Dyslexia and the Civil Service Conference
Creating an inclusive workplace for people with dyslexia
Friday 8th February 2008
Resource Centre
356 Holloway Road, London, N7 6PA
Our goal is a Britain in which nobody is left behind; in which people can go as far as they
have the talent to go.’’ Tony Blair, Prime Minister, Sept 02
"Until recently, I hadn't realised just how many of our staff have problems with literacy
and numeracy.
I understand how they feel. I'm dyslexic and have always struggled with words.’’
Richard Branson ‘‘
Dyslexia and the Civil Service Conference
With Support from:
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Cabinet Office
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Department of Communities and Local Government
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Department of Work and Pensions
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Civil Service Dyslexia Contact Group
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Adult Dyslexia Organisation
Dyslexia and Civil Service Conference - Creating an inclusive workplace for people with dyslexia
Registered Charity, No.1022854
Please remember to book early to avoid disappointment, preferably by email to
ado.dns@dial.pipex.com.
Introduction to Adult Dyslexia Organisation
The ADO is a national organisation run by dyslexics for dyslexics. It is estimated that there are
roughly 2 million severely dyslexic people in the UK. It provides a wide range of services for
those that need support, especially in the workplace. The ADO works to ensure real change to
the lives of adult dyslexics and also to demonstrate adaptations made which are beneficial to
dyslexics can have an equally positive impact on everyone. The work that the organisation has
done so far has raised interest around the world, leading to ADO groups in Belgium, Sweden,
Jamaica and Australia.
It offers a number of services:
· A national helpline
· Information service, including a magazine and website
· Referrals to professionals
· Conferences and seminars
· Establishment and support of adult support groups
· Advice on I.T.
· Training and consultancy
The ADO works with people across a broad spectrum of employers including government
departments, trade unions, the National Health Service and the Civil Service developing policies
and best practice procedures. Through effective lobbying, we raised the first debate on Dyslexia
in the Workplace in the House of Lords and have written definitive guidelines for the Department
of Work and Pensions / JobCentrePlus.
Contact details: Donald Schloss
Ground Floor, Secker House, Minet Road, London,SW9 7TP
Admin: 0207 207 3911
Mobile 07974 755163
ado.dns@dial.pipex.com
Donald Schloss is the founder and Chief Executive of the organisation. He sits on a range of
committees and government steering groups, is involved in training, negotiation as well as
conference planning and is the first point of contact for up to date information and advice. The
ADO therefore has an extensive network of contacts through which it aims to help empower and
enable adult dyslexics to reach their full potential in partnership with the wider community and
workplace.
Introduction to the Civil Service Dyslexia Contact Group
George Major leads the Civil Service Dyslexia Contact Group and the group is made up of adult
Dyslexics within the Civil Service. The purpose of the group is to offer support to dyslexic
employees and colleagues who manage staff with dyslexia. Its aim is to offer practical solutions
Dyslexia and Civil Service Conference - Creating an inclusive workplace for people with dyslexia
Registered Charity, No.1022854
by people who have experienced similar problems and are able to adapt solutions to fit a given
scenarios and put strategies in place to deal with a known issue.
Telephone: 0207 340 6603. Email: george.major@hmcourts:service.gsi.gov.uk
Dyslexia and Civil Service Conference - Creating an inclusive workplace for people with dyslexia
Registered Charity, No.1022854
Dyslexia and the Civil Service
The Dyslexia and the Civil Service Conference will be a key event to promote and illustrate how
departments and agencies can adapt their strategies, to meet the needs of employees with
dyslexia and how that can benefit the whole workplace in line with the ADO’s Dyslexia FriendlyUser Friendly Campaign.
The aim of the campaign is to show how services and support put in place for dyslexics can
benefit other disabilities and the non disabled alike with a focus on education, employment and
people management skills, ICT and day-to-day living.
The Cabinet Office facilitated a survey organised by ADO. It determined that there was a need for
an event that would identify how employers can meet changes and obligations under the
Disability Discrimination Act and the requirements within the Disability Equality Duty.
This high profile event aims to bring together colleagues from a number of Government
Departments, Human Resources, Trade Unions and employers with experts in the field of
dyslexia with an objective to disseminate examples of practical solutions and what support is
available and launch ADO’s ‘Dyslexia and the Disability Equality Duty Guide’.
This event will be marketed throughout the Civil Service and the supporting Trade Unions,
publicised throughout The Cabinet Office and the Department of Regions, Communities and
Local Government.
