10 things every dyslexic employee wants you to know
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What It’s Really Like Working With Dyslexia, and What You Can Do About It
Let’s be real, having dyslexia at work can feel like walking through an office built for someone else’s brain.
You can be creative, clever, full of ideas, but also find yourself tripping over “simple” tasks that everyone else seems to breeze through. And one of the hardest parts?
Trying to explain it to your boss or co-workers without sounding like you’re making excuses.
If you’re a manager, team leader, or co-worker, this is for you. If you’re someone living with dyslexia and navigating the workplace, feel free to forward this. You shouldn’t have to keep explaining over and over again.
So here it is, the stuff every dyslexic employee wishes people just got.
1. We’re not lazy or stupid, we just work differently
This one’s at the top for a reason.
Dyslexic minds can take longer to process written info, instructions, or systems that don’t click the way our brains are wired. But that doesn’t mean we’re not trying.
Sometimes we need more time. Sometimes we approach things in a completely different way. But give us space to breathe and trust, we’ll get there. And when we do, you’ll be amazed.
2. The right role changes everything
Put a dyslexic employee in a role that aligns with their strengths, and you’ll wonder how you ever did without them.
Creativity, strategy, problem-solving, thinking outside the box. These are our superpowers when used the right way. But stick us in a box of data-entry, dry manuals, and noisy open-plan offices, and we’re going to struggle.
3. Dyslexia goes beyond reading and writing
Yep, this is a biggie.
Dyslexia isn’t just spelling mistakes or slow reading. It’s about processing information differently. That can affect memory, organisation, time management, even how we handle verbal instructions or interruptions.
It’s a full-brain experience, not just a school-based struggle. There is a great article on Emotional Permanance that will help you too.
4. We are more than our diagnosis
Being dyslexic is part of who we are, but it’s not all we are.
Just like any form of neurodiversity, we’re individuals with unique skills, interests, and ways of working. Labelling us only by our challenges limits our potential. Recognise the full human behind the label.
5. Noise and chaos drain our focus
Many dyslexic workers thrive in quiet, low-distraction spaces.
Open-plan offices might seem cool for collaboration, but for someone with a hyper-sensitive, visually distracted brain, they’re often a nightmare. If you want us to do deep work, give us calm. We’ll give you results.
6. Breaking things down helps massively
Don’t overload us with huge, vague instructions.
Break tasks into smaller steps. Use checklists. Ask us to repeat things back if needed. It’s not about handholding, it’s about working with our brains, not against them.
Clarity and structure make all the difference.
7. 300-page manuals don’t work for us
Want to waste a dyslexic team member’s time? Give us a dry corporate manual and expect magic.
We’re visual learners. We learn by doing. Flowcharts, diagrams, screen recordings, all far better than endless blocks of text.
If you want us to understand something fast, show us, don’t bury it in fine print.
8. Just because we “look” fine doesn’t mean we don’t struggle
Dyslexia is a hidden disability. You often can’t see it, but it’s there, behind the effort, the coping, the missed details.
So don’t assume someone’s lazy, distracted, or not a team player just because they work differently. Ask questions, get curious, and support with kindness.
9. We learn best through doing, not reading
Throw us into the action. Let us figure things out hands-on. Give us videos, visuals, and examples.
We’re not the ones who learn by reading a PDF and just getting it. But give us a few reps of hands-on practice, and we’ll often outperform expectations.
10. Our strengths are often hidden, but powerful
Dyslexic thinkers bring big-picture thinking, emotional intelligence, creative problem-solving, and people skills that can transform a team.
We’re idea generators. Empathy-driven communicators. Strategic thinkers who see connections others miss.
You might not notice it right away, but once you spot it, you won’t want to lose it.
Supporting Dyslexia in the Workplace, It’s Not About Favouritism, It’s About Fairness
If someone needed a wheelchair ramp, you’d build one.
Supporting dyslexic employees isn’t about special treatment, it’s about giving them what they need to perform at their best. And when they do, your whole business wins.
Small changes, like:
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Using visual aids instead of dense text
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Allowing more processing time for tasks
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Offering quiet workspaces or noise-cancelling headphones
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Giving flexible feedback (video, voice notes, etc.)
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Letting people use spellcheck and dictation tools without shame
These aren't workarounds, they’re enablements, and they unlock serious potential.
Why This Matters Now More Than Ever
1 in 10 people is dyslexic. That means statistically, someone on your team is.
And in a time where innovation, creativity, and human connection matter more than ever, it’s your neurodiverse team members who are going to give you the edge.
But only if you understand how to support them.
Final Word, Let’s Build Better Workplaces for Dyslexic Minds
The world of work is slowly catching up to the truth about dyslexia, that it’s not a deficit, it’s a difference.
But we’re not there yet. And that’s why resources like this matter.
Struggling with reading, writing, or memory challenges that others seem to breeze through? Our comprehensive adults with dyslexia test offers a breakthrough moment for thousands who've spent years wondering if their brain works differently. This quick dyslexia examination, built from real experiences of adults with dyslexia, cuts through confusion with targeted questions about everyday struggles you might have dismissed as personal failings. Unlike generic dyslexia testing for adults, our quiz delivers personalised insights that help you understand your unique cognitive patterns, complete with tailored strategies. Whether you're ready to put a name to lifelong challenges or simply curious about why certain tasks feel inexplicably difficult, this confidential adults with dyslexia test tool transforms self-doubt into self-awareness and for many, that's the first step toward unlocking their true potential.
Let’s keep spreading the word and building workplaces where every brain gets to shine.
