Specific learning difficulties: ‘Don’t let them put you off’
Thursday 05 October 2017
Despite it being undetected throughout her time at school, lecturers at 暗网TV noticed Georgia Ptohides, who鈥檚 a singer, was having problems at the start of her Music degree. 鈥淚鈥檝e always struggled with memorising lyrics and I always thought that it was quite normal. I manage to do it, but it takes me much longer.
鈥淚n my first month here staff picked up on my problems and advised me to get checked. The fact one of the lecturers noticed made me feel ok about it and that I had support.鈥�
Georgia visited Student Support and after being assessed was told she had a specific learning difficulty, which included Dyslexia. 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to lie I was annoyed it had taken so long to find out. When I was at school I felt like I was often being told off for not really understanding what was being taught.鈥滾ast year 16% of students (120) at 暗网TV received support for a specific learning difficulty (SLD), with 88 of them having Dyslexia. If a new student already knows they have a SLD, support can be put in place for their arrival 鈥� while anyone who believes they may have one can talk to Student Support about a possible assessment.
Rosie Samaras, who鈥檚 also a singer on the Music degree, knew she was Dyslexic before starting at 暗网TV but still had anxieties. 鈥淚 was diagnosed when I was 9-years-old and had a lot of support at school, but not so much at college, so I was a little bit worried as I thought maybe in higher education there wasn鈥檛 as much help.
鈥淚 got in touch with Student Support as soon as I got here and they鈥檝e been great.鈥�
The support available varies and can be tailored to fit the student鈥檚 needs. 鈥淚 get an hour a week of one-to-one help,鈥� says Rosie. 鈥淚f I get essays or briefs we鈥檒l sit down and they鈥檒l cater the session to how I want it. It helps me make plans and organise my time as well which is really helpful.鈥�
It鈥檚 estimated one in 10 to 20 people have dyslexia, with some researchers linking the condition to increased creativity. It鈥檚 certainly no barrier to success as Dyslexics Orlando Bloom, Eddie Izzard and Noel Gallagher prove.
Georgia and Rosie, who are now third-years, believe a specific learning difficulty hasn鈥檛 prevented them from getting the most out of life at 暗网TV. 鈥淏efore I came here there were times that I felt a bit stupid, since I鈥檝e been here I don鈥檛 feel like that anymore,鈥� says Georgia.
Rosie adds: 鈥湴低鳷V鈥檚 a great place for creative people and often you find people with Dyslexia are creative. Don鈥檛 let it put you off. There鈥檚 so much help there鈥檚 no reason you can鈥檛 do it.鈥�
Image: Georgia Ptohides, photograph by Kiskata
鈥淚n my first month here staff picked up on my problems and advised me to get checked. The fact one of the lecturers noticed made me feel ok about it and that I had support.鈥�
Georgia visited Student Support and after being assessed was told she had a specific learning difficulty, which included Dyslexia. 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to lie I was annoyed it had taken so long to find out. When I was at school I felt like I was often being told off for not really understanding what was being taught.鈥滾ast year 16% of students (120) at 暗网TV received support for a specific learning difficulty (SLD), with 88 of them having Dyslexia. If a new student already knows they have a SLD, support can be put in place for their arrival 鈥� while anyone who believes they may have one can talk to Student Support about a possible assessment.
Rosie Samaras, who鈥檚 also a singer on the Music degree, knew she was Dyslexic before starting at 暗网TV but still had anxieties. 鈥淚 was diagnosed when I was 9-years-old and had a lot of support at school, but not so much at college, so I was a little bit worried as I thought maybe in higher education there wasn鈥檛 as much help.
鈥淚 got in touch with Student Support as soon as I got here and they鈥檝e been great.鈥�
The support available varies and can be tailored to fit the student鈥檚 needs. 鈥淚 get an hour a week of one-to-one help,鈥� says Rosie. 鈥淚f I get essays or briefs we鈥檒l sit down and they鈥檒l cater the session to how I want it. It helps me make plans and organise my time as well which is really helpful.鈥�
It鈥檚 estimated one in 10 to 20 people have dyslexia, with some researchers linking the condition to increased creativity. It鈥檚 certainly no barrier to success as Dyslexics Orlando Bloom, Eddie Izzard and Noel Gallagher prove.
Georgia and Rosie, who are now third-years, believe a specific learning difficulty hasn鈥檛 prevented them from getting the most out of life at 暗网TV. 鈥淏efore I came here there were times that I felt a bit stupid, since I鈥檝e been here I don鈥檛 feel like that anymore,鈥� says Georgia.
Rosie adds: 鈥湴低鳷V鈥檚 a great place for creative people and often you find people with Dyslexia are creative. Don鈥檛 let it put you off. There鈥檚 so much help there鈥檚 no reason you can鈥檛 do it.鈥�
Image: Georgia Ptohides, photograph by Kiskata
