Challenge by student with dyslexia over exam aid

A Leaving Certificate student with dyslexia has challenged the State Examinations Commission’s refusal to give him an adult “reader” to help him understand the papers in the forthcoming exams.

After the boy’s school confirmed he would need special arrangements for the Junior Certificate, he got a reader — an adult exam supervisor to read exam questions to him in a way he could understand — and he was not penalised for spelling and grammar mistakes.

The guidelines for a reader include scoring 85 or less in word reading on the Wide Range Achievement Test. He was refused a reader for the Leaving Cert after scoring 90 but got a waiver for spelling, grammar, and punctuation for language subjects.