The University Advisory Committee on Disability
Guidance Notes for University Staff
NO. 2 :
STAFF WITH DYSLEXIA
What is meant by dyslexia?
(information from University of Ulster's leaflet, Supporting Dyslexia)
Dyslexia is a difficulty caused by subtle problems with language processing which are independent of
intelligence, school experience, social, economic or emotional factors. Current research suggests that
the cause may be that dyslexic people have phonological deficits which cause problems in short-term
memory, reading and spelling development. People with dyslexia will take longer to read printed
material, need more time to produce written work, and will persist in making basic spelling errors.
The language and communications problems of dyslexia are not just with the written word but also with
oral communication. Communication with others can be scrambled and lacking in structure. There are
also problems with organisation; for example, in remembering appointments or turning up with the right
papers for meetings.
How could this affect the staff member’s work?
The person with dyslexia experiences problems in a range of areas, not simply with written
communication as is generally thought. They may have more difficulty with short-term memory
(therefore needing to write down messages etc immediately) or with organisation.
The dyslexic person may have particular strengths, however, in problem solving skills, creative and
original thought and visual-spatial skills (such as artistic and design abilities). The degree of disability
varies from person to person, and the best guide to the effect of dyslexia is the particular staff member
concerned.
Assessment of dyslexia
Tests to ascertain whether someone has dyslexia can be carried out by an Clinical Psychologist
specialising in Dyslexia, costing in the region of £200. To arrange for an assessment, contact the
Dyslexia Institute in Peterborough (contact details are at the end of this paper), or the University
Disability Adviser.
Assessments not only discover the extent of the person’s problems, they also make recommendations
as to the type of further training that could help in developing strategies to cope with dyslexia. The
psychologist can liaise with the person’s employer to discuss how to manage practical difficulties in the
workplace. This might include help with literacy skills, training in strategies for improving memory and
organisation, perception therapy (to improve sequencing and visual orientation) and relaxation and
assertiveness training.
How should supervisors react?
When interviewing staff
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Interviewing a person with dyslexia should be done with the understanding that under pressured
situations, a dyslexic person may find it difficult to operate in a question and answer interview rather
than a conversation. Every effort therefore should be taken to put the interviewee at ease and enable
him or her to perform the best of their ability.
Support within the department
There are a number of technical aids that can help someone with dyslexia:
 spellcheckers
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speech synthesisers: a member of staff can hear his or her work on the computer read aloud,
which often serves to highlight mistakes - this can however be disruptive for other staff in an
shared office
scanners: these read text into a computer, which can then via a speech synthesiser “speak”
the text. This can facilitate reading of difficult texts.
electronic organisers, to hold addresses, appointments, and so on.
on a less technical note - sheets of coloured plastic (such as the coloured folders available in
stationers) laid over a page can help with reading. Different people find different colours
helpful, so it is worth experimenting.
The Government’s Access to Work scheme
If it seems likely that extra equipment or some other expenditure will be needed to enable the staff
member to work to the best of his or her ability, then funding can be obtained from the Access to Work
scheme, which is administered by the Employment Service (contact details are at the end of this paper).
For an existing member of staff, the first step is for the staff member to contact Malcolm Hopkins, of the
Employment service PACT team (Placement, Assessment and Counselling team). He will arrange for
the staff member to be visited for an assessment. For a new member of staff, the department can make
initial contact.
It can take a while for the Scheme’s funding to come through; in the mean time, if there is an urgent
need, the University can provide some financial support for existing members of staff. Institutions which
come under the General Board should contact Mrs Peta Stevens in the Old Schools (telephone 39093).
Council institutions should contact Mrs Alice Benton in the Registry, telephone 32320.
Contact names
University Adviser for students and staff with a disability
(for advice on specialist equipment and adjustments)
Disability Resource Centre, DAMTP, Silver Street
tel 32301 e-mail: ucam-disability@lists.cam.ac.uk
Malcolm Hopkins(PACT team)
(Access to Work Scheme)
The Employment Service
Henry Giles House, 73-79 Chesterton Road, Cambridge,CB4 3BQ
tel 545000
Useful Publications
University Policy on Disability and Employment (published in the Reporter,16th July 1997)
Notes of Guidance on the Disability Discrimination Act (issued by the Personnel Officer; Assistant Staff
Manual, Reference Section, Section 16 on Disability and Employment)
Signposts to Success (available from the British Dyslexia Institute)
Support & Information Groups
Directions Plus
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Orwell House, Cowley Road, Cambridge CB4 OPP
Information service on all aspects of disability
http://www.directions-plus.org/
The Dyslexia Institute
71 Broadway
Peterborough
PE1 1SY
01733 890090
British Dyslexia Association (Cambridge)
Tel 242247
National organisations
British Dyslexia Association, 98 London Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 5AH
Tel 01734 668271/2
http://www.bda-dyslexia.org.uk/
Dyslexia Institute, 133 Gresham Road, Staines, Middlesex, TW18 2AJ
Tel 01784 463851
Adult Dyslexia Organisation, 336 Brixton Road, London SW9 7AA
tel 0171 924 9559
http://www.futurenet.co.uk/charity/ado/index.html
The University Advisory Committee on Disability, July 2000
References:
The University of Ulster Supporting Dyslexia The Counselling & Guidance
Service
Dyslexia in the Workplace, a paper by Dr Sylvia Moody, Clinical Psychologist
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