2. What is Dyslexia Dyslexia is a learning disability characterised by problems in expressive or receptive, oral or written language. Problems may emerge in reading, spelling, writing, speaking or listening. Dyslexia is not a disease; it has no cure. Dyslexia describes a different kind of mind. Often gifted and productive, that learns differently. Intelligence is not the problem.

3. Dyslexic students problems- Reading Need to read something over and over in order to make sense of it and understand what it means Read slowly and find reading very time consuming. It may also be difficult for them to remember what they have read Find their reading is inaccurate, they might add words or miss them out

4. Dyslexic students problems - Reading Lose their place and have to start again Find that it is very hard to focus on the page, it may look distorted and demand huge concentration and effort. This is very tiring Find reading difficult because of unfamiliar or new vocabulary which is hard for them to remember Mis-read familiar words or phrases

5. Dyslexic students problems - Writing Find that spelling is a problem for them, especially small words Spell words in the way that they sound Confuse words or miss them out Write slowly making lots and lots of drafts Write very quickly in an attempt to write down their thoughts before they lose them

6. Dyslexic students problems - Writing Have difficulty making sense of what they have written when they read it back Have difficulties in structuring and organising their ideas in writing Find it very hard to express themselves accurately in writing

7. Dyslexic students problems – Auditory short term memory Difficulty remembering information for exams, names, processes and instructions. Oral skill difficulty, finding words, mispronunciation, listening and structuring and saying things in the right order. Doing more than one thing at a time – combining two or more activities e.g. listening and writing.

8. Dyslexic students problems – Visual short term memory Numeracy difficulties. Sequencing and ordering difficulties. Time management. Left-right confusion and co-ordination.

9. Secondary Characteristics Anxiety stress and panic. Lack of confidence, not like or valuing self. Tiredness, fatigue burnout. Frustration and anger.

10. Positive aspects of Dyslexia: A dyslexic student may: Be creative By a divergent thinker Be insightful and innovative Be good at creative knowledge Be good at problem solving Be good at creative writing or poetry Be articulate

11. Support for students with Specific Learning Difficulties The Disabled Students Allowance Support in the library Support in IT Services through specialist software packages (Texthelp and Inspiration Special examination arrangements

12. Dyslexia Screening If you suspect that you may be dyslexic we can provide a dyslexia screening service where we can discuss your difficulties in more detail We can then help arrange a full dyslexia assessment if appropriate

13. Making an appointment with the Disability Office Disability Office appointments One hour appointments available at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm Monday - Friday Contact 0845 601 0174 or email disability@bbk.ac.uk to make an appointment disability@bbk.ac.uk Disability Office drop in 4pm to 6pm Monday –Friday Urgent issues; Brief enquiries

14. Useful contacts British Dyslexia Association (http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/about- dyslexia.html) Birkbeck Disability Website (http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/servic es/facilities/disability)http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/servic es/facilities/disability