Why they need to know 3 (university lecturers)

this is my 3rd post in this series of short posts of why and what differnet proffessions needed to know about dyspraxia for dyspraxia awareness week
todays one is on university lecturers so is likely to be shorter than the others as lecturers/tutors dont have as much direct involvement in the learning process compared to school teachers.

to start with make sure that you know if there is someone who has dyspraxia or any other learning difficulty within your lectures or more importantly the seminars due to having  a little bit more involvement during seminars however with lectures many people with dyspraxia may be using a dictaphone or some sort of recording device so it help them and you to know who these people are as you may be able to assist by using some sort of microphone or having the dictaphone on you whilst delivering the lecture and that way there is less likely to be any background noise from other people talking, coughing or sneezing as dictaphones can be extremly sensitive to any noise also if you are aware of who records any of the lectures you will be able to inform them of any situation such as a guest lecturer who doesnt wish for anything that they say to be recorded however that situation should not need to happen.

if you know someone has a specific way of doing something do not try to change it as they will have got used to that even if it does take longer than other ways

related to the equipment that someone may use if someone does use a dictaphone or have scribe for exams as an example you should be able to make it clear that the other students either do not need to know or if the student with a learning difficulty is ok with it explain to the other students so they do not constantly ask why someone has a scribe or uses a dictaphone or any other learning aid.

suspecting someone of having a learning difficulty can be very important at this stage of learning as many people go undiagnosed for long period of time or throughout their life so if you suspect a student of having any sort of learning difficulty recommend that they go and see the disbaility support people at the university and go to see them yourselves prior to the student to discuss with those poeple why it is you suspect a learning difficulty so that they can then best help the student to potentially get a diagnosis and put support in place to help them with their learning and achieve the best that they can.

many of the Dyspraxia organisation will have more in depth information on spotting someone with dyspraxia and other details on how to support them.

you can see my previous two posts from this week by following these links
http://dyspraxiactivist.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/why-they-need-to-know-1-primary-teachers.html
http://dyspraxiactivist.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/why-they-need-to-know-2-secondary.html

and as usual finishing with detail from the cycle challenge i did a couple of months ago and the justgiving page will probably stay up for a little while https://www.justgiving.com/Eben-Fletcher/, and i should probably continue to mention all those companies that supported the challenge atleast for the next few posts

i hope i have not forgotten anyone

http://www.cyclesuk.com/ specifically there maidstone store providing me with disount on equipment etc and great customer service (also i believe the first company to support me)
Sheppey FM http://sheppeyfm.org.uk/ local radio station that helped publicise the ride
http://www.endurasport.com/ cycling clothing 
http://www.jenwoods.co.uk/ a local printers in Swale,Kent
http://www.hlgraphics.co.uk/
and chek out these hotels, B&B's etc. if you are thinking of going on holiday in any of these area's
http://www.irondukebrighton.co.uk/ in brighton 
http://www.swallowsrestselfcatering.co.uk/ in weymouth
http://www.torbaycourthotel.com/index.php in or very near Torquay
http://www.parkhotelpreston.co.uk/  in Preston
http://www.etruriatownhouse.com/ in Kilmarnock
http://www.thebridgehotelscunthorpe.co.uk/ in Scunthorpe
http://johnogroatsbnb.com/ in John O'Groats
http://www.the-beeches.co.uk/home  in Bristol
http://www.dornochcastlehotel.com/contact/location/  in the Dornoch/ Bonar Bridge area
http://www.rezarefarmhouse.co.uk/ in Rezare, Launceston, Cornwall close to Tavistock
http://www.lionandpheasant.co.uk/ in Shrewsbury
http://www.thegeorgehotel.co.uk/ in Inverary, Scotland
http://www.scottishguesthouse.com/contact-pitlochry-guest-house.html in Pitlochry
http://www.albahillsguesthouseedinburgh.com/ in Edinburgh
http://www.trapinn.co.uk/newtrap/ in Alnwick
and finally in hitchin where the dyspraxia foundation are based http://chartridgevenues.com/hitchin-priory/ 

also thank you to the two universities that allowed and were going to allow me to use room in student accomodation http://www.solent.ac.uk/home.aspx (my old uni) and https://www.dur.ac.uk/ and i also forgot to mention ther place where we had our emergency stop which was the ivydene guesthouse  http://www.bedbreakfastcornwall.com/west-cornwall/helston/ivydene-guest-house/ which was very nice