Dyslexia question for Teachers

[Turbineguy]

I teach an adult education class (engineering). One student tells me he has "bad dyslexia".

How do I help this person? There is a written exam on Friday. Do I read him the questions out loud or what? Any ideas appreciated!

[WinkyDink]

1. Yes, reading the questions and accepting oral answers would be a good solution.

This would, of course, require a special testing time for him.
You could record the questions in advance, also, and allow him extra time to write his answers.

But he should be able to tell you what he needs, if he has progressed as far as an ENGINEERING course!

[leftyclimber]

2. Is this through a college?

If so, the student has to go through Disability Services or the school equivalent and provide documentation for you to provide him with accommodations, otherwise he is SOL as far as extended test times and such. This is also a legal CYA for you so you can't be accused of playing favorites or granting privileges to some students that others don't have without justification.

The best thing to do once you have the documentation is sit down in private with the student and ask what he needs from you in order to be able to successfully take the test (note I didn't say earn a good grade -- that's up to him). Usually this comes down to extra time, taking the test electronically, or something along those lines. The Disability Services office should provide you with a letter stating the types of accommodations the student needs, although they will not list the student's disability.

It seems strange that he's waited until right before the test to tell you he has a learning disability, though. College students ("traditional" or non-) will sometimes come up with a magically appearing learning disability right when it's test time in order to try to get special treatment or skip out (like the multitudinous grandmothers who mysteriously die every year right at midterms -- who knew exams were so dangerous?). I'm not saying this guy's giving you a snow job, but you don't legally have to provide accommodation unless he has documentation of his learning disability.

FWIW.

[HereSince1628]

3. Do be polite, but don't believe it without evidence

It is very common for 'interrupted'/non-trad students to offer the dyslexia disorder to instructors.
Sometimes it is dsylexia but very often it is a cover for their anxiety about the strength of their foundation skills--literacy and numeracy being the most common sources of student concern.

If the student has dyslexia, there are strategies that can be learned that help. Most accredited schools have disability or learning centers with the capacity to help identify and treat a dyslexia problem.

Schools also typically have the ability to identify and address anxiety issues.

Getting the student the correct help is what is most important. Most college instructors recognize their limits and participate in a team approach to these sorts of problems.

[Wizard777]

4. .aixelsyd sih etatilicaf ot deraeg tset laiceps a eraperP

If he says what's this gibberish. BUSTED! :blush:

[Biker13]

5. ...

Yup, I'm a dyslexic insomniac. I lay awake at night wondering if there's a Dog.

[Wizard777]

7. Then you wake up and take your God for a walk.

Well either way your walking with God and that's always a good thing to be doing. ;-) Gotcha! Something made you walk right into that one.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. I am a special ed teacher; dyslexia is actually a rare medical condition

A true dyslexic can't read at all. The letters jump off the page and take on different shapes. Dyslexia is so rare that in nearly 20 years teaching special ed, I have had only one student who was truly dyslexic.

Dyslexia has become a garbage term to describe reading disabilities, and the majority of these disorders are NOT dyslexia.

That being said, perhaps this student has a reading disorder. Ask him if he received special ed services in school. If so, your school may be obligated to provide accommodations. In the meantime, ask him what he wants you to do about this test. Reading the test out loud is a great idea. Also give him extra time to complete it.

[Turbineguy]

8. The class is a week long.

There's no time for formal procedures and remedial help. If needs be, I can read him the questions. As it is he needs to be able to read and follow written instructions in technical manuals.

Thanks for the advice (all of it!)