A STUDENT is proving that dyslexia is no barrier to learning and is determined to encourage others to overcome their disability.

Tony Corkin, who left school when he was 16 years old with few qualifications, graduated last year from the BSc applied microbiology course and has now started a PhD in molecular biology at the University of Sunderland.

Tony, 33, of Washington, said his success was due to the help and support he got from university staff who helped him diagnose and deal with his dyslexia.

He said: "My dyslexia caused me real problems at school because no one knew why I mixed up my letters and words.

"Although I was bright, I was not allowed to do O-levels and I left school at 16 with very few qualifications.

"But I decided to go to evening classes and got 11 O-levels and then got a job at the university as a laboratory technician."

Tony was later assessed by an educational psychologist and discovered he was dyslexic.

Tony said: "By this time I was in my mid-20s, but once I found what was wrong it was really easy to do something about it.

"The university runs a course for people with dyslexia which taught me how to concentrate on my strengths and devise learning strategies that work for me."