Assessor of specific learning difficulties DSA ASSESSMENTS Students who require a diagnostic assessment for a DSA (Disability Support Allowance) will be given a very comprehensive set of tests as required to fulfil current regulations. Diagnostic Assessments These are the majority of the assessments I carry out. I assess the individual's current ability& their cognitive processing, both phonological awareness and visual motor coding and their working memory & compare all these results with their attainment skills. Attainment skills are the skills taught at school; reading, writing and arithmetic. The full assessment is very thorough and dictates precise recommendations which are a specialism of mine because I am an experienced and trained tutor of pupils with Specific Learning Difficulties as well as a certified assessor. I can analyse mistakes and strengths and work out useful ways of supporting each individual in a focused way. Access Arrangements This is the name given to special arrangements granted to people assessed as having one or more specific learning difficulty which is or are impacting on their ability to take exams within timed conditions. They may, for example, need a scribe or the ability to read aloud to support a weak working memory, and this request needs to be in place prior to taking the exam concerned. These assessments do not need to be quite as comprehensive as a diagnostic assessment as they are very specific in their needs. Not all Dyslexic or Dyspraxic children or adults will qualify for access arrangements as they may still be capable of achieving average standard scores in timed tests. It is not an ideal situation but the way it is unfortunately!