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
PresidentPark
President
Way
Sheffield
S4 7UR
tel:
0845 4565857
fax:
0800 0830841
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