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Original poster

Quick question re work and dyslexia

19 replies

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 12/12/2008 21:33

Colleague has dyslexia. Has recently taken a new job in same company and is struggling to do job due to dyslexia (it's much more paper based than what she was doing before).

Bosses think that she can't therefore do the job and are thinking of getting rid. She's got all the essential qualifications on the person spec, they just somehow seem to have bypassed her dyslexia when giving her the job. They did know about it. And I don't know why she didn't raise it when she knew the paperwork involved.

What reasonable steps could they be taking to make it possible for her to do the job?

I know nothing about dyslexia so I don't know what's reasonable. Should colleague expect some help with paperwork?

TBH the management conversation I was privvy to the other day was a bit shocking. ie, dyslexic therefore can't do the job. Is that possible?

OP posts:
roundcornvirgin · 12/12/2008 21:35

disability discrimination - she needs to seek advice from her union

Original poster
MaryMotherOfCheeses · 12/12/2008 21:40

Well that's what I thought.

What should they be doing to help her?

OP posts:
corriefan · 12/12/2008 21:41

You say they knew about it so she should receive the necessary support and they could be done for discrimination as roundcornvirgin says. If she is not in a union she could go through government support.

roundcornvirgin · 12/12/2008 21:42

Disability discrimination act says they need to make reasonable adjustments to make the aspects of the job that she struggles with more accessible to her.

Original poster
MaryMotherOfCheeses · 12/12/2008 21:42

They definitely knew about it when they gave her the new job.

I don't know how it was not raised by either party in terms of how it would be sorted out.

OP posts:
corriefan · 12/12/2008 21:44

What they should be doing depends on the specifics of the job and her needs. Is it spelling? or involving short term memory, or copying details?
She may be entitled to some equipment to help her but I think she's probably the best person to think of how she can get round it.

roundcornvirgin · 12/12/2008 21:45

Is she in a union? If not phone dyslexia action - they will give advice.(they are a charidee)

Original poster
MaryMotherOfCheeses · 12/12/2008 21:45

How do you make reading and writing more accessible? Does that involve having a person to help? Or is there another way?

Genuine lack of experience re dylexia here sorry, not actually trying to be thick.

An essential part of the job is writing reports (nothing highly technical or lengthy though - more sort of individual assessments of clients.Form filling, if you like)

OP posts:
Original poster
MaryMotherOfCheeses · 12/12/2008 21:46

Sorry, x posts. TBF, I don't know her that well. I just overheard the management conversation and apart from the yellowness, was pretty much like this:

OP posts:
roundcornvirgin · 12/12/2008 21:46

She could have a voice dictation thingy to write reports - the type that you dictate into and it word processes it for you.

Original poster
MaryMotherOfCheeses · 12/12/2008 21:49

Oooh, that sounds sensible. Are they expensive?

They'll be arguing cost cutting you see. We've just gone through redundancies.

OP posts:
roundcornvirgin · 12/12/2008 21:49

Don't know how much they cost!

flowerytaleofNewYork · 12/12/2008 21:50

Whether her dyslexia is covered by the DDA depends on how serious it is, whether it has a substantial adverse effect on normal day to day activities. It's not automatically covered.

If it is covered, her employer need to make reasonable adjustments, but off the top of my head I don't know what these might be for someone with dyslexia doing that particular job.

How were you privy to a conversation relating to 'getting rid'? Should you have been? 'Getting rid' is not easy at all, so it won't be as simple as that, particularly where there is probably a disability issue.

There are various charities dedicated to dyslexia, if I were working for the employer I would be seeking advice from them as to what adjustments could be made and how best to support the individual.

Have they raised concerns about her performance? Has she been clear with them that it is due to her dyslexia and asked for support/adjustments to be made?

corriefan · 12/12/2008 21:53

I used to work for dyslexia action! Institute in them days though!

If she is struggling with reading and writing she could maybe have some support learning strategies to improve these skills through someone like dyslexia action, e.g. going for sessions with a personal tutor.

If the reports are quite straightforward then she could have some time spent working on a proforma with someone, work out a list of useful key words and spellings that may come up, devise a checklist to ensure it has all been completed correctly, etc.

Was it not clear when she applied that there was a lot more paperwork?

Original poster
MaryMotherOfCheeses · 12/12/2008 22:00

I know her dyslexia is fairly severe but tbf, at this stage, once it's got through to HR I've no reason to think they'll actually go against what you're saying, flowery.

I guess I was just seeking confirmation that the woman coming out with this stuff was completely out of order (it was a management meeting I was part of btw and the colleague isn't part of my team.)

I'll try and get the word on progress next week. I wouldn't be against having a word with the big boss if the management colleague carries on in this manner.

Thanks all.

OP posts:
Original poster
MaryMotherOfCheeses · 12/12/2008 22:04

Corriefan, that's a fair point about support learning strategies. I think she probably didn't get much support at school (she's nearly 40 now) and she's probably ignored it for years (last job was very practical) I'll bet there are things that can help. Thanks.

OP posts:
LoveBeingAMummyKissingSanta · 12/12/2008 23:30

I had a MOS who had dyslexia and was on the vwerge of failing her probabtionary period due to issues. I contacted Dyslexia Action who completed an assessement of her and the role to see how we could make amendments to support her. 2 years later she's still there so must ahve worked!!!!

The web site might help.

I would suggest if she is worried she apporachs her manager and asks for some support from the company.

corriefan · 14/12/2008 20:40

I spoke to my mum earlier who still works for dyslexia action and she says they can do a workplace assessment. It does all cost money though and so would maybe depend on the funding from the DDA.

lisad123 · 14/12/2008 21:02

Im mildly dyslexic and really struggle with spellings, grammer and orgnization skills. I know this so will often start my day with making a list of jobs and deciding what order to do them in.
My previous role involved large written writtens for court, some 30-40pages long and these were the hardest. My boss got my a laptop with voice software on, so i could "talk" my reports. I did mine though job centre plus. They came and did their own assessment and made suggestions. HTH

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