Programme participants from northern ireland and the border counties came together to investigate, share and promote best practice for pupils who have dyslexia. It is therefore important for line managers to speak to apprentices about the ways in which dyslexia affects their experience of work and what support they find most useful and effective. Individuals can begin to selfmanage their dyslexic difficulties in the workplace. Dyslexia in the workplace, coping tips and strategies. Dyslexics dont see the written word the same way others do.
Our focus is on identifying and developing strengths and the supportive management of weaknesses for each individual. Some students and adults with dyslexia have difficulties with taking notes. It is important to remember that everyone with dyslexia is different and that they will not necessarily experience all of the things above. Knowing your reading assignments is key to taking full advantage of such services. Some schools provide special software that can read out loud wordprocessing documents, pdf files and websites. Introduction individuals with dyslexia have trouble with reading, writing, spelling andor math even though they have the ability and have had opportunities to learn. Dyslexia in the workplace national council for special education. Dyslexia contact, 3 september 2011 a good book and one i would like to keep on the shelf and will certainly wish to refer to again. Dyslexia and the workplace canadian dyslexia centre. How to manage stress caused by dyslexia in the workplace. Instead, it recognizes that people who are dyslexic often work much harder and longer than their peers, provided they are given that opportunity. Todays educational methods are limited when it comes to teaching basic literacy skills to students who have problems with reading, and writing and math.
As a chartered occupational psychologist, i have worked for over a decade with adults who are dyslexic, dyspraxic or have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder adhd or autism spectrum disorder asd. Dealing with dyslexia in the workplace can be discouraging. While dyslexia is most often formally identified in schoolage children, signs of dyslexia can frequently be detected in preschoolers. It is the most common learning difficulty which is caused by differences in. The british dyslexia association, for whom this article was originally written, is particularly keen to set an example in being dyslexia and disability friendly and so to make its materials as accessible as reasonably possible. The text can be spoken out loud by claroread or edited. We can be quite confident in asserting that a reasonable percentage of your stressed employees will also be dyslexic. Discriminating against someone with dyslexia in the workplace means that you havent provided the necessary tools for them to apply for a job, or fulfil their job role, without difficulty particularly if they have requested it.
Installing a dyslexic friendly font onto the individuals computer, as it enhances readability. Dyslexia is recognised as a disability under the equality act 2010, and it is the human resources department hr that is most often given the responsibility. Approximately 3000 clients per year are referred through access to work. There seems to be a general lack of understanding of dyslexia and its characteristics, this. The california department of education extends its profound gratitude to the following individuals and the organizations they represented for their generous contributions of time and expertise in. Dyslexia in the workplace 1 there is a growing awareness of dyslexia and other learning difficulties in the workplace raised awareness and the possibility of support has led to more employees diagnosed with dyslexia, or who think that they might be dyslexic, coming forward for assessment and workplace. How employers can help dyslexic staff dyslexia malvern. This guidance note is intended to provide an introduction to the topic of dyspraxia at work. Dyslexia in the workplace national council for special. Academic studies of dyslexia in the workplace have all arrived at the same conclusion.
Listening to a lecture or attending a meeting and writing down the key points is an important activity for students or adults in the workplace. Everything you need to know about dyslexia in the workplace. Dyslexia scotland can provide training in the workplace. Sometimes photocopying documents on to tinted paper or changing the background and. We have more than 9,000 members, 42 branches throughout the united states and anada and have 27 global. Skills development training for adults with dyslexia. Encourage dyslexic staff to talk to you and others about any workplace difficulties, rather than hide it like a. Building upon existing studies suggesting emotional experience with dyslexia eed affects many areas of adult life. The primary cause is dyslexia or one of its many variations, such as add or dysgraphia. The disability framework for dyslexia is a convenience, but a harmful one. Disclosure may be a big hurdle and the right level of support is very important. Dyslexia is often regarded simply as a difficulty with reading and writing, but in fact literacy. But with help from a tutor, teacher, or other trained professional, almost all people with dyslexia can become good readers and writers. Ida serves individuals with dyslexia, their families, and professionals in the field.
