£500,000 fall in cash for dyslexic students

THE amount of extra cash given to support students with dyslexia has plummeted by £300 per applicant since the turn of the decade, figures have revealed.

More than £3.8 million in grants, which are given out to help those with dyslexia in higher education purchase helpful equipment such as laptops or computer software, were approved in 2010-11.

However, the total dropped to about £3.25 million by last year, despite a slight rise in the number of applications.

Students at universities received £1,200 each on average in 2014-15, compared to £1,500 in 2010-11.

Average funding for those at college with dyslexia, which can cause problems with reading, writing and spelling, dropped by a larger amount, from an average of £1,800 to £1,400 per person.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats expressed concern at the findings, obtained at Holyrood, but the Scottish Government insisted the drop was not a result of budget cuts.

It said technological advances, potentially meaning equipment had become cheaper, and increased support services meant students needed less cash than they once did.

LibDems’ MSP Tavish Scott said: “The hard fact is dyslexic students who need extra support are likely to start the year hundreds of pounds worse off than would have been the case in previous years.

“If students need specialist support they should get it. Cutting grants will not help a single student with dyslexia achieve their potential.”

A Government spokeswoman said there has been no cut in the overall Disabled Students’ Allowance budget. NATIONAL Galleries of Scotland employee Harris Brine puts the finishing touches to a new exhibition celebrating the life of some lesser-known lights in the art world.

Spanning five centuries of superb draughtsmanship, the event, Drawing Attention: Rare Works On Paper 1400-1900, sees a selection of workers from the Edinburgh galleries’ collections on display.

They have been chosen for rarity, beauty and in some cases their quirkiness.

It is the first time the public is being offered the chance to see these drawings on display.

It runs until January 3 next year with free admission. There are talks on October 12 and November 16 and admission to those is also free. Picture: Gordon Terris