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Disability and Dyslexia Service

Specific Learning Differences (SpLDs)

Specific Learning Differences include dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD. The Disability and Dyslexia Service can provide information and advice about a range of support available to students with SpLDs.

Screening and Assessment

If you think that you may have a SpLD such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or ADHD, then the Disability and Dyslexia Service can offer support in securing access to a diagnostic assessment. Please see the links below for further information on the steps in the assessment process.

1. Screening

2. Final year undergraduate students

2. Diagnostic assessment

3. Follow-up

Screening 

If you suspect you have a SpLD and are looking for a diagnosis in order to access support for your studies at QMUL, the first step in the process is to complete our screening questionnaire

Please note, the Semester 2 screening questionnaire will close on Friday 12th April 2024 at 12pm.

The Semester 3 screening questionnaire will be open from 1st June to 26th July 2024 inclusive.

You have the option to pause the completion of your questionnaire and finish it later if you need to, but please be aware that only completed questionnaires will be reviewed and responded to. 

Once we have reviewed your responses, we will email you within 15 working days and let you know the outcome of your screening. If we think you show signs of a SpLD then we will fully fund an assessment for you, but if there are no signs of a SpLD then we will refer you to Academic Skills for general study support.

Please note, students are not able to have a standalone assessment for ADHD as a SpLD. If you wish to be assessed for ADHD in addition to other SpLDs, you will be required to provide evidence that your symptoms were also present in childhood.  Please be aware that a diagnosis of ADHD as a SpLD does not entitle you to medical care such as medication or CBT; if you are seeking this, you are recommended to seek a medical diagnosis via your GP.

Please see our FAQ section for further details on the screening process.

Final year undergraduate students

If you are a final year undergraduate student contacting us after 1st March, although you can still complete a screening questionnaire, we will be unable to assess this or pay for the cost of your diagnostic assessment. This is because there is not enough time to implement any support should you find that you have a diagnosis; the deadline for students applying for Examination Access Arrangements is usually the second week of March and this is also too late for you to apply for Disabled Students' Allowance, or access any of our Specialist One to One Study Skills Support.

Similarly, if you are a final year postgraduate student then we cannot pay the cost for any diagnostic assessment if you have less than 12 weeks of your academic programme remaining.

A Flowchart for timelines SpLD diagnostic assessment [PDF 109KB] is available, which outlines the process of obtaining an assessment for SpLDs. This information can also be found in our text-based alternative, the Diagnostic Assessment Process for Specific Learning Differences [DOC 14KB].

Diagnostic assessment

The cost of the diagnostic assessment will be paid for by the university. As we have a contract with a specified provider it is not possible for us to pay for diagnostic assessments with any other assessor. If you would like to have an appointment with us before being referred to the diagnostic assessor you can request one, although please be advised that this will delay your eventual appointment with the diagnostician.

Your diagnostic assessment will be carried out remotely by the Halcyon Centre. They have a service level agreement with us to offer you an appointment within 20 working days (i.e. not weekends or Bank Holidays) and to return your ensuing assessment report to us within 5 working days but these are the longest dates you will have to wait and you will usually find that everything moves quite quickly.

The assessment will be conducted remotely and takes around 3 hours, during which you will be screened for dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD and assessed as appropriate.  The assessment will include an interview and various tasks related to reading, writing, memory and information processing. 

Following your assessment, your assessor will produce a diagnostic report which will state which, if any, SpLDs you have and will contain recommendations for support from the university and any other organisations the assessor feels would be helpful.  

Please see our FAQ section for further details on the diagnostic assessment process.

Follow-up

Following your assessment with a diagnostician, you will be invited to discuss next steps, including appropriate support, with a member of the Disability and Dyslexia Service.

Please see our FAQ section for further details on what happens following your diagnostic assessment.

 

Please contact us for more information. All enquiries will be treated in absolute confidence.

Support for students with a SpLD diagnosis

Below are examples of support that are available for students with a SpLD(s) via the Disability and Dyslexia Service.  Please see our FAQ section for further details on the support available.

Exam Access Arrangements

Depending on your needs, you may require some Examination Access Arrangements. The Disability and Dyslexia Service can advise you on how to make an application.

Specialist one-to-one support

Once you have received a diagnosis of a SpLD and have met with an adviser from the Disability and Dyslexia Service, you can discuss the possibility of Specialist One to One Study Skills Support (and/or Specialist Mentoring for students with a diagnosis of ADHD).

Library support

The following can be arranged if you make an appointment to see a Disability Adviser:

  • Unlimited renewals by phone or online
  • Cancellation of fines for overdue books as long as they are returned before an invoice is sent

Please note, the library will send you two e-mail reminders about any overdue books you have. To avoid fines, you must return or renew your books within one week after the second reminder. If you do not do this, an invoice will be sent and you will have to pay all fines up to the date you return your books. This could be up to £12 per item.  

Support from other Departments at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL)

Advice and Counselling

Advice and Counselling provides a range of advice and information for all QMUL students about welfare and financial issues. The service is free and confidential.

Academic Skills

QMUL's Academic Skills service offers a range of support for developing academic skills including academic writing, revision and exam skills and referencing. The service offers one to one sessions, workshops and has a range of self-access resources.

Student Health Centre

All eligible QMUL students are encouraged to register with the on-site GP surgery through the Student Health Service at Mile End.  Please note that students must live in the E1, E2, E3 or E14 postcode area to be eligible to register.

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