Dyslexia and Dyspraxia at Work: Practical Support and Assistive Technology
Prevalence and Legal Status
- Dyslexia: the British Dyslexia Association estimates that around 10% of people are dyslexic. Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that primarily affects reading and writing, but it is really about information processing.
- Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder, DCD) is a condition people are born with that mainly affects movement and co-ordination. It often occurs alongside other conditions such as ADHD, dyslexia, autism, anxiety or depression (NHS).
Both conditions are lifelong and are not related to intelligence. They can count as a disability under the Equality Act 2010 (Great Britain) where the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on normal day-to-day activities, and under the ADA (US) where it substantially limits a major life activity such as reading, learning, concentrating or working.
Dyslexia in the Workplace
What Dyslexia Affects
- Reading speed (fluency) and accuracy
- Spelling and written expression
- Phonological processing (decoding words)
- Working memory and processing speed
- Organisational skills
What Dyslexia Does NOT Affect
- Intelligence, creativity, or problem-solving ability
- Many dyslexic people show strengths in reasoning and in visual and creative fields (British Dyslexia Association)
Assistive Technology for Dyslexia
| Tool | Function |
|---|---|
| Read&Write (Everway, formerly Texthelp) | Text-to-speech, speech-to-text, word prediction |
| ClaroRead (Everway) | Text-to-speech, spellchecking, word prediction, OCR scanning |
| Dragon Professional (Nuance) | Speech-to-text dictation |
| Grammarly | Spelling and grammar checking |
| MindMeister / Xmind | Mind mapping for visual organisation |
| OpenDyslexic font | Free typeface designed for dyslexic readers |
Built-in tools such as dictation, screen readers and mind-mapping software are also useful; the BDA recommends offering training so staff can get the most from them.
Reasonable Adjustments for Dyslexia
- Extra time for reading- and writing-heavy tasks
- Clear, straightforward written communication in accessible formats (sans-serif font, left-aligned, plenty of spacing)
- Audio recording of meetings
- Key information and presentation materials provided in advance
- Written follow-up after verbal instructions
- Quiet space and fewer distractions
- Proofreading support for external communications
- Alternative assessment formats (oral presentations, portfolios)
- Avoid unnecessary timed tests in recruitment
Dyspraxia in the Workplace
What Dyspraxia Affects
- Motor coordination: Fine motor tasks (typing, handwriting, using small objects) and gross motor tasks (walking, driving, balance)
- Spatial awareness: Bumping into things, falling over, dropping things
- Organisation and planning: Planning and organising time
- Learning and memory: Learning new skills and remembering information
- Social and emotional: Managing social situations and dealing with emotions
Adjustments for Dyspraxia
- Speech-to-text software to reduce handwriting/typing demands
- Ergonomic equipment (keyboard, mouse, chair) to reduce motor demands
- Written instructions alongside spoken ones, and checklists for multi-step tasks
- A quiet workspace
- Extra time to read documents or complete work
- Structured filing systems and organisational tools
- Flexible working to accommodate fatigue
- Large-grip pens and other dexterity aids
Employer Best Practices
- Offer workplace assessments: Access to Work (UK) can arrange for an assessor to look at the workplace, in person or by video call, to find out what changes might help, and its grants can help pay for specialist equipment and assistive software. The BDA also recommends Workplace Needs Assessments to identify personalised adjustments.
- Provide assistive technology as standard: Make text-to-speech, dictation, mind-mapping and spellchecking tools available to all employees
- Format documents accessibly: Use plain language, sans-serif fonts, bullet points, clear headings, and avoid dense text blocks as organisational standard
- Train managers: Ensure line managers understand that dyslexia and dyspraxia are genuine conditions requiring specific support, not signs of carelessness
- Focus on strengths: Ask each person what works for them and design roles to use their strengths, such as reasoning and visual or creative thinking.
Resources
- British Dyslexia Association: bdadyslexia.org.uk
- NHS — Dyspraxia in adults: nhs.uk
- International Dyslexia Association (US): dyslexiaida.org
- Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity: helenarkell.org.uk
- Everway (Read&Write, ClaroRead): everway.com
- Access to Work (UK): gov.uk/access-to-work