Why assess dyslexia / SpLDs?

There are various reasons why you would consider an assessment for dyslexia / Specific Learning Difficulties or Differences (SpLDs). For instance,

• You may feel that you are underachieving or that a SpLD, such as dyslexia or dyspraxia, may be affecting your work and academic performance

• As a student, taking an undergraduate course, a Master’s degree or a PhD, you are aware that some learning challenges are holding you back and you would like to apply for the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)

• You intend to take a professional examination and need a diagnostic assessment in order to be granted special arrangements, such as extra time for your exams and presentations, so as to show the examination board what you are capable of

• As an employer, you think that some of your employees might have dyslexic and/or dyspraxic tendencies and wish to have them assessed, so as to find the best way to help them to fulfil their potential and maximise their performance

If you are considering applying for the DSA, it is advisable that you have a professional with a relevant qualification, such as an Assessment Practising Certificate, to conduct your diagnostic assessment. You can verify whether an assessor holds a valid Practising Certificate by consulting the SpLD Assessment Standard Committee (SASC) website here where you will need to type in the surname of the assessor in question (in this instance, ‘Pellegrini’).

As for the assessment of dyslexia or dyspraxia in the workplace for Access to Work grants, this takes place in two stages:

• A diagnostic assessment which identifies your strengths and weaknesses in areas of literacy, verbal fluency, memory, phonology and overall organisational skills, and

• A workplace needs assessment which identifies the support that you will need to perform better in your particular position/role at work

If you would like to ask any questions and find out more about the assessment process, please contact us.

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