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Posted By Chris B
Our son is dyslexic, and will be seeking work this summer, what discrimination can we expect, and reasons given on H&S grounds for him not being employed?. (Despite the DDA and given that task should be reasonably adjusted to accomodate to his disability). Remebering that dyslexics excel in other fields, what opportunities may be given and denied?
I'm sure you all have examples (good or bad) to share.
Many Thanks & Look Foward to your Replies.
Regards
Chris. (C.Eng)
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Posted By Richard Mathews
My opinion is that it shouldn't be a real problem. There are many dyslexic people who do hold down high level jobs, I know one dyslexic person who is a successful and respected company director. It's a case of horses for courses, as you say, they can excell in other fields. Just don't expect them to proof read anything (unless it's the Daily Mail).
Richard
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Posted By Dave Daniel
Our eldest son (27) has Dyslexia and Dyspraxia. My wife is a physiotherapist who works with children including in the past with such conditions in mainstream schools. such children may have minor difficulties with co-ordination and spatial awareness - e.g they can't throw or catch a ball and have a poor perception of their location in space.
My son has never learnt to drive a car and would avoid it - he did try but found the experience too difficult. He is however an avid reader and achieved an A grade in A level English. I wouldn't however want to see him working on a building site or circular saw.
such conditions often go undiagnosed and children learn to cope with or disguise them in adulthood.
You can however imagine that it might be possible that the fork truck driver who always seems bash the doorway is actually not careless but has a difficulty in judging distance. You do come across people
The sources of accident prone-ness are an unresearched area, as far as I know.
The answer to your question as far as I am concerned is that some tasks may require skills which challenge his areas of weakness and in some cases this could result in increased risk, but in this he is no different from most of society. We do after all allow any Tom Dick or Harry to drive a lethal chunk of metal along the roads at 70mph.....
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Posted By Kieran J Duignan
Chris
In asking 'what discrimination' your son can expect, are you simply referring to 'unfair' discrimination?
As you will be aware, all competent assessment for employment requires 'discrimination' against job-specific competences. So, relevant sources of discrimination can include failures to specify competences related to dyslexia that may or may not result in unfair discrimination.
It is possible that errors may result in an offer of a job unsuitable for your son which he might enter and find very difficult to succeed in.
When I was in a comparable situation, I ensured my son was assessed independently by a chartered occupational psychologist so that we could offer him guidance on his options. In that way, I reduced the potential sources of error that he had to deal with.
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Posted By Messy
The UK Fire Service does dot discriminate against persons entering this high risk job with dyslexia.
Some Brigades such as London have Dyslexia Policies in place to guide managers as to their responsibilities in providing additional assistance (esp during training)
Reasonable adjustment or a dangerous PC policy?? I reserve judgement!!!
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Posted By J Knight
Well, dyspraxia aside, the biggest issue with dyslexia would be in terms of information and signage. What the Health and Safety at Work act says about this is 'the provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, as far as reasonable practicable, the h, s & w at work etc'. This makes any employees difficulty with reading signs etc (although your son may not find such things a problem) a matter to be resolved by any prospective employer. You could rephrase the provision in the Act to say that info & instruction must be effective; i.e. it must be accessible to every employee. Note that the duty to provide information is not the bit that is subject to the test of reasonable practicability. This provision predates the DDA; let alone the invention of the term 'PC' by the Daily Mail. Dyslexia and other communication difficulties must be accommodated and allowed for by employers as a simple duty under the Health & Safety at Work Act, except in the very few cases where it would make a job impossible,
John
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Posted By Chris B
Thanks all for your views. All very helpful and reassuring.
Chris
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