How to manage the workplace and dyslexia

According to the NHS, one in every ten British people has dyslexia to some degree. The learning difficulty can affect one’s reading, spelling and writing abilities. People with dyslexia face a specific set of challenges in their daily lives. So how can one manage the workplace and dyslexia? Not necessarily as a person with dyslexia, but even as their coworkers and employers? What are the things you can do to make it easier for professionals with learning difficulties to handle the workplace?

Looking for jobs as a dyslexic job seeker

A learning difficulty can be mild, moderate or severe. Depending on the degree of dyslexia a person has, they are able to live independently. This also means that they are fully capable of performing their duties at work with success. But when one has dyslexia, how can one navigate through the recruitment process and handle working in an office?

Should you or should you not reveal it during the hiring process?

If you have dyslexia, it is your decision whether you disclose it to your employer or not. Despite the learning difficulties you live with, you are well-positioned to succeed in the workplace. New technologies, as well as automation and machine learning, are disrupting every industry. Machines are more than capable of performing the tasks you struggle with – spelling, reading and writing.

• Consider the challenges you might face. If your job involves tasks that pose a challenge for you, such as note taking, it is better to disclose that you have dyslexia. Doing so meand you can request the tools you need to successfully perform your tasks.
• Present yourself in the best light. Dyslexic individuals have a lot of soft skills that hiring managers look for. Highlight your skills such as creativity, communication skills and critical thinking in your CV.

Dyslexia and the law

There is legal protection for dyslexic people. However, this protection only extends if and when you disclose your dyslexia to your employer. Under the Equality Act, employers must treat dyslexic employees equally if dyslexia has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to perform daily tasks. Employers have to make reasonable adjustments to help you manage your work.

However, employers can’t ask job candidates any questions regarding their health or disabilities. They may only do so via a medical questionnaire once the candidate receives a job offer. If you choose to provide false or misleading information, it might affect your career in the future.

Manage the workplace and dyslexia

As a dyslexic job seeker, you decide to disclose it and receive a job offer. How then, do you manage the workplace and dyslexia? There are some easy strategies you can put into action to make sure that your learning difficulties don’t hinder your career.

• Disclose it to your coworkers and manager. Disclosing it during the hiring process may make the recruiters aware of it. However, it is still your decision whether you wish your coworkers to know. There are laws in place to prevent discrimination against you, and having dyslexia is not shameful. Just because you have a learning difficulty, it doesn’t affect your intelligence. Be upfront about the things you find challenging.
• Adjust the setting of the company provided desktop or laptop. As a person with dyslexia, you may already know that there are certain fonts that make it easier for you to read. Another setting you can adjust is the background colour of the screen. Changing this setting can reduce distractions.
• Text-to-speech software. Thanks to text-to-speech software, you can easily get around writing emails, reports, etc. In addition, there are tools that help you to read and research as well. Since most of this tools are also compatible with smart phones, you can even use these outside the office.
• Stick to a schedule. Create a list of tasks for the day and carry it out. The structured day will help you to maintain your focus. In return, that will minimise the amount of stress you experience.

How can employers manage the workplace and dyslexia?

An employee with dyslexia faces several challenges. The primary ones are reading, writing and spelling. As a result, they may struggle with text-heavy content, or slip up on emails due to spelling errors. However, dyslexia also affects them in other ways, including

• difficulty in retaining instructions and/ or information
• reading maps
• struggling with directions due to not being able to distinguish between left and right
• keeping up with their appointments
• copying down information

Despite these struggles, dyslexic people have fantastic soft skills and are capable employees. As their employer, there are things you can do to support them and help them reach their full potential.

Make changes to the way the team communicates

A dyslexic individual communicates and absorbs information differently. Be willing to adjust the way the team communicates so that they do not feel left out. Find out how he or she may process information. Do they respond better to visual or verbal communications? Would they prefer a demonstration of the task they get assigned?

They might appreciate it if you highlight important sections of a text or use diagrams, flow charts and the like. On the other hand, they may prefer audio, in which case, you can relay information using voicemail, or a simple phone call.

Make adjustments to the workplace

There are technologies that can help dyslexic individuals perform those tasks they struggle with. Assistive software packages such as ClaroRead can help them to read. Packages like Grammarly, on the other hand, are perfect to ensure that their emails and other documents are free of spelling errors. Once they finish compiling the document, they can have the programme read it out loud so that they can be sure that their meaning came across clearly. However, don’t just act as though you are compensating for a disability. Dyslexic employees can be highly creative, so show them that you see them as an asset to the team. If you allow them to use their creativity, they will be able to find creative solutions to improve your projects.

Educate your team on dyslexia

The adjustment you make to help the dyslexic employee may not be understandable to your other employees. They may also be unaware of the challenges that particular employee faces. Lack of awareness could mean that the dyslexic employee will get labels like ‘lazy’ or ‘incompetent’. In order to prevent workplace discontentment and discrimination, make sure that your team is knowledgeable about dyslexia. The more they know, the better they can support their peer and the healthier the team dynamic will be.

Provide a quiet space or at least noice-cancelling headphones

In order to manage the workplace and dyslexia, you as an employer should find out what can affect that employee’s performance. A noisy or loud workplace is one of these things. When there’s too much activity and noise around, the employee might struggle to focus on their work. If possible, create a quiet space where they can work in peace. If not, at least look into investing in noise-cancelling headphones so that they can work at the assigned workstation. However, for big projects, it might be better if that employee can telecommunicate.

Time management

Dyslexic people often struggle with staying organised and managing their time. So allow them more time to complete their assignments. However, it is also good to have daily meetings at the beginning of the day so you can discuss their tasks and priorities.

The best careers for people with dyslexia

Having dyslexia does not mean your life is doomed. There are many individuals who went on to earn the respect, admiration and love of the international community despite being dyslexic. Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Leonardo Da Vinci, Albert Einstein, John F Kennedy, Jamie Oliver, John Lennon, Orlando Bloom, and Dominic Wood are some of the prominent figures with dyslexia. They also stand as proof that despite your learning difficulties, you can succeed in almost any field.

But there are some fields that are just perfect for your strengths. Below, we list a few of these industries.

Hospitality

Strong communication skills and creativity are fantastic assets for the hospitality industry. If you like meeting people and don’t mind the fast-paced life, hospitality is a strong career contender for you. There are different career options for you to choose from within the industry, ranging from chef to greeter, to valet to customer service officer.

Visual arts

Put your creativity and visual thinking aptitude to good use and consider a career in the visual arts. It doesn’t even have to be something mainstream like fashion designing. You can opt to be an illustrator, or even create your own jewellery. Open up an online Etsy store, and you are good to go.

Construction

The construction industry, where your spatial awareness can be a strength, is another industry where you can find careers. Couple your spatial awareness with your visualisation skills and you can go a long way in the sector. Some jobs for you to consider include carpenter, painter, and heavy equipment operator.

Social work

Most of your soft skills, such as listening ability, empathy, patience and communication, are highly suitable for a career in social work. You will be working with people who need a helping hand. You will most likely assist them with counselling, or seeking medical, financial or legal advice and the like.

Sales and marketing

This is another industry where you can put your soft skills to good use. A job in this sector requires you to be persuasive as well as creative, skills which you already have. While a big part of the job also involves sending and receiving emails and other documents, you can use assisted technology to navigate through that.

Sports

Dyslexic people have a good awareness of the spaces around them. This talent and good reflexes can be an asset for sportsmen. Even if life as an athlete doesn’t appeal to you, there are other roles within the sector that you can consider, such as being a physical education teacher, or personal trainer.