Everyone has different strengths, difficulties and strategies that work for them. Causes of dyslexia there are many definitions of dyslexia. People with dyslexia often feel vulnerable and embarrassed about their difficulties. How microsofts immersive reader tackles dyslexia head on. An employers main concern is whether or not a person can do their job properly, in a timely and efficient manner. Taking notes is hard for everyone but its especially challenging for students with dyslexia. Using mind mapping software to help dyslexic employees in the workplace. Providing adults diagnosed with dyslexia with research based and comprehensive information about dyslexia including the positive aspects of dyslexia. Learners with dyslexia will benefit from early identification, appropriate intervention and targeted effective teaching. Reading is fundamental how microsofts immersive reader tackles dyslexia head on and wins dyslexia is a languagebased learning disability that. Supporting adults with dyslexia and other learning.
Causes of dyslexia page 2 characteristics of dyslexia page 4 the dyslexic way of learning page 10 workplace accommodations page 12 ask the experts page 18 in good company page 25 references page 28 1. Letters or numbers may appear jumbled and meaningless. Reasonable adjustments in the workplace british dyslexia. The dyslexia friendly environment should extend from elementary, middle and high school, through college and into the workplace. It is a convenient way of assuring protection to dyslexic thinkers in the workplace at least on a superficial level. But in todays workplace, employees with dyslexia overcome the challenges they face using a combination of tools and techniques. While dyslexia results from a biological difference in the brain, its outward manifestations, or symptoms, can be different depending on the type of dyslexia andor tasks at hand. It is important to remember that everyone with dyslexia is different and that they. People with dyslexia often need help with written documents. Im confused, is it dyslexia or is it a learning disability. Abilitynet is a leading authority on accessibility and assistive technologies. Adults with dyslexia will benefit from reasonable adjustments in the workplace such as using assistive technology. Adults with unidentified dyslexia often work in jobs below their intellectual capacity.
Top tips for dealing with dyslexia in the workplace. How to avoid dyslexia discrimination guide for employers. There are many solutions that can benefit employees with dyslexia in the workplace such as. This easytoread summary will help you learn how to deal with adult dyslexia at work and in. Each of these can be severe or mild, and can coexist in different combinations. Because their reading ability is challenged, dyslexics take longer. Dyslexia results from a different brain organization, which may cause a problem with. We offer workplace consultancy and coaching to help employers and their staff with all the implications of dyslexia in the workplace. Dyslexia is not related to race, social background or intellectual ability but there is a tendency for dyslexia to run in families and this suggests that the brain differences which cause dyslexia may be hereditary. Paul cowell is the owner of pc landscapes and has a number of employees with dyslexia. Therefore, dyslexia is a specific learning disability that appears to be based upon the brain and its functioning.
Hear what he has to say about dyslexia and being an employer. Make sure that adjustments are agreed and put in place and check that they are working. Please complete one of the following initial enquiry forms. What do richard branson and steve jobs have in common with walt disney, salma hayek, john lennon and pablo picasso. These tips on how to deal with adult dyslexia symptoms includes a dyslexia checklist and symptoms of adult dyslexia. The international dyslexia association ida was founded in 1949 as the orton society to honor and further the work and passion of dr. Nancy doyle, a psychologist looks at effective workplace adjustments to support staff with the condition. Executive summary employers are now responsible for supporting dyslexic employees by providing software and aids to help them overcome the obstacles they experience in the workplace. A more recent study by the cass business school established a 35% correlation between dyslexia and entrepreneurism in the us. Why do some people find it difficult to disclose their dyslexia at their workplace. Specific learning difficulties in the workplace including. This can also improve their own chances of promotion, and make them a more valuable asset to the employer. The stress of not divulging a dyslexia diagnosis can intensify difficulties at work. Any records should be placed on the personal file and hr updated.
