I came across this issue during admissions a couple of years ago. We accept
applicants through non-conventional routes, including NVQs. An applicant who
was working towards an NVQ declared a diagnosis of general learning
difficulties. A, NVQ pass pass, albeit achieved over a prolonged time-scale,
would have met our usual admissions criteria. However this applicant's
academic history, including very poor GCSE grades, indicated a low chance of
success in a degree course. We decided to make a conditional offer for an
HND rather than degree, as we did not want to set the student up to fail and
success in the HND would give potential for progression to a degree at a
later stage. This was predominantly an academic decision, but we were also
concerned about the implications of ineligibility for DSA in view of the
level of additional support this individual would clearly require.
Clare Davies
University College Northampton
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of ANN BUTTERFIELD
Sent: 03 April 2003 17:57
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: dyslexia assessment of general learning difficulty
Some students with a moderate learning difficulty do have a dyslexic
profile too. It is really up to the university concerned to make sure
their offers are made to students who are able to handle the academic
work and to make it clear to institutions who pass students on courses
when they clearly have not really reached the right level. The awarding
body can be negligent in this respect too.
>>> [log in to unmask] 04/03/03 03:57pm >>>
In a message dated 03/04/03 15:01:18 GMT Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<< Does anyone have experience of an assessment for dyslexia concluding
that a
student has a general learning difficulty rather than a specific one?
(The
consequence being that the student stands very little chance of
completing a
degree course successfully.)
Regards
Liz >>
Yes.
But I expect you were hoping for more than that.....
This is my own understanding of the situation (I could be wrong) In
theory
the student must be capable of benefiting from higher education and as
I
understand it the LEA could conclude that a student with general
learning
difficulties is not 'disabled' and is therefore ineligible for DSA.
Occasionally they will still send the student for a needs assessment,
*perhaps* in the hope that either:
a) the assessor will be brave enough to decline support
or
b) that they have someone else to blame if it gets picked up in an
audit.
If I'm right then the institiution really has an obligation to counsel
the
student on whether they should continue with the course and if they
cannot to
help them to ifdentify something more appropriate.
As I said, I could be wrong and I would be happy to be corrected.
Mick Trott
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