Stories of resilience : learning from adult students' experiences of studying with dyslexia in tertiary education

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Supplementary material

Other Title

Authors

Wilson, Margaret
Savery, Natalie

Author ORCID Profiles (clickable)

Degree

Grantor

Date

2013

Supervisors

Type

Journal Article

Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)

Keyword

dyslexia
resilience compensatory strategies
tertiary
neurodiversity
learning differences
narrative analysis

ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)

Citation

Wilson , M., and Savery, N. (2013). Stories of resilience: Learning from adult students' experiences of studying with dyslexia in tertiary education. Journal of Adult Learning Aotearoa New Zealand. 40(1) : pp. 110-123

Abstract

Stories from adult students with dyslexia are not widely heard in Aotearoa/New Zealand. While working alongside students with dyslexia we have gained access to some powerful stories of struggle and triumph. Our own practices, as a learning development lecturer and a literacy advisor, have been challenged by what we heard and this has prompted us to investigate dyslexia and the discourses that are associated with it in more depth. In order to learn more we interviewed four students about their study journeys , and asked them to identify what lecturers did or could do to make learning easier. Using a narrative analysis approach we identified five clear themes: resilience (these students were studying successfully); the positive impact of identification ; the importance of self-awareness; implementation of compensatory strategies; and, the positive consequences of being open about dyslexia in terms of receiving institutional assista,ce and accessing support in the learning environment, for example, assistive technologies. Recommendations are also made about what lecturers can do to make learning easier for students with dyslexia.

Publisher

Journal of Adult Learning Aotearoa New Zealand

Link to ePress publication

DOI

Copyright holder

Journal of Adult Learning Aotearoa New Zealand

Copyright notice

All rights reserved

Copyright license

Available online at

This item appears in: