Hi Stephen

The disability advisers at University of Salford are also looking at the screening/educational psychologist referral system we use.  For us with such a high number of dyslexic students there can be a long delay in getting an appointment to see advisers for screenings and follow ups and for to see the educational psychologists during busy times.  Our aim is to streamline the process.  I was just wondering what sort of timeline your students experienced between one of the appointments you mentioned and the getting seen by ed psych with your approach?

 

If anyone else has experiences to share on how their have improved waiting times for students, I’d be really interested to hear from you.  

Thanks

Rachel

 

 

 

 I would say that we at Chichester have taken the view that all students should be entitled to an EP/Diagnostic assessment whther they are eligible for ALF or DSA or neither. The Diagnostic/Dyslexia assessment is not just a gateway to DSA but also lets us know what adjustments might be appropriate. We have taken the view that we shouldn't have a two tier system of assessment for students with dyslexia, EP assessment for DSA eligible students and an in-house assessment for non-DSA or non-ALF eligible students.

We have pretty much simplified all our systems re screening. We do a one hour appointment which includes:

A discussion of the students difficulties, looking over assignments/lecture notes,

A case history, re previous experience/difficulties, support, querying health etc, to see if there are any additional needs or complicated factors etc,

A dyslexia  checklist,

An application for ALF funding (if eligible)

an explanation of the diagnostic assessment etc.

Where appropriate we might also refer students on to the existing Study Skills workshops/tutoring. Sometimes we also refer on to Counselling or Mental Health at this stage if appropriate.

I feel strongly this 'screening' hour is important so students know what they are getting into and also to see whether there might be other appropriate support services to refer them to.

Roughly 99% of the time the student is referred to an EP for Diagnostic Assessment. We have taken the view that we would rather refer and find a student is not dyslexic rather than miss one. So far this academic year I think we have assessed around 80+ students with an EP and have only had a handful of negatives for SPLDs and even then the students find the process helpful in identifying what the level of difficulty is (except in one case).

Stephen C. O'Melia
Disability and Academic Skills Co-ordinator
University of Chichester
01243 812076

----- Original Message -----

From: A Velarde <[log in to unmask]>

Date: Thursday, May 17, 2007 4:05 pm

Subject: Re: Dyslexia Screenings

> Simon wrote: 'We have found that 100% of students that come
> through to see
> us are put
> forward for the assessment.'
> Simon, I take that this does not include non dsa-alegible
> students, right?
> Best regards, Andy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Morris, Simon
> Sent: 17 May 2007 13:14
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Dyslexia Screenings
>
> Hi Erin,
>
> We no longer carry out a screening. Any student, who thinks that they
> might be dyslexic, is advised to come and see a disability adviser.
>
> In this appointment we discuss with the student, what dyslexia is, how
> if can effect students, and the types of support that can be
> implemented. We then provide the student with an