Tuesday, October 19, 2021 Wired to Work Differently: Dyslexia Our understanding of neurodiverse people is growing, as well as our understanding of how to help these exceptional individuals thrive at work Guide Magazine There’s a growing understanding of neurodiversity—an umbrella term used to describe a variety of cognitive conditions such as autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD—and how neurodivergent people’s differences should be seen as strengths and assets rather than a disorder they suffer from. Despite the remarkable inroads being made in psychology and the increased acceptance of neurodivergent behaviours, the modern working world has yet to keep up. The vast majority of neurodivergent individuals are chronically unemployed or underemployed—many HR departments are hesitant to hire anyone who looks, acts, or communicates in a nontypical way. Once in the workplace, they often face misperceptions, misunderstandings, and discrimination. Some neurotypical traits such as procrastination, challenges following through, and difficulty deciding how to prioritize tasks can be misconstrued as laziness and a lack of motivation—when it’s a cognitive process, not a character flaw. So just how common are neurodivergent individuals? And how can they support themselves, and be supported, in the workplace? Neurodiversity includes but is not limited to: ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dyscalculia, and Dyslexia. Dyslexia Definition A learning difference that primarily affects the skills involved in reading and spelling. 1 in 10 people worldwide experience dyslexia. Workplace Strengths • Creativity • Empathy and intuition • Abstract thinking • Seeing the big picture Workplace Challenges • Difficulty with memory • Difficulty with organization • Difficulty with writing • Difficulty with reading • Difficulty with focus • Difficulty with short term memory • Difficulty with information processing • Difficulty with timekeeping 5 Workplace Tips 1. Work it. Find out what vocabulary is important to your job, and find a program or app that helps you reinforce those words. 2. Plan it. Allot extra time for tasks that may take longer to complete with dyslexia. 3. Record it. If you struggle with remembering instructions, record yourself or a coworker dictating them slowly. Play them back to yourself when needed. 4. Pause it. If you’re interrupted during a task, pause, then write down on your phone or draw a picture of whatever you were doing so you can easily return to it later. 5. Play it. If you struggle with short term memory, use acronyms, charts, diagrams, and associations to remember important information. Famous Folks •Steven Spielberg •Cher •Jamie Oliver •Agatha Christie •Whoopi Goldberg Sources: Sources: institute4learning.com, disabled-world.com, wired.com, exceptionalindividuals.com, additudemag.com, caddac.ca You might be interested in Why We Work Safely 5 Jun 2026 Standing Your Ground, and Staying Steady on the Job 4 Jun 2026 CLAC Partners with Alberta Government to Advance Skilled Trades Training and Accelerate Certification 4 Jun 2026 Strathcona Mechanical Workers Ratify New Agreement Providing Wage, Scheduling Improvements 3 Jun 2026