Supporting Dyslexia in the Workplace

With diversity and inclusion a hot topic in the contemporary workplace, it’s surprising that often dyslexia and those employees who have it are left out of the conversation. In fact, it’s thought that around one in seven people (up to 15 per cent of the UK population) have dyslexia, with many more going undiagnosed.

Dyslexia is a language-based learning difficulty and affects everyone differently. In addition to the more-commonly known presentation of having difficulty with reading, writing and spelling – other areas that it can affect are memory, processing speed and even organisational skills. It can be hard for a person with dyslexia to follow a recipe for example or manage their time. In the workplace, planning and scheduling tasks can be a challenge, while ‘shooting off a quick email’ takes much longer than it does for their more neuro-typical colleagues.

CMA Consultant Moya Dunne tells us her story…

Moya’s story

“I was 15 when I received my diagnosis. Personal experiences of dyslexia vary from person to person and in my case it presents itself in my spelling, grammar, short-term memory, and whilst I know in my mind what I what to say, it can take me longer to relay precise written communication.

“As dyslexia is misunderstood by so many, it is important to highlight the positive attributes that come from it, whilst I may find writing more of a struggle than most, I am extremely creative and pride myself on being able to confidently present to a large group and convey my thoughts verbally.

“Some days are worse than others and there is no one solution that fits all. Over the years I have learnt to adapt my working style to support my personal dyslexia journey. Stepping away and changing the scenery for a few minutes can help me identify errors in my work, as well as having a trusted proofreader as backup helps instill confidence in the work I produce.

“Supporting dyslexia in the workplace is beneficial for everyone as it not only allows personal growth and development but can also be a positive advocate when working with dyslexic clients and customers.

“N.B Read and edited by my proofreader.”

Mark’s story

CMA’s Associate Director Mark Smith is also dyslexic – he shares how he has turned being dyslexic into his own super power: “When I was younger I struggled with being dyslexic, but as I developed ways of coping I found dyslexia became more of a strength. It taught me to be tenacious, have a better eye for detail and always strive to improve myself. It also taught me patience and improved my verbal communication skills.”

How can employers support their team members who have dyslexia?

As Moya says, actively supporting dyslexia and dyslexia awareness in the workplace is beneficial not just for your own employees, but it has a wider reach to those clients and customers you as an organisation work with.

What can employers actively do to help? Mark recommends taking each person on a case-by-case basis: “Dyslexic people often excel in some areas but need a little support in others. It’s worth taking time to understand how to fully utilise these strengths so as to help them reach their potential.”

Be sure to make use of a Workplace Needs Assessment to help you in determining these needs, because as Mark says, they will vary with the individual.

As an employer, you’ll need to then make reasonable adjustments. With written communications, this could be giving verbal as well as written instructions, providing hard copy resources on coloured paper or providing assistance technology. When it comes to computer work, anti-glare screens can be a great help, as can changing the background colour of screens.

Helping to minimise distractions, allowing flexible working and ensuring easy access to calendar and reminder tools is often also useful.

Supporting all members of your team will encourage a kinder, more inclusive organisational culture where each team member is celebrated for their strengths. This in turn ultimately leads to a better and stronger organisation as a whole.

Find more information about supporting neurodiversity (and dyslexia) in the workplace from the British Dyslexia Association >

Find out more about Dyslexia Awareness Week >