Support for Students with Dyslexia:

University can be full of excitement and challenges, and for students with dyslexia, it can bring unique difficulties. While dyslexia can make reading, writing, and organisation more difficult, we’ll explore how to find study strategies that work best for you.

🧠 What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning difference that affects how you process language and written information. It doesn’t reflect your intelligence – your brain just interprets language in a unique way.

⛰️ Challenges you may face:

📚 Reading: Reading textbooks, lecture notes, and long assignments can be slow and tiring. Complex materials may be hard to understand.

✍️ Writing: Spelling, grammar, and clearly expressing thoughts can be frustrating, possibly affecting grades.

📅 Organisation: Keeping track of notes, deadlines, and study materials can be overwhelming.

👂 Auditory Processing: Following fast-paced lectures and group discussions may be hard, especially if there is background noise.

🚫 Why Traditional Study Tips May Not Work:

Standard study methods, like silent reading and memorisation, might not suit your learning style. These tips often clash with the needs of learners with dyslexia.

💪 Strengths:

Despite the challenges, dyslexia also comes with strengths that can help you succeed:

🗺️ Visual Learning: You might excel at learning through visuals, like diagrams and mind-maps.

💡 Creativity: You’re likely skilled at creating problem-solving and thinking outside the box.

✊ Determination: Overcoming challenges has likely made you resourceful and determined. You’ve got this!

By understanding your challenges and embracing your strengths, you can develop effective study strategies tailored to your unique learning style. Remember, dyslexia doesn’t define your abilities.

Building Your Toolkit:

Shape, Picture, and Colour Coding:

Use different shapes and colours to code your work. You can use different colours and images for each major subject and use different coloured folders and plastic sheets for your lecture notes. This strategy would facilitate filing and retrieval of information.

Examples of reasonable adjustments:

  • Extra time for comprehension and/or rest breaks
  • The use of a computer
  • A separate room
  • Sensory (low) lighting
  • Coloured question and answer papers
  • Reader and/or a scribe

Changing your computer’s colour settings:


Choosing your preferred colours in Windows
http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/content/factsheets/pdfs/Choosing%20your%20Pre
ferred%20Colours%20in%20Windows.pdf


Choosing your preferred colours in your browser
http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/content/factsheets/pdfs/Choosing%20your%20Pre
ferred%20Colours%20in%20your%20Browser.pdf


http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/edu_factsheets


Changing Mouse, Keyboard, Colour and Viewing Settings
http://www.lexdis.org/guide/61

Listening to information:


You may find it easier to listen to material rather than read it. Some software
packages can allow you to do this. Alternatives include speaking your ideas onto
a tape, Dictaphone or MP3 player.
This can help you to clarify the ideas in your head and prevent you from losing
them when you cannot write them down.

Break tasks into manageable parts:


Break your tasks into several small steps and tackle just a few steps at a time.
This can be less daunting than writing the whole essay or reading the whole
book at once.
For example, break down an essay title into different parts or sections and focus
on these individually. This will help you to be more organised.

Support available:

Disability and Neuroinclusion: The D&N service on campus can help you make reasonable exam adjustments, provide you with a study-skills mentor and help you access the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).

Find out more: Services and support | University of Surrey

Disabled Students’ Allowance:

Help if you’re a student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability: Disabled Students’ Allowance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is support to cover the study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long-term illness or any other disability.

Useful Apps:

  • ClaroSpeak (can be funded by the DSA)
  • DragonAnywhere (speech to text)
  • MindMeister (mind mapping app)
  • Grammarly
  • Google Play Books
  • Dyslexia Toolbox
  • Evernote
Pages: 1 2 3 4