Santhiya Sivathasan, dysphasic
Never give up!
I am in my 3rd year of a Bachelor's degree in social sciences with a minor in political science. My phonological-syntactic dysphasia affects my writing, speaking and verbal memory. It normally takes me a long time to write a text because the sentences go all over the place. When it comes to speaking, I find it hard to structure my thoughts and organise them. As for memorising long sentences, that's well out of my reach. Taking notes in unstructured courses is an additional difficulty.
Taking notes in unstructured courses is an additional difficulty.
In the first year of my studies, I felt a bit worried and then things got better in the second and third years. You shouldn't underestimate the difference between gymnasium and university. At gymnasium everyone knew that I was dysphasic and I took a lot of criticism from students because I was allowed more time. At UNIL, you don't get noticed as much, there isn't that stigmatising look. When I wanted to ask for accommodation for the exams, it was difficult because the speech therapist's certificate I had for the gymnasium wasn't valid (it has to cover the period of studies at UNIL). I had to redo all the tests for dysphasics, which was stressful. What's more, I could feel the disability sticking to my skin too much. But on the basis of my new certificate from the speech therapist, I was able to obtain the accommodation I wanted (extra time and adapted equipment). This compensates for my learning difficulties, but does not put me at an advantage over other students.
I love writing, even if what I produce is not structured and I make a lot of mistakes. I try to write scripts for films, with dialogue and organisation by scene, because I learn by doing. I sometimes use software, which helps me because it provides a structure into which I insert my text. I also have to overcome my shyness when it comes to speaking, but the most important thing is to DARE! And, above all, to tell yourself that you can do what you can. However, more than anything else, I normally like to talk and that was something that had been buried inside me for a long time because of these problems, which I've only recently realised existed.
In first-year courses, you have to talk and that's complicated too. So imagining a story or images helps me get my head around what I want to say and remember it.
Getting involved in associations is a good incentive, because there are meetings every week where you have to express yourself and take a stand. You have to avoid staying in your own bubble at all costs. Even if you make mistakes, it doesn't matter, you just have to get on with it; it's obviously easier if the environment is reassuring and the people you're talking to show empathy.
It's also important to be able to count on the help of other étudiants·e·s and to make friends. A good way to make friends is to join the student association at your university. This is the case for me as a member of the AESSP or even through social networks.
Don't restrict yourself to choosing a fairly literary path. Because if your content and your reflection are the main thing, the rest will adjust automatically. So don't be afraid and rise to the challenge, it will only be good, if you learn what you're doing.
When you have dysphasia, it's best to explain to teachers·e·s what it involves, as many don't know about it.
For the seminars, it would be a good thing for teachers to be informed about my dysphasia. You could also think about telling the teachers for exams or writing at the top of the exam what the disability is.
It would be a good idea if the teachers knew about my dysphasia.
The pandemic of COVID-19 has complicated things because you have to constantly re-adapt to a new environment, for example with online or co-modal courses.
Despite the difficulties, I'm making progress with my studies and I'm focused on my goal: to get my Bachelor's degree in every respect!