Dyslexia in Adults

Frequently Asked Questions

Answered by Jan Halfpenny, Dyslexia Specialist & MD of

www.halfpennydevelopment.co.uk

Q1. I think I may be dyslexic: how do I

find out for sure?

Answer: You may like to take the free online Adult Dyslexia Checklist by M.D. Vinegrad.

This will give you an indication of the possibility of dyslexia; it is not a diagnosis.

Diagnostic assessments have to be carried out by:

• a specialist dyslexia teacher with a PATOSS Assessment Practising Certificate

• a Chartered Psychologist specialising in adult dyslexia. (These can be

Educational Psychologists, Occupational Psychologists or sometimes Clinical

Psychologists).

Organisations such as the British Dyslexia Association may be able to

recommend suitably qualified practitioners.

Q2. How do I find a qualified dyslexia

assessor for adults?

Answer:Contact your Local Dyslexia Association for their recommendations.

The relevant professional associations are:

British Psychological Society: tel. 0116 254 9568

PATOSS (professional association of specialist teachers) 

tel. 01386 712 650

Q3. Is there any funding to cover

dyslexia assessment fees?

Answer:There is no fund available. However if you are a student in Higher

Education you may be able to access support to fund the cost of

your assessment. Contact your student services department.

If you work for a large employer or in the public sector then it could

possibly be considered to be a reasonable adjustment under the

Equality Act 2010 for assessment funding to be met by your

employer.

Q4. Does dyslexia count as a

disability?

Answer:

Yes. It is recognised difficulty under the UK's Equality Act

(formerly the Disability Discrimination Act). 

Q5. I have heard that coloured

glasses can help dyslexic people.

Is this correct?

Answer:Although this is referred to by many as dyslexia, this is actually visual

stress or Meares-Irlen Syndrome. Around 35-60% of people with dyslexia

also have a visual stress difficulty. This is where text appears to vibrate,

move or distort.

In some people this will happen as soon as they start reading, for others it

may take some time before interference is experienced. Colour-tinted

glasses or overlays for reading have been found to be helpful, making the

text clearer, stable and more comfortable to read.

Q6. Do I have to disclose dyslexia to a

prospective employer?

Answer:

You do not have a legal obligation to disclose dyslexic

difficulties, although in some circumstances it may be advisable

to do so, for instance when applying for jobs or promotion.

Q7. Where can I go for legal advice

about disability discrimination?

Answer:Search out an Employment Lawyer who specialises in disability discrimination. It

may be possible in some cases for them to offer to work on a contingency fee

basis (no win, no fee).

For other types of discrimination outside employment, it may be hard to get legal

aid. The Equality and Human Rights Commission help fund cases if they consider

them to be ground-breaking, but do not normally fund individual cases.

Further advise is available from the Disability Law Service

The British Dyslexia Association Helpline may be a useful first point for advice.

Q8. What support is available for

dyslexic jobseekers?

Answer:

You should make an appointment at your local Job

Centre Plus office, to see a Disability Employment

Adviser.

Q9. As an employer, how do I support

an employee with dyslexic difficulties?

Answer:

If the employee has not been diagnosed with dyslexic

difficulties, an assessment might be the best first step. This is

usually followed by a workplace needs assessment, drawn up

by a dyslexia workplace specialist.

This helps to determine the correct reasonable adjustments to

effectively compensate for any dyslexic weaknesses.

Q10. I am having difficulties in my

work. I think I may be dyslexic.

What should I do?

Answer:

In the UK dyslexia is a recognised disability under the Equality

Act 2010. This means that your employer has a duty to support

you. The first step would be to make an appointment in

confidence with your HR, Personnel Department or

Occupational Health Officer.

You may need  a professional diagnostic assessment, and then

a workplace needs assessment to ensure that support is

appropriate.  

Q11. Can I be sacked for being

dyslexic?

Answer:This would be a breach of disability legislation, as it would discriminate

against someone with a disability in the field of employment. Employers have

a duty to investigate employee difficulties and implement recommended

reasonable adjustments.

If these prove to be insufficient in improving performance, then after an

appropriate length of time the employer should see if there is appropriate

alternative employment within the organisation. Only if there is none could the

employee then be asked to leave.

www.halfpennydevelopment.co.uk

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