Mark McCusker, Chair of the British Assistive Technology Association (BATA) and CEO of Texthelp Ltd discusses the effects that dyslexia has on employees in the workplace and the simple but highly effective changes that employers can make to support them during Dyslexia Awareness Week 14-20th October 2013.

Every organisation wants to see it’s workforce maximise it’s potential and succeed. According to the British Dyslexia Association, ten percent (10%) of the British population are dyslexic; 4% severely so, which means one in ten people in an organisation can be affected.

Employees with dyslexia often adopt different tactics to help them in their daily tasks - some may come in earlier and leave later to allow themselves more time to complete their daily tasks, others may spend extra time planning in the mornings for the day ahead, so their time is clearly and efficiently mapped out.

Dyslexia, being a ‘hidden disability’, is not always obvious to others and it can lead to untold stress in the workplace for employees affected by the condition. With the right tools and support however, it is easy for organisations to help these individuals bring out the very best in their employees.

Educate employees about dyslexia

It is important for all employees to know what dyslexia is and what it means if one of their colleagues is affected by it. . By understanding how those with dyslexia can be affected, they can adjust their communication methods to work effectively as a team.

Although dyslexia can affect individuals differently, there are ways to help the common factors like difficulty reading and writing or remembering written instructions. Simplifying instructions and delivering them in a way that they can be remembered and followed helps employees execute their tasks effectively.

Should you give verbal or written instructions?

Dyslexia is different for everyone and so what works for one employee may not necessarily work for another. Therefore some may prefer verbal instructions and others may prefer instructions given in writing. It is always best to ask which they prefer and then deliver instructions according to their preferred channel. Either way, it is important to focus on the objectives of the tasks and remove any other information that is not relevant. The clearer the message the easier it will be for them to understand.

When it comes to training and development, using photos, illustrations and other visual aids to cover topics can be highly effective for comprehension and retention.

Training to develop time management and organisational skills

Good time management is a great skill for all employees, but it is particularly important for those with dyslexia as it helps them manage their days more effectively. An example of effective time management is to divide the day into blocks of time and then assign each of these blocks to a task. By doing this, employees can focus on one task at a time, complete that task and then move on to the next.

Removing distractions is also important so employees can focus on executing the task, rather than stopping to look for documents or other supporting material. Having dyslexia makes it difficult to move focus from one thing to another so removal of supplementary material can often help.

Literacy supporting software

Literacy software is one of the important aids that employers can provide for employees with dyslexia. Text-to-speech software such as Read&Write Gold from Texthelp sits as a discreet toolbar on Microsoft office applications and helps users read and understand documents as well as write their own material.

Larger organisations can invest in site licences that make the software available to every employee across the company.

Location, location, location

It may not affect the average employee but for someone who is dyslexic being seated in a busy area, such as near reception with frequent visitors and calls, or outside meeting rooms, where there can be a high flow of traffic, can prove extremely challenging.

An area in the office where there is the least amount of disturbances or distractions will help employees with dyslexia focus on their tasks.

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Dyslexia can be a sensitive topic and there are many cases where individuals themselves don’t realise that they have the condition. Line managers can host one-to-one talks with employees to determine if they need help in this area. Below are a few questions they can ask and if an employee is dyslexic, then the organisation can create a work plan to help them.

· Do you find it difficult to read?

· Do you feel that you spend more time trying to read the words rather than understand the meaning?

· When reading, do you easily lose where you are on the page?

· Do you struggle with left and right?

· Do you get numbers mixed up for example when dialling a phone number?

· Do you mix up days and months?

· Once you have read something, do you have difficulty remembering what you read?

For information on dyslexia in the workplace please contact Texthelp on T: +44 (0)28 9442 8105, E: corporate@texthelp.com