Dyslexia Inclusion in The Workplace
It’s believed that approximately ten per cent of people in the UK are dyslexic, but it remains an oft-misunderstood neurodivergency.
This is something that employers can address, however, through appropriate workplace inclusion practices
What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a neurological difference (that may have a genetic link), primarily affecting reading and writing skills, as well as information processing that can affect literacy skill acquisition and organisational skills.
It can also co-occur with other neurodivergencies, such as dyscalculia, ADHD, developmental language disorder and developmental coordination disorder.
How to create an dyslexia-friendly workplace in the UK
Employers are legally required to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act to support neurodivergent employees and create equal working opportunities, as well as inclusive workplace cultures.
Reasonable adjustments for people with dyslexia include:
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Carrying out workplace needs assessments
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Providing clear written information after verbal instructions, breaking information up into bullet points
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Using visual aids like mind maps, flow charts and infographics
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Specific document formatting, including larger sans-serif fonts (such as Arial), use of 1.5 line spacing, use of coloured paper and audio recordings
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Avoiding high-contrast text colours to backgrounds (such as black text on white paper), with pastel light colours for backgrounds the preferred option
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Assistive technology such as speech to text and screen masks
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Remote working
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Quiet zones for focused tasks
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Flexible deadlines
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Alternative application processes at the recruitment stage
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Additional time for reading and responses during skills tests
Key employment rate statistics for dyslexic people
Figures published by the Charles Freeman Projects indicate that 13.8 per cent of dyslexic people are unemployed, which is four times above the general unemployment rate.
​Furthermore, this demographic has a one in seven chance of being unemployed and, as such, are likely to find themselves out of work six or seven times during their careers.
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Additional research from charity Made By Dyslexia indicates that:
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75 per cent of dyslexic people believe recruitment processes put them at a disadvantage
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79 per cent believe processes don’t give them the chance to demonstrate their true abilities
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47 per cent of employers admit they don’t consider dyslexia while recruiting, viewing it as irrelevant
What are the benefits of hiring dyslexic people?
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Creative problem solving, lateral thinking and identification of innovative solutions
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Improved pattern recognition, supporting better strategic planning and complex data analysis
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Strong verbal communication and storytelling
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Strong work ethic
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High levels of resilience, determination and perseverance
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Exceptional spatial reasoning
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Diverse perspectives
How can employers support dyslexic members of staff?
Discover how Neuro Inclusion UK can help support neurodiversity training at work with our training packages and tailored support materials, developed with educators and inclusion specialists.
Adopting a more inclusive workplace environment will help ensure that all employee needs are met (and exceeded), and that your organisation is able to thrive and grow over time.
A consultancy service is also available to help identify and introduce effective business practices to support inclusive workplace cultures.
If you’d like to find out more about equality, diversity and inclusion at work, get in touch with Neuro Inclusion UK today.