Dyslexic daughter and struggles with entry requirements at uni.

Nettyj

Hi All, first post, so hope I have got it right.

My 20 year old daughter is very severely, profoundly dyslexic. She is just completing 3 years on an extended diploma in Art and Design at college, which she has passed with a distinction for the last two years and is on track for another one this year.

She was hoping to go to university to study animation and we attended several open days with this in mind. We asked what the situation would be if she did not have the gcse requirement in English for entry and were told that they were more interested in her talents etc. So she applied and she had an offer without so much as an interview several months later, we were told that they wouldn't waiver the english gcse after all. They signposted us to an organisation where she could do an equivalent qualification, but bearing in mind she is supposed to be starting in September, it doesn't leave us much time. We did a lot of research and have "bought" a home study pack and exam combination package. They have agreed for her to have a scribe and reader for the exam and additional time. However, it is clear with the work sheets in front of us, that she is not going to be able to take the exam. She is completely excluded from several areas. For example, part of the work today related to skim reading and scanning. Any element like that in the exam would mean she would not be able to participate.

So, my question is, after reading through the law on reasonable adjustments (I happen to be a law student) it would seem that reasonable adjustments could take the form of finding a more suitable and appropriate way to test her ability to write assignments etc, rather than relying on an exam.

Has anyone successfully challenged a uni with a similar set of circumstances please?

Any help would be gratefully received.

Thanks and sorry for the essay.

Kimi87

Disability Rights UK have a disabled student helpline

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/disabled-students-helpline?srsltid=AfmBOorO1MhOQ_9DnrDhXYw39VEX8ZnMcCuwsUJgkFNTHFJRPJHVyjqe

Nettyj

Hi @Kimi87 thank you for your reply. Yes, I've already spoken to them. They put me onto another organisation that I can't think of the name of a second. But they've got a telephone booking service for a chat and no available appointments at the moment. I'm hoping to find someone who has been there and done it and would be willing for me to use them as a precedent to go back to the uni and show that it's been agreed before.

I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Annette.