Dyslexia Assessments and Disability Support

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So it's the second semester at uni and everyone in my class (including myself) got our grades from the previous semester. I did pretty good (could have done better, though). Anyway, one of my peers mentioned that she had severe trouble with the writing portion because she has severe dyslexia and dyspraxia. I asked her if the lecturers knew about this or if she was getting any support. Apparently, the university requires people with a learning disability to take another assessment to prove that their disability is causing them this trouble. it doesn't seem to matter if they have a diagnosis and if they had an IEP or notes from a therapist or whatever - they need to do another assessment AND the student needs to pay for it.

I found this to be so disturbing. When I applied to uni, I never needed to get assessed because I had my IEP and letters from my therapist, teachers and doctor proving my history. Clearly, her dyslexia is affecting her work and she's already struggling as it is, financially, so why wouldn't they just go 'okay, clearly you're dyslexic - hop on in here and we can sort you out'. I just don't get it. Are people really that vigilant when it comes to learning disorders? Is there any resources out there to help her? Any legal advice if need be?

I did not find it to arduous getting a diagnosis for dyslexia when I was at uni it was just one fee to a local educational psychologist (about £70 I think).
My gripes were with the provisions that were made which I found inadequate. I did not get a diagnosis until well into my second year hence being provided with a new computer was great but had as many drawbacks as advantages having to learn new software and engaging with this process without proper preparation meant possibly I made wrong decisions. I was awarded extra time to hand in my assignments but this was not a great help as it using it means in real time no extra time is available for the next assignment and I found the practice of being sent to a room on my own for exams unhelpful.
Obviously practices vary from uni to uni and also change.

I'm not what country you are in but in England there is a legal requirement for the university to make provisions once you have a diagnosis.

I hope your friend avoids the pitfall and succeed

I think it might be more expensive in America is the problem.

Well, I'm actually in Scotland, so our education system is slightly different*, but not too different from what you described (at least in terms of disability services). She was required to pay £90 for the assessment, but she was already assessed and has a diagnosis of dyslexia and dyspraxia. I'm guessing they were curious as to how severe her dyslexia is now that she is older than when she got her last assessment (which was in secondary school), but it's clearly affecting her studies. I always assumed that if you have a diagnosis of a learning disorder, that would be enough. I have a diagnosis of aspergers and I get help for that. Hell, I don't even have a diagnosis of depression (yet) but knowing that I was under the care of the psychiatric services, I got help for that too. It really baffles me.

I have another friend with dyslexia, but he's also on the autism spectrum and I think they prioritized him more because of that. I don't think he actually needed another assessment - he just got in, as far as I recall. He was entitled to a scribe to help him write essays and take notes in lectures. They also helped him to proofread as well. I think this is what she needed because she really struggled with the writing. I really wish she asked for help from me and the other in our class because if the uni isn't going to do it, then I guess we'll have to do it.

Thank you. She's a smart girl who works very hard and has a lot of initiative. I think her hard work will pay off, but now that we know she's dyslexic, at least we (her peers) can help her out.

*Actually, our respective educational systems are a lot different, heheh.