Standard office skills like organization and critical reading may not come naturally to dyslexic people, and some may be concerned about their ability to perform certain jobs if theyre disabled. Dyslexia, neurodivergence, workplace, wellbeing, productivity. Dyslexia is a condition that is widely misunderstood in the world of work. We can support apprentices who have dyslexia and managers of apprentices to ensure apprentices achieve in the workplace. Encourage dyslexic staff to talk to you and others about any workplace difficulties, rather than hide it. This is particularly likely when they have not received adequate advice on how to manage their job and their best efforts are still seen as unsatisfactory by peers and supervisors. Its fair to say that many people think they know what dyslexia is, but so many have it wrong. Despite legal protection, workers with epilepsy still encounter ignorance, prejudice and discrimination. Its important to note that when making changes in the workplace that each individual is assessed so their severity levels can be determined. Using mind mapping software to help dyslexic employees in the. Dr kate saunders, ceo of the british dyslexia association, said. Disclosing dyslexia at workplace paper writing experts. The inclusive dyslexia friendly practice is designed for use with pupils who have dyslexia as well as for teachers and parents who work in this area.
It is intended to be read alongside the gmbs neurodiversity in the workplace toolkit. Dyslexia in the workplace wiley online books wiley online library. They may have difficulties in such tasks as copying information or recording it accurately, retrieving files or sequencing them in the correct order, reading maps or. A guide for the workplace shows why small and large employers should be aware of european laws on antidiscrimination and dyslexia. Posted in addadhd, being rightbrained, being rightbrained in workplace, blogroll, dyslexia, dyslexia in the workplace, dyslexics reading, education, special education, teaching dyslexics, uncategorized tagged adult dyslexics learning to write better, dyslexia, dyslexia be a strength in the work world, dyslexia is a strength, how dyslexics. Dyslexia action provide support to both employer and employee. We can assist individuals, charities and employers by providing. Consider joining the cpad network and receiving all of the benefits that come from becoming a member. These neurologicaldifferences have the effect of giving the dyslexic person a particular way of thinking and learning.
The development of the office work screen, a validated. For a couple of seconds, words stop making sense and become little black bugs crawling all over the paper when your bosss yells at you in klingon, it is clear you will not be able to finish the report in time. Textbooks, photocopies and handouts are easily converted into microsoft word documents, pages documents or accessible pdf files. It is advised that specialist advice, such as a workplace needs assessment. A phenomenological exploration of factors affecting the experience and performance of ots with dyslexia. How the workplace can adjust for individuals with dyslexia. In the modern world dyslexia in the workplace is not a problem for the vast majority of employers, most are very supportive. Individuals with dyslexia can learn, but they often need specialized instruction to overcome the problem. A scanner for longer documents to use with text to speech software. You should also aim to raise general awareness about dyslexia with work colleagues and line managers, for example through training around dyslexia, or by distributing our leaflets in your workplace. Fink this article has been provided by the career planning and adult development network. For adults with dyslexia, navigating the workplace can feel like a constant battle.
If you have a need for reading supports, the school may offer a reading service where you will listen to books on tape or have people read aloud to you. Gmbs thinking differently at work campaign celebrates the neurodiversity of our members and outlines the practical support that their union can offer. This is related to the ability to read words accurately and fluently. For more info visit the dissertation this video is based on is titled. This article tells about research on highly accomplished people with dyslexia who. Workplace consultancy and coaching we offer workplace consultancy and coaching to help employers and their staff with all the implications of dyslexia in the workplace. Both for dyslexic people and those who work with them. Dyslexia is recognised under the equality act 2010 and similar to any other disability, the fbu will fight to ensure that a member, who may be dyslexic, will not be discriminated against. Our study explores how the emotional experience with. Due to this general lack of understanding and occasional misrepresentation within the media, many dyslexic neurodivergent individuals have concerns about discrimination and bullying in the workplace. This paper provides a brief overview of the research based study being conducted for the investigation into the reasons why dyslexic patients refrain from disclosing their impairment at their workplace. Dyslexia facts dyslexia is the result of differences in the way the brain receives and organizes information, making decoding words and reading sentences very difficult. Dyslexia is not an illness or a physical disability, but an often misunderstood impairment that affects some individuals. This guide is equally useful for employers, dyslexia professionals and dyslexia workers.
