Iansyst Ltd, a Cambridge-based provider of consultancy and software technology for people with dyslexia, has launched a website to help HR managers assist the three million dyslexic people in the UK workforce. Despite dyslexia being covered by the Disability Discrimination Act, many employers are unaware of how best to provide reasonable adjustments to support this type of disability, an issue which is exacerbated further by the individual characteristic nature of dyslexia.

The company’s new website www.re-adjust.co.uk will provide appropriate information, including practical steps to aid dyslexic employees, pointers to assistive technologies, advice on conforming to the DDA and grant information.  It also introduces new consultancy and training services to help both employers and dyslexic employees.

Dyslexia is a neurological condition affecting around 10 per cent of the population to some degree and around four per cent severely. Common problems can include difficulties with processing printed text, spelling and writing, understanding directions, working with numbers, scheduling work and meetings and keeping track of appointments. As dyslexia is unidentifiable simply by looking at a person, it is often referred to as a hidden disability. This often results not only in dyslexic employees being judged unfairly but also in workers concealing their dyslexia or even being unaware of it.

The Re-Adjust website shows that there are immediate reasonable adjustments which can be beneficial, do not require large amounts of money and can be as simple as improving access to information and changing the font and point size on a screen.

Dyslexic employees may welcome software and technology to support note-taking in meetings and being able to listen to text documents read out loud. The site outlines the latest technology developments and funding available to reclaim costs through the Access to Work (AtW) grant which covers all the expenditures for newly employed staff and as much as 80 per cent for existing staff in small businesses.

Ian Litterick, Executive Chairman at iansyst Ltd, said: “Inconsistent spelling, poor time keeping and a disorganised workspace are examples of how dyslexia can show itself in the workplace.  If HR professionals and managers are not aware of the disability, this can be mistaken for sloppy workmanship.”

Dyslexia affects the processing of literacy and numeracy information, but the condition has nothing to do with intelligence levels and the problems can be alleviated through individual work-based coping strategies and technology products. 

Iansyst encourages HR teams to consider dyslexia when producing information and policies, and to introduce dyslexia awareness initiatives.  This will encourage an open and inclusive environment where dyslexic staff feel more able to discuss and develop new approaches to help them achieve in the workplace.

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