Do you think you might have dyslexia/dyscalculia?

 

MTU students can apply for Disability Support Service (DSS) supports if they have a full educational psychologist assessment with details of a diagnosis of a specific learning difference such as dyslexia and/or dyscalculia and/OR if they can present evidence of a history of a specific learning difference or receiving educational supports, e.g. as part of the DARE Educational Impact Statement or State Examinations Commission letter regarding RACE (Reasonable Accommodations at the Certificate Examinations) /exam supports in the Leaving Certificate, or confirmation letter from the school confirming testing/supports.

 

What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty which makes it harder for some people to learn, to read, write and spell.

Students find that sometimes while writing an essay, project or thesis that they are having a lot of difficulties with reading or spelling and think they may have dyslexia.

 

What is dyscalculia?

Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty that affects a person’s ability to acquire arithmetical skills. It can present itself as a person’s inability to understand basic number concepts and/or number relationships, estimate and subitise, recognise symbols, and comprehend quantitative and spatial information. For example this could result in difficulties in telling time and time management. People with dyscalculia find it very difficult to form relationships between numbers and their values and therefore have little “number sense”. (British Dyslexia Association)

 

How can I get diagnosed with a specific learning difference?

To be diagnosed with a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia or dyscalculia you need to see a (educational) psychologist for an assessment (a GP cannot diagnose it).

  • MTU DSS does NOT currently offer a screening or assessment service for dyslexia.
  • The Dyslexia Association of Ireland offers remote assessments for dyslexia and dyscalculia for €300 for adults. Please see their website for details.
  • A private assessment can be expensive and cost between €500 - 800. We cannot recommend any psychologists to approach, but a list of registered (education) psychologists is available on the Psychological Society of Ireland website. Make sure to filter your search by "Educational" and check that the pyschologists list themselves available for private work.
  • You may be able to apply for financial support around getting a diagnosis through the Student Assistance Fund: www.mycit.ie/saf
  • Dyslexia screening can give an indication of possible dyslexic difficulties but screening is not a diagnosis. The British Dyslexia Association has links to some online screening tools (paid and free) that you can chose to use for your own information.
  • Dyscalculia screening can give an indication of possible dyscalculic difficulties but screening is not a diagnosis. Steve Chinn has a checklist for Dyscalculia and Maths Learning Difficulties available.

 

What supports are available without a diagnosis?

  • The Dyslexia Association of Ireland has lots of information on their website.
  • My Study Bar is an online tool which has different tools to support studying, reading and writing such as mindmapping, read aloud, etc.
  • Microsoft Office also has readaloud and dictations options built in. You can get a free copy of MS Office ProPlus as an MTU student
  • Free Proofreading software: Ginger or Grammarly
  • The DSS Accessiblity Tools for learning (version 4.2 August 2021) document gives you instructions on how to download study software including reading software. Training videos are also available at the Assistive Technology Service YouTube channel.
  • Sensus Access alternate media service for MTU staff and students offers to convert files into the format which is most accessible and useful to you. This might be lecture notes into an mp3 to listen to on the go, scanned book pages into searchable PDFs to be used with text to speech software, or lecture slides into text to be read and adjusted on an E-Reader.
  • MTU Top Tips for students with dyscalculia (2021) 

 

What MTU supports are available?

 

MTU Disability Support Service (DSS) supports

If you have a diagnosis of a specific learning difference such as dyslexia and dyscalculia you can apply for DSS supports, such as exam supports like extra time, access to reading software, refering lecturers to marking guidelines, as well as access to Learning Support and Assistive technology.

  • More details are at the DSS Applying for Support webpage and DSS Student Guide.
  • Students with a Specific Learning Difficulty, who do not have a full report from an Educational Psychologist, may apply for supports with the DSS, if they can present evidence of a history of a specific learning difference or receiving educational supports, e.g. as part of the DARE Educational Impact Statement or State Examinations Commission letter regarding RACE (Reasonable Accommodations at the Certificate Examinations) /exam supports in the Leaving Certificate.
  • Please email dssCork@mtu.ie for more details.