Exams getting closer

I think I mention before that my dyslexia tutor at university is trying to see if I can have any more extra help in the exams. I get extra time which allows me to read questions slower and to take more time to write the answers. But it does not really help with proof reading what I actually wrote. When I rite assignments normally I word process them and then use texthelp read and write to reed it back to me. That way I can spot any mistakes. Obviously I can't do this in the exam because I have to hand write my answers. My DT was trying to see if the exams office will let me use a reader or something in exams. The obvious choice would have been word processor but most of my questions are maths type and lots of short answer questions. Anyway I got a email from the disability office at the university saying the needs assessor said that in his opinion I would benefit form a reader in the exams. That means someone can read the question to me and then when I've finished writing my answers they will read them back to me. they are not allowed to ask me to explain what I mean but I am allowed to say that a word was meant to be something else. Hopefully it will help because normally my exam grade does not reflect what I no or how much work I put in.

Dyslexia is not a gift

I was reading some thing today that court my interest. I am not sure if I was interested or annoyed really. It was a book by someone who name I Carnot remember but it was called something like the gift of dyslexia. It was basically saying that dyslexia is a gift because people who have it can do this that and the other. Personal I think its rubbish. that's just my opinion but I really feel that my dyslexia is no gift and I have a feeling allot of other people with dyslexia will feel the same. I cant help but dwell on all the things it holds me back on rather than all the things it helps me do. for won thing being able to think outside the box is great if you also understand what is happening inside the box if you get what i mean. Another thing is this big picture thing. Let me explain. I've seen it a few times that people say people with dyslexia are good at seeing the big picture. I don't think that comes easier for me than anyone else but I think I always need to understand the big picture before I can understand the smaller pieces. Which is a real problem when lecturers always teach the small pieces first so that you can make up the big picture. Its kind of like my brain works back to front. It is frustrating. Its annoying. And it feels like a disability in itself let me tell you. Did annoy one ever tell you how much Autocad sucks. Really it does. Sorry I am having one of them days were I am getting nowhere. When it comes to computer packages I am really bad. Even if it is a program I use allot I still forget how to get around the menus and what different buttons mean. I wish I could remember these simper things because it drives me mad. When we learn Autocad in first year I was the class idiot and had to have remedial lessons. I felt such a twit that at my age I couldn't Master a set of simple instructions. I just kept forgetting what the tutor said and what the buttons were for. Me and the tutor were both frustrated as each other. Well I guess I had better go finish off these drawings.

Dyslexia and writing

A friend was just asking me about weather people with dyslexia usually have bad writing. I guess it is common going by what my dyslexia tutor says but I guess there are people with dyslexia who have good writing and there will be people with out dyslexia who have bad writing. The problem with mine is it is ok if I can take my time but if I am rushed like in exams then it is difficult to read. I had put a sample here so you can see what I mean. I learn later how to write joined up so one of them is different to the others.

This one is from a spelling test that my DT at uni gave me. I admit this was don on a really bad day and normally my writing is not quit as bad as that.

This one is taken from some homework we had to hand in at uni. I was really embarrassed at the state of it but had done my best with it.

This one was taken a year later after alot of handwriting practise. IT was still really slow and really difficult but looks more like an adults. I used a pen again pen as well which helps

To busy

Sorry there was no update lately but there was not much to write. Life is a bit samey here just now. Its all work work work with no time for fun.University work has been piling up and I am struggling to keep up just now. I have assignments coming out of my ears and just don't no which won to do first. My dynamics assignment is not going well because the software licence at university expired. And still we have not been given an extension so I will have to come into university to do that at the weekend. I look into buying the software for using at home like I did with all the other software we use but the company wanted me to buy a minimum of 10 student licences for £10,000. Needless to say I will not be buying it. I will just have to make the 100 mile round trip to university on a weekend. As if travelling 5 days a week was not enough. I'm not sure if I am just really bad at planning my time or if I have allot of work on. My dissertation is going very slow which is worrying given that it has to be due in a month. I met with my dyslexia tutor at university yesterday and she was asking about how the revision is going. What revision I haven't had time for doing assignments and reports and presentations and a dissertation as well as class work to keep up with. I have tried a few times but something else always demands my time. I just need 30 our days and everything will be fine. Anyway back to the tutor. She was asking me about if I word process exams. My handwriting is difficult to read to read at the best of times - but in exams it is worse and lately tutors have been complaining they can't reed what I'm written. The word processor idea wood not work for my exams because they are all maths and short answer questions. Word processor would be great fur long answer or essay questions. Anyway she is looking into getting me a reader so I can have someone read the questions to me and then read back my answer. Not sure how helpful that will be but I did not want to resort to having and amanuensis were you dictate your answers and they write it down. She also asked if I wanted some classroom support. Its a nice idea and would be useful but I'm in my 5th year now and I think it would be awkward suddenly having this support working appearing in my classes now. My needs assessment that was done when I was in first year is so out of date now and loads of things have changed so I have to have a new one. I am just waiting for an appointment. Well that is it for now. Does anyone even read this. I was just wondering.