<p>As an undergrad it was discovered that I had dyslexia. After receiving help from the Academic Services department, my grades took a major upswing. When I applied to my Masters program the professor that helped me wrote a letter explaining my dyslexia and how it affected my first year grades.</p>
<p>I contacted my undergrad university to speak with the professor that assisted me and found that he has since retired. He did not leave any of his files so his replacement cannot produce a letter detailing my discovery, struggle, and overcoming of dyslexia. I have attempted to contact him at the only number he left and I have yet to hear back and I am getting rather nervous. I do have a copy of the letter he sent to my graduate university when I was applying for my Masters program. If I cannot contact the professor could I submit the copy along with a cover letter detailing my dilemma in contacting this person as an addendum? </p>
<p>Furthermore, what are the pros and cons of disclosing a disability such as dyslexia to law schools?</p>
<p>When given the choice between two similar candidates but one of them has dyslexia, who do you think a typical law school adcom would prefer? I am betting on the one without the dyslexia. If you disclose it, I would suggest you do so in the context of an "I can do anything -- including overcome dyslexia -- so let me in your school."</p>
<p>I am not suggesting law school admissions officers would adopt a specific intent (openly expressed) to discriminate based on an applicant's disability. I am suggesting that when comparing applicants to determine which one will best perform in law school, a law school admission officer will prefer the one without a learning disability.</p>
<p>and i am suggesting that what you are describing is exactly what discrimination is.
substitute the words white or male for learning disability and see how it reads. often disability discrimination can be more "subtle" since it seems to relate to ability -- but that is why people with such disabilities are supposed to get accomodations to allow them to perform.</p>
<p>*this not being offered as a legal opinion - i don't even know off hand what discrimination laws would apply to the law school and how they have been interpretted -- just suggesting that people stop and think about this type of conclusion. and i would suggest the op might want invgestigate what his rights would in fact be.</p>
<p>I say disclose - because that will provide a VERY convincing reason why you started off with low grades. It's all about context. Compare:</p>
<p>*I have dyslexia and it made it hard for me to make good grades; OR
*During soph. year, I found out I had dyslexia, which was the reason for my poor grades [provide some detail]. Now, I've done x,y, and z to overcome this disability. My grades improved (3.xx during junior & 3.yy during senior year), and my dyslexia is no longer an issue with academic success. I know that law school requires a lot of reading, and I've improved my reading ability by doing ___ so that I can be a successful law student." </p>
<p>Your plan of action sounds like a good one. Most universities will forward correspondence to professors who are no longer at their school & that may be another way of contacting the professor who advocated on your behalf before leaving the university.</p>
<p>Please keep in mind that law requires a LOT of reading & writing. I have a friend whose husband has dyslexia. He struggled with high school & college. After working for a while & deliberating, he went on to get a masters in physics & is an inventor, doing quite well. Dyslexia can be worked through, but it does make things more challenging, of course.</p>
<p>If you focus on what you've learned and that you've learned to compensate for the dyslexia by working harder & skills you've been taught, I think that makes you a strong candidate. Be sure not to "whine." I have friends who have fibromyalgia & chronic fatigue syndome. Most disclosed it in their applications for undergrad & grad school & most got into all or most of the schools they applied to, even though they do continue to need accommodations in college & grad school.
Anesathena wrote a good format about how this issue can be approached constructively. You can also mention what you've gained by working through & overcoming the challenge of dyslexia.</p>