Specific learning difficulties
At Sheffield Hallam there are over 800 identified dyslexic students and 40 per cent of those will have found out they are dyslexic after they started their course here at SHU. In order to establish their support needs students need to go through a series of assessments and the specialist advisers here are able to offer a variety of advice and support.
- I think I might be dyslexic but have not been assessed. Dowload our helpful leaflet (PDF, 164KB)
- I think I might be dyspraxic but have not been assessed. Dowload our information for dyslexic/dyspraxic students (PDF, 476KB)
Nature of disability
Dyslexia has been defined as
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. It tends to be resistant to conventional teaching methods, but its effects can be mitigated by appropriately specific intervention, including the application of information technology and supportive counselling.(British Dyslexia Association, 2009)
Dyspraxia (DCD) has been defined as
The criteria for Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) as specified by the American Psychiatric Association DSM IV (1994) refers to DCD as
...a marked impairment in the development of motor co-ordination which has continued through adolescence and adulthood and which significantly interferes with academic achievements."
In many ways DCD and dyslexia overlap and often co-exist in the same person. DCD manifests itself in problems in adequately registering, interpreting, organizing and integrating sensory information to produce an efficient response and it affects many of the skills required in Higher Education. The pattern of difficulties can vary widely from person to person.
Services and support offered
Examples of the arrangements that might be made are as follows;
Examinations
- 25 per cent extra time in all examinations and timed classroom based assessments
- stickers to attach to your examination scripts to inform the examiner that your work should be marked for content and not for errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar
- use of a computer, where appropriate
- separate accommodation, where appropriate
- reader, where appropriate
- scribe, where appropriate
Assignments
- stickers to attach to your assignments to inform your lecturer that your work should be marked for content and not for errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar
- stickers should also be attached to any discrete element of a piece of group work where your contribution is assessed individually.
- additional time for course work/assignments if the reason for the extension is related to your dyslexia or dyspraxia. A new deadline should be negotiated with the module tutor/course leader at least 24 hours before the original deadline.
Support
- we offer one to one support sessions for students at all three campuses.
- Note taker
Needs Assessment
The support provided will depend on recommendations made by your assessor when you have your Needs Assessment, therefore you will need to apply for Disabled Student' Allowances as soon as possible. Sheffield Regional Assessment Centre can undertake your needs assessment.
