The Future of Employment and Dyslexia

The British Dyslexia Association are extremely encouraged by the recent findings of EY and Made by Dyslexia in their recent report “The Value of Dyslexia: Dyslexic Capability and Organisations of the Future.”

Upon reading the report, Nick Posford (CEO, British Dyslexia Association) commented that:

“This research clearly demonstrates the changing world that we live in, and the growing value of dyslexic thinkers in our workforce. Dyslexic individuals are often those who see the big picture and spot new opportunities for innovation and improvement. These skills are incredibly valuable, particularly as our economy recovers from the impact of COVID-19.”

The report shows that the dyslexic strengths of big picture thinking, problem-solving, creativity and critical thinking skills, are now being valued ahead of the more traditional skills. This new approach to recruitment puts dyslexic individuals ahead of their neurotypical colleagues.

New jobs are being created which require a different set of skills to those traditionally sought by employers. A significant number of jobs that dyslexics typically find challenging are being supported and adapted by automation. This is already evident in the Assistive Technology features built into most standard software, enabling functionality such as screen reading and dictation as alternative ways of creating and accessing work on screen.

However, technology alone will not be sufficient in supporting a neurodiverse workforce. British Dyslexia Association’s Chief Development Officer, Gillian Ashley added:

“Workplaces will also need to adapt their working practices, to make reasonable adjustments which help overcome some of the challenges associated with thinking differently.”

Organisations looking to attract the best dyslexic talent need to adapt their existing recruitment processes. They will need to make adjustments including:

• Allowing candidates the option to make a verbal application
• Providing extra time to answer interview questions
• Implementing an alternative selection process to the AI-powered applicant tracking systems (ATS) used by many organisations to shortlist candidates which can discriminate against neurodiverse individuals.

The British Dyslexia Association are continuing to prioritise its work with employers across all sectors to embrace neurodiversity and create a workforce that is inclusive, productive and future proof.

If you are an employer who is looking to make your workplace more inclusive to those with dyslexia, then please contact our Training team at training@bdadyslexia.org.uk who would be happy to discuss your needs.