11:30 - 11:45

Beyond Accommodations: AI, Resilience, and the Lived Experience of Students with Dyslexia in Higher Education

This research centres on the lived experience of higher education students with dyslexia to examine how technology, policy, and learning design shape the inclusivity of academic environments. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative insights, the research explore the substantial cognitive demands of reading and writing, the emotional toll of academic barriers, and the remarkable resilience students develop to manage fatigue and cognitive load. Attention is given to how learners strategically integrate assistive technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) - such as text-to-speech, digital annotation, lecture capture and AI supported text simplification - to navigate institutional friction, such as inaccessible digital platforms and rigid compliance policies. The research critically considers the ethical tensions of using these tools, including concerns around accuracy, hallucination, academic integrity and the strong student desire for transparent, citation bases- AI. By combining individual coping  strategies within broader structural contexts, the research highlights actionable opportunities for universities to move beyond accommodations and adopt UDL- aligned policies that support diverse learners more equitably.