Why we need to protect 1:1 dyslexia/ SpLD tutorials at university by Katherine Chapman

I am a Dyslexic student who has struggled with reading, writing and spelling all my life. I struggled through school with very little help and recognition of the problems that I was facing. At university I was very scared of the amount of reading and writing I was going to have to be doing under pressure, but I found out quickly that the first time in my life the difficulties I was facing were being recognised. After filling out many impossible forms with lots of help from my mum, I had a disability needs assessment where I talked through all the ways that the university and disabled students allowance could help me. It covered the costs of specialist software and equipment that would help me take notes and organise myself at University, something I’ve always struggled with. 

It also payed for one-to-one tuition with a Specific Learning Difficulties tutor. She was able to talk through essays, readings and other parts of my course that with my dyslexia was near impossible for me. Being a student very often means being isolated from support networks like family and not receiving the support that could be given in a workplace, and so having a person who completely understands the difficulties you are facing and helping through them in a way, without patronising, but practically and with an understanding of your needs of you as an individual, made a huge difference for me.

I finish my degree in June with a high 2:1 and I’m absolutely delighted to be embarking on a masters at Cambridge in the coming academic year. However, this is overshadowed by the fear of not receiving the same help that I have done through my undergraduate degree. With the current threat to Disabled Students’ Allowance, someone in the same situation as me will not be able to get the assistance that was invaluable in completion of my degree. If I were to not receive the same support while doing my masters I’m sure that my dyslexia would hold me back significantly. The problems I face are particularly relevant to studying an academic degree and while working in the student union I have had none of the same problems, and have been able to progress through the year without being held back by the difficulties. It’s obvious that supporting students who have specific learning difficulties is vital for them to achieve what they are capable of.

"Originally posted on www.dontcutusout.wordpress.com/posts/ , reposted with permission".