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I think this shows how widely practice varies between HEIs.
I also suspect that the nature and extent of the help given to many dyslexics does not reflect their disability-related support needs, so much as the resources which individual institutions choose to make available. Some universities offer dyslexics regular one-to-one support from specialist tutors while others do not, even when this has been specifically recommended by an Access Centre.
I have been supporting a dyslexic PGCE student who attended a Midlands university. Its policy documentation on Equality of Opportunity and Disability is exemplary but the student’s experience has not been. She was told that because she was mildly dyslexic and the support unit was overwhelmed, she could not have one-to-one tuition, even though it had been specifically recommended.
This has nothing to do with proof-reading of course but it has a lot to do with what is ‘right’ and ‘not right’ when it comes to responding to dyslexic students’ support needs. If we adopt a student-centred (rather than resource-led) approach to support then there may be occasions when proof-reading is justified. It seems to me that talking and thinking in terms of absolutes (e.g., proof reading is wrong for all dyslexic students in all circumstances) misses the point.
Lloyd Richardson
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Emma Wright
Sent: 01 December 2005 19:08
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Dyslexia support and
proof-reading
I would also like to add
that when I submitted my MA dissertation it was a submission requirement that
some one else proof read it (for all students, not just those with dyslexia
etc) before it was submitted and they were even asked to sign a form to say they
had!
On 01/12/05, Liz Thompson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
We've recently looked at this issue in order to give guidance to our
learning support tutors. Surely the distinction is between doing something
for the student (not allowed ) and helping them to do it for themselves (the
basis of giving support) ?
Regards
Liz
Liz Thompson
Learning Support Officer
Student Services
University of Brighton
Room 2, Manor House
Moulsecoomb Place
Brighton BN2 4GA
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their
support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Lloyd G. Richardson
Sent: 01 December 2005 12:43
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Dyslexia support and proof-reading
Ros,
You are exactly right when you say that most of us ask others to check over
stuff we have written from time to time.
I have never regarded this as wrong. (I got my wife to proof correct parts
of my MA thesis, and I have done similar for colleagues.) But for
some HE
lecturers this is a real hot potato.
You are also right (and brave) to raise the issue of what a support tutor
should do in extremis. Last summer a dyslexic student asked me for
some
'help' with her dissertation. It was the only piece of work she had
failed
and she had to re-submit it within three weeks (she was leaving the country
at the end of the month).
There was no time for a skills development approach and I was very open with
the course tutor and the student in terms of the sort of 'help' I intended
to provide. In this instance common sense prevailed.
Regards, Lloyd Richardson
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their
support staff.
[mailto: [log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Ros Stevenson
Sent: 01 December 2005 12:01
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Dyslexia support and proof-reading
Hello
Thank you to everyone who responded to my request for a support tutor in
Sheffield.
All the comments regarding proof-reading have been very interesting to read.
I completely agree that in an ideal world proof-reading should not form a
regular part of study skills support - unless it is done with
the student's involvement - and I think it's important that students
realise this. However, if life gets in the way and a study skills
session cannot be arranged to fit in with deadlines, it seems to me not
unreasonable for a tutor to agree to check over the work in this way on
occasion - and presumably to use the experience constructively in further
one-to-one sessions.
Whether proof-reading is done by a person or a computer - or both - is I
think a separate issue. Don't most of us, dyslexic or not, from
time
to time ask someone else to check over what we have written - even if we
have already run it through spell and grammar checks?
(I have just asked one of my colleagues to have a look at this before
sending!)
Ros
--
Ros Stevenson (Mrs)
Adviser for Dyslexic/SpLD Students
Oxford Brookes University
Student Services
Helena Kennedy Student Centre
Headington Hill Campus
Oxford OX3
0BP
Tel: 01865 484693
Fax: 01865 484656
www.brookes.ac.uk/student/services/dyslexia/
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