Dyslexia, the self and higher education : learning life histories of students identified as dyslexic / David Pollak.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Pollak, David.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Learning disabled--Education (Higher)--Great Britain.

Learning disabled.

Dyslexics--Education (Higher)--Great Britain.

Dyslexics.

Dyslexics--Education (Higher).

Learning disabled--Education (Higher).

Great Britain.

Physical Description:

xix, 250 pages ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

Stoke in Trent : Trentham Books, 2005.

Summary:

Increasing numbers of students identified as dyslexic are entering universities, and the academy is obliged to offer them an accessible curriculum. But many of these students struggle to deal with the label 'dyslexic'.

This book examines the relationship between dyslexia and identity through qualitative research with students at four universities. It offers unique insights into the views of the students themselves about their experience of dyslexia and education. In the candid interviews, by turns moving, blunt and amusing, the students reveal the socio-emotional effects of dyslexia and its effects on their learning. The students display a wide range of ideas on the nature of dyslexia, absorbed from many different sources. But their learning histories show that the self-concepts of all of them were strongly affected by being labelled dyslexic.

The students' views and experiences indicate what the academy should be doing for these students. The recommendations draw on social construction and alternative views of academic literacy, and are pertinent to the debate about the existence of dyslexia.

This is an important book for the higher education sector. It connects with the agenda of inclusivity and widening participation in university and has new things to say to managers and tutors.

Contents:

Chapter 1 The concept of dyslexia and the educational response 1

Chapter 2 Self-image and identity 19

Chapter 3 The self-concept and dyslexia 31

Chapter 4 An HE-focused research project 43

Chapter 5 Socio-emotional and identity issues in compulsory and higher education 51

Chapter 6 Identity issues leading to socio-emotional effects 73

Chapter 7 Experience of Higher Education 91

Chapter 8 Discourses of dyslexia 109

Chapter 9 Conclusion and recommendations 141

Appendix I Informants' descriptions of their experiences 161

Appendix II Brief 'life maps' of each informant 207

Appendix III Four case studies 223.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1858563607

OCLC:

63136187