Dyslexia and You
Making Sixth Form or College Work for You
More independence should not mean less support. The support changes shape: you ask for it directly, and you decide what you need.
Practical
What tends to matter at this stage
Independent study
Free periods are working time. Decide the task before you sit down.
Longer assignments
Break the title into questions, answer them in note form, then write.
Research
Fewer, better sources. Use text-to-speech to get through reading faster.
Note-taking
Structure over completeness. Record or request slides where it is allowed.
Deadlines
Work backwards from the date and put the steps in your calendar, not your head.
Coursework
Save versions as you go and keep feedback in one place.
Examinations
Practise under the conditions and arrangements you will actually have.
Current adjustments
Review them each year. What suited GCSE may not suit this level.
Assistive technology
Get fluent now, so it is second nature at university or work.
Learning support
Contact them early rather than at crisis point. That is what they are for.
More independence should not mean less support.
How it can feel
You are allowed to be fed up with dyslexia sometimes
Being positive about neurodiversity does not mean pretending the difficult parts are not difficult.
- You understand the material, but getting it into an essay takes far longer than it should.
- You reread the same paragraph and none of it stays.
- Deadlines stack up and the first task is the hardest one to start.
- You have proofread it carefully and errors still get flagged.
- You are tired of explaining your needs to a new tutor every term.
- Part of you would rather manage without support than be treated differently.
None of that means you are not capable of this level of study. It usually means the work is costing you more effort than it costs other people.
Knowing precisely which part is hard is what makes it possible to work around it — and to ask for the right adjustment rather than a general one.
What can I do?
Try this
Try this
- If an assignment feels too big to startTurn the title into three questions and answer the easiest one in note form first.
- If reading lists are unmanageableRead abstracts and conclusions first, then choose which sources deserve full attention.
- If proofreading never catches everythingListen to your work read back with text-to-speech — errors are easier to hear than to see.
- If you are behind and avoiding itEmail learning support before the deadline, not after. Early is a much better conversation.
None of these will suit everyone. Try one, keep it if it helps, drop it if it does not.
Watch
Video
British Dyslexia Association
A short animation on what dyslexia is, and how often it is misread by other people.
More videos are being added
Space is kept here for students talking about college and university study, and for practical strategy videos. Only verified videos are added.
Pathway
Thinking about university
Keep your report safe
Store a PDF somewhere you will still have access to after you leave. Universities will ask for it.
Contact disability services early
Usually as soon as you have an offer, rather than in freshers' week.
Look into DSA
Disabled Students' Allowance may fund equipment, software or study support. Eligibility is decided by the funding body.
Discuss evidence and adjustments
Ask what evidence they accept and which adjustments are realistic on your course.
Prepare for independent learning
Longer reading lists, fewer reminders. Build the habits now.
Pathway
Thinking about work or an apprenticeship
Know what helps you
Written instructions, extra processing time, checklists, quieter space.
Decide how to talk about it
Disclosure is your choice. You can describe what helps without going into detail.
Accessible instructions
Ask for tasks in writing, or repeat them back to check.
Assistive technology
The same tools that helped in study often help at work.
Workplace needs
Adjustments are agreed with the employer; support such as Access to Work may be available.
Keep your evidence
Keep the report. You may need it years later.
Next
Where to go next
My Learning Snapshot
Useful before a meeting with learning support or a new tutor. Private, and not stored anywhere.
Open My Learning Snapshot