Q & A Help & Assessment (Mostly Uni Related)

[Liz944]

HOW TO GET A FORMAL ASSESSMENT FOR DYSPRAXIA

QUESTIONS

1. Who should I see for an assessment and diagnosis?
2. I have a provisional place at a UK university, and I suspect that I may be dyspraxic. Can I get a formal assessment for dyspraxia though my university?
3. I am currently attending a UK university and suspect that I may be dyspraxic. Can I get a formal assessment for dyspraxia though my university?
4. Do I have to pay for my assessment at university?
5. What happens during the initial screening assessment?
6. What happens during the diagnostic assessment with the educational psychologist?
7. What is Disabled Students Allowance?
8. What are Disabled Students Allowances for?
9. Where can I get further about Disabled Students Allowances?

ANSWERS

1. Who should I see for an assessment and diagnosis?
If you suspect you have dyspraxia you should consult your GP, in the first instance, with a view to being referred to an educational or clinical psychologist, occupational therapist, speech therapist or counsellor. Write your symptoms down, take a friend or relation to support you and be persistent. You can also refer yourself to a private therapist or doctor. The cost of a private dyspraxia assessment is in the region of £200-£300 depending on the area you live in.

2. I have a provisional place at a UK university and I suspect that I may be dyspraxic. Can I get a formal assessment for dyspraxia though my university?

Yes, you can get an assessment for dyspraxia through your university. If you have a provisional place at a UK university and suspect you may be dyspraxic contact the student disability support services on the campus you have chosen. They can arrange for an initial screening assessment and a diagnostic assessment with an educational psychologist. Once a diagnosis of dyspraxia is confirmed, you can apply for a Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) from your Local Education Authority (LEA).

It is important to contact the student support services as soon as possible after you have accepted a provisional place as the assessment process and application for DSA can take several months to complete and get equipment and support in place. The earlier you do this the better chance you have of getting everything in place before you start at university.

3. I am currently attending a UK university and suspect that I may be dyspraxic. Can I get a formal assessment for dyspraxia though my university?

If you are already at your chosen university and suspect you may be dyspraxic contact the student disability support services on the campus you have chosen. They can arrange for an initial screening assessment and a diagnostic assessment with an educational psychologist. Once a diagnosis of dyspraxia is confirmed, you can apply for a Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) from your Local Education Authority (LEA).

4. Do I have to pay for my assessment at university?
No, the cost of an assessment is funded by the Access to Learning Fund (ALF) at your chosen university.

5. What happens during the initial screening assessment?
The initial screening assessment is designed for students who think they may be dyspraxic and would like to explore the situation a little further. This screening session can also offer some guidance on the possibility of being dyspraxic or having other specific learning disorders.

The screening session usually lasts for just over an hour, at the end of which time you should have a clearer idea about the possibility of dyspraxia and whether or not it would be advisable to proceed to a full diagnostic assessment with the Universities Educational Psychologist.

During the screening, you will chat to the advisor about the reasons why you feel you might be dyspraxic, do a little bit of informal writing and a brief reading exercise, including a consideration of whether the use of colored overlays might help to alleviate any reading difficulties. You will also go through a checklist which comprises a series of questions about dyslexic and dyspraxic sensitive areas. Finally you will do a computer delivered screening test skillfully designed to detect dyslexia and dyspraxia in intelligent adults who will by now probably have developed many sensible coping strategies for masking, or otherwise dealing with, dyslexic difficulties.

People often approach screening with mixed feelings: ‘Do I really want to face the possibility of being told that I might be dyspraxic?’ For many people a diagnosis is an immense relief - suddenly all sorts of previous difficulties are explained and now positive help will be on offer. Other people find a diagnosis harder to come to terms with.

Conversely, of course, the conclusion may be that you are probably not dyspraxic. Some people will welcome this outcome while others will be left wondering why they are still having problems, what is causing them and what can be done to help.
Whatever the outcome of the screening, time is available for a discussion of any issues that might arise.

6. What happens during the diagnostic assessment with the educational psychologist?
An assessment with the Educational Psychologist can give an actual diagnosis of a ‘Specific Learning Difficulty’ e.g. dyspraxia. The only condition it cannot diagnose is AD(H)D where a clinical diagnosis is needed and you will need to see your GP.
The assessment itself generally lasts between 2 to 3 hours. It starts off with a discussion about your background and previous educational experiences. You will then carry out a wide range of exercises that will assess you in a number of areas. These might include:

• Verbal comprehension — tasks that require you to listen to information and respond orally
• Perceptual organisation — tasks that assess, for example, attentiveness to detail and eye hand co-ordination
• Processing speed — tasks that see how quickly and efficiently you can process visual information
• Working memory — tasks that assess how well you hold and process information in your memory
• Literacy — tasks that assess your reading and writing abilities

The different exercises used are part of well recognised assessment procedures designed specifically for use on people aged 16 years and over. It is recognised that when you reach adulthood you are likely to have developed many of your own strategies to manage a specific learning difficulty, and the tests are designed purposely to see past these.
You might not be told the outcome of the assessment at the assessment itself as the Educational Psychologist might need to take the results of the exercises away and score them. After the assessment the Educational Psychologist will write a report making either a positive diagnosis or a full explanation as to the nature of your difficulties, perhaps referring you for further assessment.
It is recommended that after the assessment you speak to your assigned Disabled Students Advisor about the findings of the assessment and to discuss any issues you may have.

7. What is a disabled Students Allowance?
Disabled Students' Allowances are grants to help meet the extra course costs students can face as a direct result of a disability, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty e.g. dyspraxia. They are aimed at helping disabled students to study on an equal basis with other students.

Full-time, part-time and postgraduate students can apply for Disabled Students' Allowances.

8. What are Disabled Students Allowances for?
Disabled Students' Allowances can help with:

• specialist equipment you need for studying - for example, computer software
• a non-medical helper, such as a note-taker or reader
• extra travel costs you have to pay because of your disability
• other costs - for example, tapes or Braille paper

Where can I get further about Disabled Students Allowances?
The following link will take you to further information about Disabled Student Allowances:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeo ... G_10034898