Dear dis-forum
colleagues,
I’ve always thought you have to be brave to send a
message to dis-forum, however I always read the
comments and discussions, and over the years I have learned a great deal from
you all. I would welcome any comments or feedback on a personal issue,
relating to my son. See below. I’m sorry the message is
long.
He is dyslexic and had an access centre assessment
three years ago. His greatest difficulty has always been time management and
organisation. At his needs assessment he asked for what he called a key worker
– someone to meet with him regularly to keep him on track with his work. When
he received his draft needs assessment he had been recommended a dyslexia
tutor. He asked again for a key
worker, but was informed that a key worker was not recommended and that the
dyslexia tutor would teach him the skills to manage his work. He accepted this
at the time.
Over the three years of his degree studies he has, as
expected, had time management and organisational problems with his work. He
has met with the dyslexia tutor only a couple of times. His reasons for not
taking up the support were – he didn’t make any appointments as he couldn’t
remember what days the service was open; he went at the wrong times; he didn’t
want to go for dyslexia coping strategy teaching when what he actually wanted
was someone to get him going with the assignments; he wanted support with
tackling the work but the tutor offered discussion sessions only.
In first year his grades were good; in second year
they began to falter though he only had one re-sit assignment. During third
year he had no results at all over the year, nor any
feedback from his tutors. He has now received his degree results, and has
passed, but with no honours – due to failing two modules and not handing in
one piece of work. He did not know that he had failed any assignments. At his
university it is the responsibility of the student to keep in contact with the
tutors, and he did not do this (possibly related to his organisational
difficulties).
- He did not hand in the piece
of work after having lost confidence in himself.
- He didn’t complete any
extenuating circumstances form.
- He never asked for dyslexia
tutor support because he didn’t want this type of
help.
- He was never organised
enough to take the initiative to utilise the general support services to act
on his behalf.
- He appears confident and
people may interpret his problems as being related to laziness and
indifference rather than the fact that he is disorganised and
muddled.
As someone who has been involved in student support
for years I can see how he could have improved his experience and his grades.
In a previous workplace if a student presented with such issues, I have asked
for a re-assessment of needs and allocated a key worker whose responsibility
would have been to sort the issues listed above. My son has not wanted me to
advise on his issues and the taking up of any
support. I have respected this, but his difficulties meant that he didn’t do
anything to manage his situation. He is meeting with student services at his
university on Monday. He may be offered re-sits next year. He may accept the
pass he has got.
Many of you will recognise the scenario and have dealt
with students in similar situations. What advice would you
offer?
With best wishes, Marie
Marie
Norris
Learner
Support
President
Park
President Way
Sheffield S4
7UR
tel: 0845
4565857
fax: 0800
0830841
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