors.

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a condition which affects the processing of language, particularly written language. It is estimated that approximately 6% of the population have mild to moderate dyslexic tendencies, and a further 4% are severely dyslexic.

"Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that mainly affects the development of literacy and language related skills. It is likely to be present at birth and to be life-long in its effects. It is characterised by difficulties with phonological processing, rapid naming, working memory, processing speed and the automatic development of skills that may not match up to an individual's other cognitive abilities."British Dyslexia Association

People with dyslexia can have difficulties:

• In spelling, reading and writing
• In personal organisation
• With processing information
• With their short-term memory

Dyslexia affects all kinds of people regardless of their race or social class and is independent of I.Q.

What Kinds of Support can The Dyslexia Team offer?

A Dyslexia Specialist Tutor will be able to describe how we can help you, whilst you are a student in the College.

Some of the areas that we may be able to help with are:

• Completion of a dyslexia checklist at Induction
• Assessment for dyslexia by a specialist dyslexic tutor
• One-to-one Specialist support sessions following a structured, multi-sensory programme of learning
• Course Tutor liaison on your behalf
• Organisational, Time Management and Study skills
• Provision of Assistive Software where appropriate
• Assessment for Visual Stress
• Assessment for access arrangements for examinations
• Referral for formal assessment if required

If you think you may be dyslexic and have never been formally assessed, we can arrange for you to have an initial interview and Dyslexia Adult Screening Test (DAST).

The main purpose of the interview and assessment is to provide some initial information relating to the difficulties that you may be experiencing. This assessment will not give you the formal diagnosis of dyslexia, but it will allow us to advise you on seeking a full formal assessment.

Testimonials

"One hour a week of dyslexia support saves me six hours of study" Dudley College Art Student

"It is all relevant, as the support that you and the dyslexia service gave me was fantastic. It has really helped me throughout University and work, as I use all the methods of remembering, spelling, blue paper (got glasses now) etc. to ensure that I can produce good assignments. I would recommend yourself and the dyslexia service to anyone, and you can quote me on that." Dudley College Sport Student

"I think that I am now capable of completing my Access to H.E. Diploma in Business. This will lead to a university placement in September 2012. I don’t think I would have been able to do this without dyslexia support" Dudley College Access to Business Student

 

Dyscalculia

Support for learners with Dyscalculia

Assessment and support can be offered to students who have dyscalculia at Dudley College of Technology by a specialist tutor.

What is Dyscalculia?

Dyscalculia is a condition that affects the ability to acquire mathematical skills. Learners with Dyscalculia may have difficulty understanding simple number concepts, lack an intuitive grasp of numbers and have problems learning number facts and procedures. Even if they produce a correct answer or use a correct method, they may do so mechanically and without confidence

People with dyscalculia can have difficulties:

• With Numbers and the number system: learners can have an impaired sense of number size. This may affect tasks involving estimating numbers in a collection and comparing numbers.
• Navigating back and forth, especially in twos, threes or more.
• Translating between number words, where powers of ten are expressed by new names (ten, hundred, thousand).

What Kinds of Support can the college offer?

• Assessment with a specialist tutor
• Small group support sessions
• To explore different learning styles

If you think you may have dyscalculia and have never been formally assessed, we can arrange for you to have an initial interview to discuss a possible assessment.

 

Dyspraxia

Support for learners with Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia support can be offered to students across Dudley College of Technology by a team of specialist tutors.

What is Dyspraxia?

Dyspraxia sometimes known as Developmental Coordination Disabilities (DCD) is a condition which affects the organisation of movement. It is an immaturity in the way that the brain processes information, which results in messages not being properly transmitted.

The term dyspraxia comes from the word praxis, which means 'doing acting'. Dyspraxia affects the planning of what to do and how to do it. It is associated with difficulties in perception, language and thought.

Dyspraxia is thought to affect up to ten per cent of the population and up to two per cent severely. Males are four times more likely to be affected than females. Dyspraxia sometimes overlaps with other difficulties like Dyslexia or Autism. It used to be known as Clumsy Child Syndrome.

People with dyspraxia can have difficulties:

• With planning and organisation
• In sequencing information
• With processing information and following instructions
• With their short-term memory
• With concentration

What Kinds of Support can The Team offer?

• Small group support sessions
• With study skills
• With planning your assignments
• To explore different learning styles

If you think you may have dyspraxia it would be wise to contact your GP as a medical assessment may be required.