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Disability and Dyslexia Service

Specific learning differences and neurodiversity

Students with specific learning differences will join a supportive and inclusive environment, with resources and services available to help with university life.

Screening and assessment

Please note that the Semester 1 2024/25 screener will close on Friday 13th December at midday.

Please register first to complete the screener.  Please note, on the registration page you will need to open the drop down list and select your student status - Home, International or Apprentice - before you can access the registration form.

Once you have completed the screener, you will receive a report immediately which will show you if you have any indicators of neurodivergence, as well as where your areas of strength lie. The report will also include an individually tailored study skills guide for you, based upon your responses to the questions so that you can straight away begin to work on areas of difficulty.

We will review your report and contact you within 15 working days with a number of options available to you, depending upon what support you would like to access. In the meantime, you can begin to use the resources in the report to support your learning and development.

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.

Overview

If you think that you may have a neurodivergent condition such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD or autism, please see below for further information on the steps in the screening and assessment process.

 

Screening

Please note that the Semester 1 2024/25 screener will close on Friday 13th December at midday.

Please register first to complete the screener. Once you have done so, you will receive a report immediately which will show you if you have any indicators of neurodivergence, as well as where your areas of strength lie. The report will also include an individually tailored study skills guide for you, based upon your responses to the questions so that you can straight away begin to work on areas of difficulty.

We will review your report and contact you within 15 working days with a number of options available to you, depending upon what support you would like to access. In the meantime, you can begin to use the resources in the report to support your learning and development.

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.

Final year undergraduate students

If you are a final year undergraduate student contacting us after 1st March, you can still complete a screening but we will be unable to refer you for and fund a 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

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

Advice and Counselling

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

QMUL Academic Skills Centre

Queen Mary's Academic Skills Centre offers a range of academic, research, information and maths and statistics skills support. The service offers one-to-one sessions, workshops and has a range of self-access resources.

Student Health Service

All eligible Queen Mary 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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