ADD ADVICE TO FAVDyslexia
Dyslexic people often have great talent – a high level of creativity, for example, or excellent lateral problem-solving skills. You only have to look at dyslexic people such as Richard Branson, Albert Einstein and Sir Steve Redgrave to see the evidence of this.
Dyslexia can also present individuals with challenges, however. Some dyslexic people have difficulties with reading and writing and others have time-management or organisational problems. And as dyslexia is a hidden disability, prejudice and ignorance may occur as a result of others not fully understanding the difficulties dyslexia can cause.
Disclosure of dyslexia
Strategies for coping with dyslexia at work
The following are examples of strategies used by employers that have proved successful for many dyslexic people who have difficulties with reading and writing. You can find more examples on the British Dyslexia Association’s website.
- Provide verbal rather than written instructions.
- Examine other ways of giving the same information to avoid reading.
- Utilise information prepared in other formats, for example audio or videotape, drawings, diagrams and flowcharts.
- Highlight salient points in documents.
- Discuss the material with the employee, giving summaries or key points.
- Use voice mail as opposed to written memos.
- Supply a reading machine or get someone else to read aloud.
- Provide information on coloured paper (find out which colour helps the person to read best).
- Set up a computer screen with a coloured background to documents.
- Allow plenty of time to read and complete a task.
- Use tape recorders or speech-to-text software.
If you are concerned about prejudice, you may decide not to disclose your disability to your employer. However, you should consider that you might not get the support you need unless you decide to be open about it.
Recent High Court rulings have underlined the importance of employers not discriminating against people with dyslexia. The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) requires employers to make reasonable adjustments for employees with disabilities.
You might not consider dyslexia to be a disability, but when it is preventing an individual from performing to their full potential, it does fall within the DDA. This means that you should receive appropriate support when you disclose your dyslexia. In fact, once you have disclosed it, assistance may be available to you following an Access to Work assessment.
Reasonable adjustments for employees with dyslexia
All reasonable adjustments should be very individual and focused on your particular needs. However, examples of adjustments that employers could consider include:
- encouraging the use of a dictaphone in meetings
- creating a quiet work space to avoid interruptions and distractions
- providing software packages with text-to-speech and speech-to-text facilities
- using coloured paper
- establishing the use of accessible fonts.
The British Dyslexia Association has produced An Employer’s Guide to Dyslexia, which explains what dyslexia is and how to make reasonable adjustments. You could consider showing this to your employer. Or if you require further help, contact your careers service, the Disability Employment Adviser at your local Jobcentre Plus or one of the organisations listed on the Disability contacts page.
