After school S.E.N - Further and higher education
My early childhood years, education and adult life have been largely shaped and determined by the unavoidable fact of my severe dyslexia. An every day challenge all too common for many people. With college and university opportunities now an expectation rather than an exception it can be a continuing cause of anxiety for parents and young Dyslexics faced with the same doubts and uncertainties I experienced when I moved as a SEN "statemented" pupil to both Further and Higher Educational avenues.However in contemplating Further and Higher education beyond 16 +Parents and pupils can be re-assured that student support measures still continue. The vital "user" skill I came to learn at both (FE) College) and later (HE) university, is to appreciate the essential differences between the FE and HE provisions. This is important in the latter case of University because, as I will explain, probably for the first time in the long and winding history of his or her dyslexic education the individual student can directly control some of the purse strings.
First let’s just remind ourselves of the SEN background from pre-16 school days. Parents of Dyslexic children will be acquainted with the SEN measures deployed at schools to address learning disability which today are represented in the tiered approaches of Action, Action Plus, Individual Educational Plans and ultimately Statementing. However perhaps the biggest challenge to Dyslexic students at FE (16 +) and HE (19+) levels is that unlike the school scenario they can’t rely on the SENCO or the supportive voice and persistence of parents, they must now attempt to secure for themselves the necessary support.
At FE/HE levels this can be a challenge for many who may lack self confidence. They will have to find the courage to ask for help and in some cases if their special needs have not been fully addressed, like the proverbial Oliver Twist with bowl in hand, they will have to ask for more. This was the situation I experienced when I embarked on my first FE course at NVQ Level at a college in the West Country.
Normally, the details of the previous SEN history at school as documented by the Local Education Authority (LEA) should be available to the prospective FE college. This transition should form the basis of discussion for a study plan between the student and the Learning Support or Inclusion Unit at the college. If this documentation is not readily accessible from the LEA then the student should present the Learning Support staff with details or any evidence in their possession relating to their previous school based SEN programme.
However if the previous SEN paperwork is still not available there is no need to despair because the Learning Support Team will probably carry out their own assessment and establish the extent and type of support that can be provided for the student to fully access their course. This can take the form of providing a person to help with reading, organising and sometimes dictation and writing course notes.
So in order to negotiate this first big step in Further Education here are some important points to consider on your JOURNEY PLAN:
1) If you have a history of Dyslexia or suspect that you are Dyslexic inform the Learning Support or Inclusion Unit BEFORE you start your course. Make sure you state you are Dyslexic on any enrolment forms. Better still visit the college of your choice before terms starts and talk with the Support Staff about your Dyslexia.
2) If you have already started on a course and the support provided is not helping you then TELL the Learning Support Unit as soon as possible.
3) Remember your Dyslexia can mean that it takes you longer than a non Dyslexic to read exam papers or coursework material and where there are deadlines to meet it's important that you should consider asking for TIME extensions on your course.
4) You may also find it easier to follow your course if you can secure from the Tutor PRE-PREPARED LECTURE NOTES so that you can read and digest the material later at your own speed. If this is not suggested by Learning Support then, as in my case, you must raise it.
5) Above all don’t be afraid to ASK. The Learning Support and Inclusion Units are there to help you ACCESS Further Education and that help includes overcoming any sensory problems that inhibit your ACCESS.
Using this game plan I successfully completed my NVQ at Advanced Level and then moved on to take a degree course in Culture, Politics and Philosophy at a University in East Anglia. My previous FE support was usually "in house" and provided from college staff resources and always subject to budgetary controls within the college’s overall spending plan.
In contrast at University (HE) Dyslexic students usually source support through direct funding from the Local Education Authority (LEA) in the form of the DISABLED STUDENT ALLOWANCE .You must apply for this allowance BEFORE you start your course. DSA is a stand alone allowance, quite separate from other LEA student grants or student loans, is not MEANS TESTED and is designed to provide Dyslexic students with funds to pay for any equipment, software or non medical help needed to access their university course. The allowance can be paid directly into your account or to the University or provider of equipment.
Under the DSA scheme applicants will usually be referred by the LEA to an Assessment Centre where a full diagnostic assessment will be made to determine the student’s particular learning support needs. This will normally happen if a professional assessment by an Educational Psychologist or qualified Dyslexic Teacher has not been made since the age of 16.
However in my year there were some students, previously not aware of their Dyslexia, who began to find it hard to meet the increasing workload in their third term. If this is the case and you are already mid way through your course then you should inform the University equivalent of Student Support or Inclusion Unit immediately. If Dyslexia is suspected the University will normally assist the student with some local interim study support arrangements and help the student make a belated application for DSA. The University may even be able to arrange an assessment.
Remember when applying for any LEA student Award/Grant funding you must make sure that you ask for the DSA (DISABLED STUDENT ALLOWANCE) application form.
The current maximum amounts available in 2007/2008 under DSA are as follows:
1) Full Time Student- Specialist Equipment £4905 for the entire course
2) Part Time Student- Specialist Equipment £4905 for the entire course
3) Full Time Student- Non Medical Helper £12,420 per annum
4) Part Time Student-Non Medical Helper £9,315 per annum
5) Full Time Student Additional Expenditure Disability £1,640
6) Part Time Student Additional Expenditure Disability £1,605
Travel Cost for Full and Part Time Students to cover Extra Travel costs incurred as a result of Disability but not everyday travel. No maximum limit.
Depending on individual study circumstances in some cases the University may agree to directly secure part of the student’s DSA funding to provide non medical help from a contracted Agency or from the University’s register of support helpers. However as indicated earlier the student can "hire" and "fire" by electing to employ his/her own non medical helper, as I did, rather than leave that task to the University. If you receive part of your funding this way you will have to provide satisfactory proof, such as time sheets or pay records, to your LEA showing that the funds have been correctly used.
Most of the points covered earlier relating to the JOURNEY PLAN for FE students apply with equal importance to university or HE students. However under the DSA scheme, if authorised, the obstacles to achieving that vital subject access can be overcome variously with for example the use of :-
Computer or Lap word processor
Digital Tape Recorder to record Lectures and Seminars
Assistive Technology –to transcribe Voice to printed Text and printed Text to Sound
Portable Digital Assistants- hand held mini device capable of synchronising and downloading from a PC as well as helping organise ideas and tasks
Mind Mapping Software to help visualise, plan ideas and essays.
For Parents and Dyslexic Students about to embark on university (HE) courses I would recommend that they download more information from Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities at www.skill.org.uk. The organisation Skill provides a very informative booklet as a download on the DSA which students and Parents will find invaluable. In the case of FE Colleges Parents and Students can also access information from the Public Services portal www.direct.gov.uk under Further Education/Training/Disabled people headings.
In my own case with the help from the University Student Support Services I successfully navigated the demands of study and graduated with a 2 (1) Hons Degree. I am still severely Dyslexic and like many first time Dyslexic students embarking on FE and HE education my initial steps were dogged by insecurity and anxiety.
However I hope I have clearly demonstrated help and support are available. It only remains for the student to have the confidence to reach out and take every opportunity that this new environment presents.
University and College provide some of the best experiences of our lives as well as furnishing academic qualifications that lead to future career paths. Being a Dyslexic does not preclude any student from achieving those goals. In fact it’s perhaps a little ironic that with all the support and dedicated help available Dyslexics may very well surpass others!
Martin Parsonage
CEO Indigo Dyslexia Services
Norwich