Express and Echo 5th November 2009

LEE Croad was on the brink of losing his place on a music course at Exeter College – until he asked for help.
Lee, 21, has dyslexia and it was only after his cry for support was answered by college staff that he was able to discover he was not alone. That was music to his ears – and one very good reason why Lee, is backing Dyslexia Week which is being supported by Exeter College as part of its efforts to help students with the impairment.
The theme of the week, which ends on Saturday, is dyslexia strengths.
Learning-support staff at the college have been on hand all week at the Hele Road campus offering advice to students and staff with dyslexia.
Claire Staveley, dyslexia/dyspraxia co-ordinator at the college, said more and more pupils were being referred to her and that there were now excellent facilities to help people with their learning.
Lee, from Okehampton, who is doing a foundation degree in music and has dyslexia, said: “Last year I was doing a course. It got to the point where I was nearly kicked off, but I knew it was because of my dyslexia so I decided to go for help.
“Claire gave me the courage to get support. She helped me express myself more and helped me understand that I am no different to anyone else.”
He added: “The awareness week is a very good idea. I found it very difficult growing up with dyslexia. I used to be scared of what people might think.
“Last year I finally got the courage to start getting support in lessons. The awareness week should help people understand it more and not be scared about it.”
Now Lee accesses all the help available to him.
He said: “There is a learning support centre where you can get one-to-one individual help. You can also have an enabler in the lesson with you who helps to take notes.”
Lee said he hoped other people would make use of the services at the college.
“If I could turn the clock back I would have done a lot more about being dyslexic and not worried about what other people thought,” he added.
Mrs Staveley said: “We are putting banners and display boards up to make staff, teachers and anyone else aware of dyslexia.
“We are also getting people to look at what it might be like to be dyslexic and look at the positive strengths.
“Exeter College has improved in its awareness and teachers are very good at referring pupils.”