ADO Dyslexia and the Disability Equality Duty Guide
The guide, which will be launched at the conference, will enable organisations to use effective
ways to involve disabled people fully from the onset and give you tools to “Celebrate Mistakes” as
learning and empowering strategy, in all aspects of development of strategies and policy making.
The aim is to ensure that the outcomes when setting priorities for action plans and assisting in
planning activity to prevent discrimination are fair and does not fail to break down barriers.
The guide identifies how to employ a holistic organisational approach. Topics covered includes:
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Disclosure to employers
Recruitment with a focus on “Hire for attitude, Train for skills”
How to assess for dyslexia
How employers and employees can adapt the workplace to benefit all.
The guide also offers useful tips on creating a more accessible working environment for
dyslexics, other disabilities and non-disabled alike. A key feature is the simple summary of the
legal issues and implications of the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act and the Disability Equality
Duty 2006.
Dyslexia and Civil Service Conference - Creating an inclusive workplace for people with dyslexia
Registered Charity, No.1022854
Dyslexia and Civil Service Conference - Creating an inclusive workplace for people with dyslexia
Registered Charity, No.1022854
Conference Aims and Audience
The Conference aims to:
Conference Aims
To provide information which will enable departments and agencies to create an inclusive
workplace for people with dyslexia.
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Discuss policy, whole organisational approach and best practice in successful
employment strategies for people with dyslexia.
Identify obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act and the Disability Equality
Duty
Identify support and equipment available with a view of a person centred approach
to ICT in the workplace for dyslexics
Promote a range of equipment and services available to employers.
Delegates will receive a list of useful resources.
Demonstrate practical solutions which can be implemented in the workplace.
Setting up a Support Group for dyslexics, employees
Practical solutions/tools for frontline staff dealing with dyslexia
Target Audience:
The target audience for the conference is individuals from the Civil or Public Service (UK) which
may include:
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HR professionals
Civil Service Unions
Careers Advisors
Equality and Diversity Managers
Trainers
Diversity Champion
Contracted Service Providers
Managers
Union Learning Representatives
Policy makers and practitioners
In addition, anyone who has an interest in dyslexia are more than welcome to attend.
Dyslexia and Civil Service Conference - Creating an inclusive workplace for people with dyslexia
Registered Charity, No.1022854
Conference Programme
The Conference programme will be a mixture of keynote speakers, workshops and exhibitors.
Facilitator: Gill Pelage – UKCP
9.40am
Registration/Tea/Coffees
9.40-10.00am
Welcome and introduction, Donald Schloss CEO, Adult Dyslexia
Organisation and George Major Civil Service Dyslexia Contact Group
10.10-10.30am
Minister or Senior Civil Servant – Speaker to be accouced
10.30-11.30am
1st KEYNOTE SPEAKER Rachel Davies – NIACE
Dyslexia and the Civil Service in a Dyslexia Fernley Context
11.30-11.45am
Tea and Coffee break
11.45-12.45am
Workshops:
1. A person centered approach to ICT in the workplace. David Evans Microlink, Education Development Manager
2. ADO Dyslexia and the Disability Equality Duty Guide and the DDA.
Michelle Valentine - Disability Forward Limited
3. Policy and Best Practice. Elaine Ferguson MBE - Right2Write
4. Setting up a Support Group. Roland Ackford - Neuro Partnerships and
George Major - Ministry of Justice
5. Frontline staff working with Dyselxia. Keith Wallace - Higher Work
Psychologist, Work Psychology Services, Jenny Hogg - Senior Work
Psychologist, Jobcentre Plus, SE Region and Terry McLoughlin - Deputy
Chair of National JCP Disability Staff Network, Chair of JCP London
Disability Staff Network Chair, Department for Work and Pensions
12.45 - 2.15pm
LUNCH and EXHIBITION
2.15 - 3.15pm
2ND KEYNOTE SPEAKER Elaine Ferguson MBE - Right2Wright
Whole Organisation Approach and Examples of Best Practice
3.15 -3.30pm
Tea / Coffee break
3.30 - 4.30pm
Workshops:
4.30 - 5.00pm
PLENARY PANEL, Questions will be taken by the following:
Donald Schloss, George Major, David Evans, Terry McLoughlin, Elaine
Ferguson MBE, Roland Ackford, Rachel Davies
Panel facilitator: George Major
5.00pm
After conference networking TBA
Dyslexia and Civil Service Conference - Creating an inclusive workplace for people with dyslexia
Registered Charity, No.1022854