Dyslexia in the Workplace: A Manager’s Guide to Supporting Dyslexia
Contents:
- What is Dyslexia?
- What does Dyslexia look like in the Workplace?
- How to Support Employees with Dyslexia?
- Dyslexia Workplace Rights and Reasonable Adjustments
- Preventing Discrimination in the Workplace
- Helpful Resources
- Streamlining Support with ClearTalents
Introduction to Dyslexia and Neurodiversity
What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a common neurodevelopmental condition that primarily affects reading, writing, and spelling skills. It’s estimated that up to 10% of the population has some form of dyslexia according to the British Dyslexia Association (BDA), making it likely that you’ll encounter employees with this condition in your workplace.
Dyslexia is part of the broader spectrum of neurodiversity, which recognises that neurological differences like dyslexia, ADHD, and autism are natural variations in human cognition.
While most people associate dyslexia and neurodiversity with literacy difficulties, employees with dyslexia often display standout strengths in other key areas, including visual thinking, verbal skills, creativity, problem-solving skills, and long-term cognitive memory. In the workplace, your dyslexic employees can be a valuable asset to your team, and you can help them unlock and discover their true potential without making it too difficult an obstacle.
Identifying neurodiversity in your team can be challenging. ClearTalents offers a free demo of our diversity and inclusion software, which includes user-friendly tools to help DEI, HR and line managers recognise and support various cognitive styles. Explore how our DEI software platform can help you create a more inclusive workplace.
What Does Dyslexia Look Like in the Workplace?
As a line manager, you may find yourself in a situation where an employee discloses their dyslexia, or you might suspect that an employee is struggling due to undiagnosed dyslexia. It’s crucial to approach these situations with sensitivity and understanding.
Signs that an employee might have dyslexia include (but are not limited to):
- Difficulties with spelling, even simple words
- Inconsistent spelling of the same word
- Adding capitalisations to words that don’t need them
- Challenges in remembering what they’ve just read
- Adding or misplacing commas, full stops, and line breaks
- Struggling to convey ideas on paper
- Finding unique solutions to problems that others solve in standard ways
How to Support Employees with Dyslexia
When an Employee Discloses Their Dyslexia
If an employee tells you they have dyslexia, remember:
- Offer to work with them and HR to implement necessary adjustments.
- Don’t panic – dyslexia is a common neurological condition and is manageable with the right support.
- Thank them for their openness and reassure them of your support.
- Ask about their specific challenges and what accommodations have helped them in the past.
If you suspect an employee might have undiagnosed dyslexia:
If you suspect an employee might have undiagnosed dyslexia:
- Offer support in exploring potential workplace accommodations, irrespective of any dyslexia diagnosis.
- Focus on observed performance issues rather than diagnosing.
- Have a private, supportive conversation about the specific challenges you’ve noticed.
- Ask if they’ve experienced similar challenges before and if they’ve found any strategies helpful.
- Suggest resources for further information, such as an online dyslexia test.
What Am I Allowed to Ask Regarding Dyslexia?
While it’s advised that you don’t directly ask if an employee has dyslexia, you can:
- Enquire about any specific task-related challenges they’re experiencing.
- Ask what workplace adjustments or support might help them perform better.
- Offer information about available resources and support systems within the company.
Building a diverse workforce starts with inclusive recruitment. Discover how ClearTalents’ DEI recruitment tools can help you attract and impartially assess your neurodiverse talent, ensuring you don’t miss out on valuable skills, perspectives, and attitudes.
Dyslexia Workplace Rights and Reasonable Adjustments
What Are the Rights of a Dyslexic Employee?
Dyslexia is considered a disability under the Equality Act 2010. This means:
- Employees have the right to request reasonable adjustments and accommodations.
- They are protected from discrimination based on their diagnosed condition.
- They have the right to privacy regarding their condition if they choose.
Reasonable Adjustments for Dyslexic Employees
Here are some suggestions for reasonable workplace adjustments for dyslexic employees:
- Provide grammar-checking and speech-to-text (dictation) software to assist with writing.
- Provide text-to-speech software to assist with reading and comprehension.
- Adjust screen colours and resolution to improve readability.
- Add different coloured backgrounds or overlays for print and monitor screens.
- Allow extra time for reading and writing tasks.
- Provide written instructions to supplement verbal ones.
- Offer quieter, less ‘busy’ workspaces to improve concentration.
Managing reasonable adjustments across your organisation can be difficult, particularly if you have a large workforce. Learn how ClearTalents’ DEI software dashboards can streamline the process, ensuring compliance and inclusivity across the board.
Preventing Discrimination in the Workplace
To avoid discrimination against any employee with dyslexia – or indeed any other neurological condition:
- Never make assumptions about an employee’s abilities based on their diagnosed condition.
- Ensure equal opportunities for training and continued professional development.
- Avoid using potentially offensive terms like “slow” or “careless” to describe work challenges.
- Instead, use inclusive terminology that doesn’t directly reference any impairments.
- Educate your team about neurodiversity to foster an inclusive environment.
- Judge performance on results, not on methods that might be challenging for dyslexic individuals.
Helpful Resources
For more information and support, consider these organisations:
Wondering about the business impact of implementing comprehensive DEI recommendations? Try our free ROI calculator to see how investing in inclusivity and support for neurodiversity can unlock business benefits and improve your bottom line.
Streamlining Support with ClearTalents
Managing neurodiversity in the workplace can be complex, but ClearTalents’ DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) platform can simplify the process. Our enterprise-grade software helps you:
- Identify potential neurodiversity-related challenges without labelling individuals.
- Suggest appropriate accommodations based on specific needs.
- Ensure consistency in support across your organisation.
- Reduce legal risks by promoting inclusive practices.
- Track and manage reasonable adjustments efficiently.
- You can also read more about inclusive practices and supporting employee well-being on our blog.
By using comprehensive DEI software like ClearTalents, you can create a more inclusive workplace where all employees, including those with dyslexia, can thrive and contribute their unique strengths to your organisation.
Remember, supporting neurodiversity isn’t just a compliance exercise – it’s about unlocking the full potential of your diverse workforce. With the right tools and approaches, you can turn the challenges of dyslexia into opportunities for innovation and growth.
Published on: 31/07/2024
Author: Robin Christopherson, Content Manager
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