Characteristics of dyslexia and dyscalculia
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Studying with dyslexia: you may have difficulty processing texts quickly or summarising their content. It may be hard for you to focus on content, style and spelling all at once. As a result, it probably takes you extra time to read something. You may also find it challenging to take tests or exams that involve a lot of reading, such as comprehensive reading portions or multiple-choice questions, or to write a paper. This causes you to make many mistakes, and you frequently run out of time.
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Studying with dyscalculia: when you have dyscalculia, you have difficulty solving mathematical equations, possibly even simple ones, quickly (or at all). You repeatedly make the same mistakes when doing so. It can be hard for you to remember and apply the order of operations that is needed to solve complex maths problems. You may also have trouble estimating the quantity of course material, telling time and/or keeping track of time.
Each of the obstacles listed above can have a negative impact on your studies or internship.
This is what I deal with
Obstacles faced by students with dyslexia or dyscalculia
As a student with dyslexia or dyscalculia, you may find yourself facing a variety of obstacles:
- Problems taking part in education. You may have trouble taking effective notes during lectures. Preparing for lectures can present an obstacle as well, because you will need to read texts more often than other students in order to understand their meaning.
- Problems with tests/exams and assignments. It can be difficult for you to take tests, for instance when a test involves mathematical calculations (because of your dyscalculia). You might need adjustments in order to take the test or attend class in a way that works for you.
- Anxiety and stress. Because you need so much time to study, you feel pressure in connection with deadlines. This can cause tension and stress. You are often afraid to make a mistake, which could present as fear of failure and/or a fear of tests.
- Concentration problems. Concentration problems are especially likely to be present when reading and writing.
Even though these obstacles may cause difficulties, you can rest assured that more than enough tools and solutions are available that can help you successfully complete your degree programme. In the preceding section, click on the obstacle you are facing with which you could use some help. You can then read a lot more about that topic and find additional tips and tools. If your specific obstacle is not mentioned above, please refer to the comprehensive list of obstacles.
This is what I might need
Support and facilities for students with dyslexia or dyscalculia
A variety of adjustments and/or facilities are available that may be helpful to you during your degree programme at a research university or university of applied sciences. While there are national schemes, your educational institution will offer its own forms of additional support, too.
As a student with dyslexia or dyscalculia, you might have a need for the following:
- Educational aids. This might include a laptop or text-to-speech/dictation software. There are also facilities for adjusted testing, such as extra time or a larger font. Examples of educational aids can be found on this page under ‘Tips’.
- Study materials. Maybe you need support in the form of accessible study and course materials.
Have a look at the other facilities that might be helpful for you, too.
Tips
Do not wait to ask for help
Every student is different, and every individual needs a different type of help. It is important to explore the options and find what works for you. Do not be afraid to ask for help at the first signs of trouble. Asking for help is actually a sign of strength, because it lets others know how much you want to succeed in your degree programme. Talk to a student counsellor, study adviser, academic career counsellor or your mentor in your programme and ask them about the possibilities available to you. It is a good idea to take a moment first to write down what you need and what kind of support you think would be helpful to you.
Digital and other aids
- ICT tools and aids for students with dyscalculia:
- Calculator (possibly with speech function). A calculator that keeps the operations you enter visible on the screen is often recommended. Calculators with a speech function are also available, such as Doublecheck. See www.vlibank.be. The latest version of Kurzweil also includes a text-to-speech calculator.
- Formula chart or maths table.
- Computer
- Personal laptop: a laptop with the right font, size, colours and lay-out for your needs.
- Reserving a computer: you may be able to reserve a computer with permanent settings and software adjustments from your educational institution.
- Training for using aids: your educational institution may offer a training course on how to use digital accommodations or software. Ask your student counsellor, study adviser or academic career counsellor about this.
- Babbage offers solutions to people with a visual-, motor- or reading disability within work, study or home situations. They do this by deploying assistive technology and specialist services.