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We believe that everyone with dyslexia should be able to reach their full potential in life. We campaign for an inclusive society that acknowledges, accepts and empowers individuals with dyslexia so that we can help create a kinder, fairer and stronger world.Around 10% of the population has dyslexia. Dyslexia doesn’t discriminate, occurring across all ethnicities and in people from all social groups. A vast number of individuals are undiagnosed and do not receive adequate support.As a result, they face daily barriers: in education, in the workplace and in life. They may be excluded from activities, shamed for their differences or simply disregarded. Too many children and adults with dyslexia find it hard to thrive within a system that often fails to recognise, value or encourage them. And as a society, we are poorer for it.At the British Dyslexia Association, we want all children and adults with dyslexia to have the opportunity to flourish. We believe that our world should welcome different ways of thinking and celebrate neurodiversity. By representing our community as the voice of dyslexia, we aim to ensure that all members of society, and especially those most disadvantaged and least privileged, receive the support they deserve.We welcome you on this journey with us as, together, we createa dyslexia-friendly society.About us
At the British Dyslexia Association, we believe that every kind of brain should be valued for its unique way of looking at the world. If you or someone you know is dyslexic, here are some top tips to help with some common challenges, including some suggested reasonable adjustments to help at work.Top tips for employersOrganisation and planning ........................................................... 5Communication ................................................................................. 7Working at a computer .................................................................. 9Memory .................................................................................................. 11Concentration and focus ............................................................... 13Appointments and deadlines ....................................................... 15Dyslexia Friendly Quality Mark .................................................... 17Webinars ............................................................................................... 19Further information ........................................................................... 21
Ensure that work areas are organised, neat and tidy and that the individual has a system in place that works for them. Supply a wall planner. Prioritise important tasks and regularly review progress and priorities with employees. Encourage the creation of a daily, dated “To Do” list and suggest that this is updated at the start and end of each day by blocking out planning time in the diary. Use shared electronic calendars. Write a layout for regular tasks with appropriate prompts, for example for meetings or taking notes.Organisation and planningPage 5
Give verbal and written instructions and ask employee to repeat back to confirm. Enable more time for the employee to process the information and respond. Find alternative ways to present information – audio, video, drawings, diagrams and flowcharts .Use voice mail/audio messaging rather than emails. Encourage use of standard built-in accessibility features which can be found in settings, to enable spell-checking, screen reading and dictation. Some individuals may need specialist software to improve accessibility. Offer documents on coloured paper, or ability to change background and typeface colour on digital documents. Provide agendas and written documents in advance of meetings to allow time for reading. Record online meetings or enable use of digital voice recorders. Ask for volunteers to take the Minutes of meetings.CommunicationPage 7
Working at a computerEnable individuals to change the background colour of screen to suit their individual preference. Demonstrate standard built-in accessibility features including spelling checking, dictation and screen reading features. Provide tailored assistive technology for those with greater accessibility needs .Offer anti-glare screen filter if required. Enable individuals to choose whether to switch off notifications to improve focus and concentration. Allow frequent breaks from the screen, at least every hour. Alternate computer work with other tasks where possible. Avoid continuous all day computer work.Page 9
Give short clear instructions. Break these into sequential steps so that they are easy to follow and refer back to. Use mnemonic devices (silly words of phrases)to remember names, spellings etc. Diagrams and flowcharts may be easier to follow and recall than lists. Pictures/photos can help aid memory recall. Supply detailed maps or sat navs for journeys , try to include landmarks when giving directions e.g “turn left at the traffic lights by the church.” When possible, offer accessible alternatives such as two-factor authentication, or facial recognition in place of passwords, or use secure password keepers.Post-it notes can be colour coded and physically moved around to act as prompts.MemoryPage 11
Make sure the individual’s workspace is quiet and away from distractions such as doors, busy phones, loud machinery. Enable use of headphones, and listening to music or noise if this aids focus. Provide an allocated workspace in place of a hot desk. Provide a quiet working environment for a dyslexic employee by allocating libraries, other offices and enclosed areas when others are not using them. Allow employees to work from home when needed. Encourage use of a “do not disturb” sign when specific tasks require intense concentration. Turn off notifications on computers and set phone to voice mail. Encourage co-workers not to disturb the person unless it is urgent. When interrupting, allow the person to pause and write down what they are doing to refer back to when resuming work.Concentration and focusPage 13
Remind the person of important deadlines and appointments. Hang a wall planner that visually highlights daily/monthly appointments, deadlines, tasks and projects or use electronic calendars or apps. Encourage the use of mobile phones or apps for appointment reminders. Supply an alarm watch. Encourage the employee to use the daily calendar and reminder features on their computer or mobile phone.Page 15Appointments and deadlines
Our Dyslexia Friendly Quality Mark for the Workplace recognises and celebrates inclusive practice in the workplace.Workplaces who sign up for the Quality Mark receive a package of information and practical resources to improve their practice, both for the benefit of individual employees with dyslexia and for raising awareness and reducing barriers for dyslexic people.Approximately 15% of the population has dyslexia and/or other specific learning difficulties and it is highly likely that there is neurodiversity in most workplaces.Supporting neurodiversity in the workplace makes good business sense.The potential benefits include:• Introduces a different way of thinking• Creates an inclusive environment for all employees and stakeholders resulting in higher productivity and customer satisfaction.Our Quality Mark enables you to publicly demonstrate your organisation’s commitment to embracing and supporting neurodiversity.Dyslexia FriendlyQuality Mark
I am proud to be the DFQM Dyslexia Champion, and I would encourage any other organisation to start the process of becoming dyslexia-friendly; you open up a whole new world of opportunity by embracing neurodiversity.Justin Honey-Jones - Specialist Lecturer Practitioner / ParamedicTeam from East of England Ambulance Service NHS TrustFor more information on the Quality Mark criteria, processes and how to apply, contact the Quality Mark Team: qualitymarkwork@bdadyslexia.org.ukPage 17
WebinarsPage 19We run a programme of free webinars throughout the year to support both employers and dyslexic employees. Check the website regularly for upcoming dates.
Contact the British Dyslexia Association HelplineOur helpline offers free, confidential, impartial information and signposting.Call: 0333 405 4567email: helpline@bdadyslexia.org.ukor direct message our team through Facebook and Instagram.Visit our website: bdadyslexia.org.ukVisit our Youtube channel. Page 21Further informationDownload Employers GuideA comprehensive guide for employers emailed directly to your inbox.Sign-up
bdadyslexia.org.ukBritish Dyslexia Association is a registered charity in England and Wales (289243). Registered in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee (1830587).