The key question is one of whether this student will benefit from a HE
course irrespective of whether dyslexia is present or absent.


If this student achieved 8 for each of the Verbal Comprehension subtest
scores his Index score would place him at the 23rd percentile. That is, he
is within the bottom 25% of the UK population. Even if allowance is made for
margins of error, hard work, originality, etc., I cannot see how this
student will survive in HE, even if he were not dyslexic.


My understanding is that the DSA is to be used to support those students
with disabilities in HE would are likely to benefit from HE. [That is, they
are of sufficient intellectual ability to stannd a good chance of passing
the course assessment requirements.]   This kind of judgement is clearly
very contentious, but I would argue that a Verbal Comprehension Index score
that - maximally - places this individual at the 23rd percentile - is a
reasonable predictor of failure.


LEAs have to rely on HE/FE  institutions in the first instance making sound
judgements about whom they offer places to.  This process is not a perfect
one, and neither is the unquestioning acceptance of some entrance
qualifications.


I would want to know what his entrance qualifications were, and how he
obtained them.  If he gained these via any route which did not include
either unseen exams or a rigorous method of control over assignments, I
would closely question his mode of working.  Occasionally - and I stress the
occasionally - a student will tell me that relatives helped write
assignments or they obtained an essay via the interne, or a lecturer wrote
an essay for them.  There are times when I'm surprised by the openess with
which students tell me how they achieved pass grades, which then raises
ethical dilemmas of what to include in a report.


There is also the question of the responsibility of the psychologist.  I
would hope that psychologists would include a qualifying statement about the
inadvisability of certain types of courses, provided the student wanted the
assessment form use in HE - but there is  always the spectra of then being
sued for misleading advice.


In this case I would ask the institution he has enrolled with for a written
statement that they believe the student is academically properly qualified
for the course he has enrolled on.  If they are prepared to do this, and the
evidence for the presence of dyslexia is clear, then there would appear to
be little alternative but to accept that he is eligible for the DSA, in
spite of any misgiving you may then have about the academic standards of the
institution with whom you are dealing.


[PS A year out of education is not likely to be a causal factor in the rates
of writing/reading reported here.]

David

David Grant, PhD., Chartered Psychologist
dyslexia diagnosis - a specialist service for students
3 Rosebank Road
Hanwell
London W7 2EW

Tel: 020 8579 1902

e-mail:  [log in to unmask]

----------
>From: Katherine Henderson <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Evidence of Dyslexia
>Date: Thu, Nov 28, 2002, 12:20 pm
>

>Does anyone out there have any comments on the acceptability, or otherwise,
>of an Ed Psych's report for DSA? The student has scored very poorly on all
>aspects of the WAIS-111UK with scores ranging from 3 to 8 on all subtests.
>He has a writing speed of 5 words per minute and his reading and spelling
>scores on the WORD are very much below average for his age. It is also
>mentioned that the student also spent a year in Pakistan at 8 years of age.
>The Conclusion of the report is:
>
>"X's literacy skills are even weaker than one might predict from his
>performance on the WAIS111UK. It is feasible to suggest that specific
>learning difficulties might have contributed to the poor development of his
>literacy skills. I think it is less likely that the gap between his actual
>literacy skills and expected level of his literacy skills based on his Full
>Scale IQ is due to the interruption in his English education."
>
>Any help much appreciated.
>
>Kath
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
>--------------------
>
>Kath Henderson
>Team Leader - Student Support
>Education Department
>Overseas House
>PO Box 191
>Quay Street
>Manchester
>M3 3ST                       Tel. No: 0161 234 7076
>
>
>
>
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