Picked last for teams in PE? Have a FREE laptop!
I was crap at school sports, in common with many b3tans, and was often shrieked at and accused of not even TRYING! by red-faced, furious PE teachers.

However, in my 40s, back at university, I asked Student Services for help over my piss-poor handwriting, and was soon diagnosed by a county educational psychologist as dyspraxic*.

Dyspraxics have poor co-ordination and two left feet. We are clever but have poor spatial ability and can't catch for toffee.

We also get given free laptops and electronic voice recorders and extra time in exams.

If YOU are unco-ordinated, have scruffy writing, can't do any form of sport or dance without falling over - you may be dyspraxic. If you're in education, demand an assessment, and after diagnosis, collect your goodies. Simples!

* Cheekily, I did a Masters too and had a shedload more freebies.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Sat 21 Nov 2009, 19:01, 5 replies)

Oooh
And I thought I was just clumsy!
(BearWithLittleBrain, Sat 21 Nov 2009, 19:04, closed)

If you're clumsy AND highly literate
AND in education, collect your laptop.
I was so bowled over by the help I got! All arrived in no time, too.

Plus, my kids had the valuable information that I now legally had a 'learning difficulty.' Much affectionate belming resulted.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Sat 21 Nov 2009, 19:09, closed)

Did you write this?
Or did you get a guide dog with a laser on it's head to do it?
No offence meant. You got a fucking laptop for free and I had to steal this one.
(Klangtarnflatchslapper looks just like a Telefunken U-47, Sun 22 Nov 2009, 0:32, closed)

The last Uni I worked at had an "open access" policy
which meant it would do everything it could to support all types of student.

When word of the "free laptops" went round, the number of students suddenly diagnosed with learning difficulties of one form or another shot through the roof.

Sod the extra time in exams, a laptop is something you can *sell.* I certainly never saw any in use in the classroom...

In the Uni where I now work - and where no free laptop policy exists - the proportion of students with these issues is dramatically less.

Also, don't get me started on the liabilities such a diagnosis (real or otherwise) creates for the poor lecturer (note: not the Uni) under the DDA...
(dxg, Sun 22 Nov 2009, 1:16, closed)

Free laptop?
Check. Free voice recorder? Check. Free post-grad sitting in my lecutures, writing my notes for me, checking my essays and giving me more help than I can ever repay them? (Hey, she got paid for it!) Check.

Well worth the £250 assessment fee.
(stimpy, Sun 22 Nov 2009, 13:09, closed)