In the UK, an estimated 6 million people are estimated to have dyspraxia. That’s roughly 10% of the population meaning that in any location, there is likely dyspraxia in the workplace and one employee that needs to be catered for.

Dyspraxia typically starts to manifest in childhood as difficulty with coordination and motor control, but in adult life, it can also manifest itself as learning difficulties, information processing difficulties, and difficulties with planning and organisation.

With that said, the workplace can be a complicated place for someone with dyspraxia because of problems with information processing and typing, but that’s not all! Dyspraxic individuals are some of the most resourceful and industrious people a manager can ever hope to have on their team. They are cooperative, always willing to learn something new and outgoing. Below are strategies for dyspraxic individuals to make work easier at work.

Develop a plan of action

Difficulty processing information is one of the most common issues of dyspraxia in the workplace. To help manage the workload and stay organised, develop a plan whenever you’re assigned a new task. For example, if the boss assigns you a new task of editing a document, you can set a  timeline where you start with the first five paragraphs, the next hour you edit the following five paragraphs, and so on.

Keep your items in one place

It’s easier to keep track of your items when you have one place for all the essential documents needed. It can be in a physical folder or on a digital platform with all the information stored together, like Google Drive. It doesn’t matter if you use physical or digital, but ensure that all items are in one place for easy retrieval.

Communicate your Dyspraxia to Your Boss

One of the most important strategies for accommodating dyspraxia in the workplace is communicating your dyspraxia to your boss. It might feel awkward to talk about it, but it can make a difference in your work and collaboration. Your boss will better understand the best practices for working with people with dyspraxia, like providing more time or extra breaks. Communicating your dyspraxia openly will bring more clarity to the workplace and make your job more accessible in the long run.

Set your phone clock ahead on purpose

To hack the difficulty with time management, you can set your phone clock 20 minutes ahead of the actual time. That way, you’ll be more aware of the time and be able to stay on track with tasks. If you are aware that you’re still on track, you’ll be able to focus more on the task at hand and not get distracted.

Request for software with grammar and spell checks

Typing is one of the most common struggles for dyspraxic individuals in the workplace, and it can be a great help to have software that has grammar and spell checks. This will cut time off from double-checking everything and reduce the frustration of mistakes in your work. Requesting software with grammar and spell checks should not be considered an inconvenience but rather essential for quality work.

By following these strategies, dyspraxic individuals can be successful in their workplace. It is important to remember that dyspraxic individuals are some of the most resourceful people in any company, so providing the necessary support and accommodations will help them reach their full potential.