To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning what support is available to university students diagnosed with dyslexia.

Supporting students with learning difficulties into and through higher education is a key objective of my Department. In September 2012 I launched Access to Success, my Department’s regional strategy to widen participation in higher education by disadvantaged students, including those with learning difficulties. The strategy has a strong focus on the creation of a more accessible sector in which the people who are most able but least likely to participate are given every encouragement and support to apply to, and to benefit from, higher education.

When a student with a learning difficulty such as dyslexia applies for a Higher Education course they are encouraged to apply for Disabled Students Allowances (DSAs) to help cover the extra costs of any support they may require throughout their course as a direct result of their specific condition. DSAs can help with the cost of non-medical support providers, major items of specialist equipment, travel and other costs. A student can apply at any time before or during their course, and the amount of assistance does not depend on their income or their family income. This allowance does not have to be repaid.

Through DSAs my Department also provides funding to meet the administration costs of a Register of Support Providers in each of the two Northern Ireland universities. The Register of Support Providers is a unique service which provides one to one personal support to disabled students registered on recognised higher education courses at any of the colleges or universities in Northern Ireland. The Register maintains and develops a resource of freelance professional and non-professional support providers, who act in specialist roles to support disabled students. The student’s support needs are assessed, and the student is “matched” with the appropriate support provider(s). Support providers include audio-typists, note-takers, dyslexia coaches, study skills mentors, sign language interpreters and campus assistants.