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As someone who graduated in 1983 and has recently found himself back at the edge of academia, I have to say that I am shocked at the way dyslexia is now approached.

Gavin Fairbairn's question about dyslexic trainee teachers only covers one extreme of what I would describe as a "fassonabl dissability".

If the ability to choose the correct words, spell them correctly, and transcribe numbers, is thought important for the degree then no allowances should be made.

If not, then academia should admit it, and not mark down such mistakes. But at least let us have some honesty to employers, and fairness to all students whether they have taken a dyslexia test or not.

After all, presumably the logical progression from allowances for dyslexia is to make allowances for the tone deaf on music courses, and to make special allowances for those with a low IQ. Or is that the ultimate point, a degree which is marked on how hard you try - not on how well you do.

NIGEL NICHOLSON Swanage Close St Mellons Cardiff