> Hi
> I would be interested to hear from people who have students who have
> both dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome, what percentage of your students
> have both? Do you offer specific support for Irlen's and if so what?
> Thanks everyone Beth Naylor Student Welfare and Disability Adviser
> University of Liverpool
This is difficult to answer since at present few people come forward
with an Irlen diagnosis as their condition for applying for the DSA.
Usually the student is already accepted as having a DSAable
condition and showing severe reading difficulties. They are then
referred for testing and in many cases colour is shown to be a
factor.
Most students with severe reading difficulties would be among
those with dyslexia hence the apparent connection. But a trial was
done of an entire 8 year-old cohort at a primary school recently and
colour testing was applied to all. The results showed that a wide
range of children were affected, some who had not been suspected
of having any other problems. Many were moved out of remedial
classes as a result.
The treatment attracts even more suspicions than dyslexia itself,
which, as the biggest disability group, gives a lot of awards officers
sleepless nights. You have to see the results and the students'
reactions to realise its potential.
We've worked with Peter Irons from Tintavision for several years,
and his data has now attracted researchers like John Stein from
Oxford. The silly thing is that compared with PCs and study skills
support it is so cheap and easy to deliver, yet it still attracts wide
indifference.
Dave Laycock
Head of CCPD
Chair of NADO
Computer Centre for People with Disabilities
University of Westminster
72 Great Portland Street
London W1N 5AL
tel. 020 7911-5161
fax. 020 7911-5162
WWW home page: http://www.wmin.ac.uk/ccpd/
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