Case study: a virtual non-reader achieves a degree

J, a mature age student with severe dyslexia, entered university with virtually no reading and writing. She could recognize very few words, she had difficulty with spelling simple words and her handwriting was poor. She also had distinctive difficulties with numbers. Yet, she graduated successfully 3 years after entry. In this paper, the characteristics of her disabilities are discussed and the teaching programme and support systems set up to help her are described. Some theoretical and practical implications which arise from J's case are also considered.