Students with dyslexia are also more likely to have trouble focusing in class because reading is more difficult for them. The more people know about adult dyslexia, the less stigma there is. As the result of this, many adults who are experiencing challenges with their tasks within the workplace may not necessarily consider that dyslexia could be. Specific learning difficulties in the workplace including dyslexia a guide for employers published august 2016 produced in association with adjust disability understood. No matter what dyslexia symptoms you face, youll find that ignorance is a huge hurdle. Dyslexia in the workplace many people with dyslexia are unaware of their condition and as a result may experience anxiety, frustration and low self. Dyslexia is a diagnosis that can present itself with multiple symptoms which will vary in each individual.
Because dyslexia implies a different way of processing information, allow employees some flexibility in how they work. Gaining a working knowledge of dyslexia and its major effects 11 section five. Dyslexia in the workplace is a detailed and comprehensive guide with 5 helpful appendices. The development of californias dyslexia guidelines involved the many people who participated in the dyslexia guidelines work group from 2016 to 2017. Portable document format pdf is a file format developed by adobe systems. Dyslexia has implications relating to work performance, accuracy and possible accident proneness. With claroread plus the powerful optical character recognition ocr technology means that any paper document or pdf file becomes accessible. Many dyslexics are struggling in the work place with very high levels of anxiety, because employers do not have the training or. Trade unions challenge all such attitudes and behaviour and this guide will help them to do so from a position of strength. Aug 27, 2018 reading is fundamental how microsofts immersive reader tackles dyslexia head on and wins dyslexia is a languagebased learning disability that makes reading, interpreting words, letters, and.
A survey conducted by the bpss enabling workplace working group highlighted the following statistics regarding stress and dyslexia. Building upon small amount of work about reframing and. You have to find ways to do what successful people do. Good communication encourage staff to talk about any workplace difficulties and let them. Dyslexia is a learning disability that interferes with visual, auditory or motor processes, making reading and comprehension difficult. Some dyslexics have most difficulties with visual processing of information, some with auditory processing, and others with motor integration. It helps to identify dyslexia as early in life as possible. Chromebooks are now used by pupils in several local authorities in scotland and are also becoming popular in the rest of the united kingdom, and particularly in the united states, we first produced a chromebook apps and extensions for learners with dyslexia poster in october 2016, since when it has been downloaded nearly 10,000 times. How effective is coaching for dyslexia in the workplace. Within the workplace, the ability to identify its signs and provide support for a dyslexic employee could be the key to finding the next henry ford, thomas edison or alexander graham bell. Gap in literature on how dyslexia and edd affects work self efficacy, and hence job satisfaction. Can you talk about your learning disability with your colleagues.
Chromebook apps and extensions for learners with dyslexia. Pdf on jan 1, 2017, janette beetham and others published workplace. For anyone who wants to be successful, dyslexia is definitely an obstacle, says debra brooks, a dyslexic who graduated from columbia university and now works as a consultant on dyslexia in the workplace. Creating a culture of confidence, enabling the person to disclose their dyslexia or difficulties in a safe and supportive environment can make a significant difference. Of those who do disclose, they often disclose to some but not all of.
Dyslexia support for employers and employees helen arkell. Assistive technologies to support employees how to support an individual with dyslexia getting the best out of your workforce. But what happens when they move into the workplace. Dyslexic employees face particular challenges and often experience work related stress. The enriched contribution of the employee with dyslexia in the workplace usually leads to an improvement in herhis relationship with coworkers. Starbucks employee wins dyslexia discrimination case bbc. Individuals with dyslexia have difficulty with processing and manipulating the sounds in a spoken language. Mind mapping is a multisensory strategy used by dyslexic individuals for many decades to. Encourage dyslexic staff to talk to you and others about any workplace difficulties, rather than hide it like a guilty secret. It provides practical advice on how to identify dyslexics in the workplace, how to create the right environment for them to thrive and how organizations can make the. This may explain why colleagues who appeared to have no difficulties in the workplace subsequently struggle with different responsibilities. How to identify when there is a problem that could be linked to dyslexia.
1536 543 1645 1564 1256 797 56 1365 1650 523 1504 1577 878 930 720 360 1132 1612 863 1011 30 908 48 1639 1265 176 703 831 286 20 710 1202 1306 744 1126 45