It has never been more important for companies to strengthen their commitment to neurodiversity in the workplace. While many organizations hire employees from diverse backgrounds, it is equally important to support employees with dyslexia and other neurodivergent talent.
Some individuals may require additional tools and accommodations to thrive. We asked seven business leaders to share one practical way employers can be more neuroinclusive and better support dyslexic employees.
1. Adapt and accommodate
Work with your neurodivergent or dyslexic employees on accommodations, if needed. Ask them what kinds of tasks they feel confident completing and which they may need extended deadlines for. Communication is important in the workplace no matter what and that includes creating accommodations and adaptations for employees who request them.
2. Offer supportive software
Supporting employees with dyslexia starts with understanding it. As a manager, it is your responsibility to research and learn exactly what dyslexia entails so that you can make an educated plan with an employee. One specific example would be making sure that the employee has software or tools that can support them.
Tool: Read&Write can convert text to audible sound so that they can hear what others would read. It is a small way to ensure that an employee can still effectively and comfortably do their job.
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3. Use easy to read fonts
Choose easy to read fonts for all company communications. Some fonts are easier to read than others and, for employees with dyslexia, a poorly chosen font could add unnecessary difficulty to their work. Gather a list of fonts that are best for those employees to ensure their best work.
Examples of easy-to-read fonts include:
- Arial: a standard sans-serif font that is simple, highly legible, and often recommended for accessibility purposes.
- Calibri: modern, easy-to-read default font in many Microsoft products.
- Helvetica: classic, simple sans-serif font with clear letter shapes.
- Kenna Hamm, Texas Adoption Center
4. Adapt your team communication style
As the owner of the company, it is my responsibility to make sure that everyone is set up for success at Stomadent. Supporting individuals with dyslexia takes effort from all team members. The best way to support an employee with dyslexia would be to adapt your team communication style.
In a presentation full of data and numbers, include visual elements and graphics that your employee will be able to easily understand and process."
5. Demonstrate a supportive culture
There may be employees you manage who are hesitant to disclose that they have dyslexia. This can be for many reasons, from concerns for their career to embarrassment at what they may struggle with. The best way to support your employees who may deal with this is to be open-minded. If an employee does share with you these worries, make it clear that your office is a safe and supportive environment.
A way to establish this kind of culture can be achieved by asking your employees what they need. An employee with dyslexia may find they work better when documents are in a certain dyslexia-friendly font while others may benefit the most from innovative software such as Read&Write.
In the end, discussing options with your employees is the best way to truly support them. After all, they understand their needs the best.
7. Explore digital tools
When employing someone with dyslexia, pay attention to their preferred style of communication and learning to set them up for success. Examples of digital tools that can help include:
- Instant spell checkers: allow employees to focus on getting their thoughts down without worrying about spelling
- Screen readers: assist with email and important documents
- Speech-to-text tools: keep notes and other documents clear and accessible.
- Colored paper for memos and handouts: improves contrast and helps employees better understand the content
- Jennifer Fulmer, TechnologyAdvice
8. Provide ample review time
One way employers can best support their employees with dyslexia is making sure that all meeting material is always available to review ahead of the meeting. Someone with dyslexia might become overwhelmed when receiving a document to review and discuss on the spot, so be prepared and deliver important documents in advance.