Many managers want to support dyslexic colleagues but are not sure what to offer. Many dyslexic employees know something is getting in their way but find it hard to name the change that would help. Our free Dyslexia Reasonable Adjustments Example Guide is designed to close that gap, with practical examples that either side can bring to the conversation.
The British Dyslexia Association’s guide for employers estimates that dyslexia affects around 10% of the population. It is often thought of as a reading and spelling difference, but it can also affect working memory, processing speed, time management and organisation. Plenty of dyslexic employees go without support, usually not because their employer does not care, but because nobody knew where to start.
What the guide covers
The guide takes common workplace barriers and pairs each one with concrete adjustments. Each section opens with a short explanation of the barrier, for example dense written communication, long verbal instructions or fast paced meetings, followed by adjustments that either the employee or the manager can suggest.
These are specific, not vague advice to “be supportive”. Examples include:
- speech to text software or read aloud tools for reading and writing
- meeting notes or visual agendas shared in advance
- extra time for tasks that involve a lot of reading
- verbal instructions backed up with a short written summary
- colour coded planners or digital reminders
Small changes like these can make a real difference to confidence, output and wellbeing, and many of them help the wider team too.
The areas the guide covers
Sections cover reading and processing written information; written communication and documentation; verbal instructions and memory; organisation, planning and time management; meetings, presentations and live communication; workplace systems and technology; recruitment and onboarding; and access to training and development. Each includes a brief explanation of the barrier and five or six example adjustments.
Built for real conversations
The guide is not a checklist for HR. It is written in a neutral tone so that either the employee or the manager can introduce it as a starting point for discussion.
For managers, it is a practical reference when someone tells you they are dyslexic, or when you are reviewing how to support someone already in your team. For dyslexic employees, it can help put needs into words and show that what you are asking for is reasonable and common. If you are thinking about telling your employer, our disclosure templates can help with that first conversation.
Why this matters
Dyslexia is still often reduced to “bad spelling” or “slow reading”. In reality it can affect many parts of working life, particularly in roles that rely heavily on written communication, fast processing or rigid processes.
Without adjustments, people often overcompensate by working longer hours or masking the effort a task takes. That can lead to stress, burnout and underperformance that has nothing to do with ability and everything to do with an environment that does not fit how they process information. Our guide to dyslexia in the workplace explores this in more depth.
There is a legal side too. Under the Equality Act 2010, employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees, and dyslexia can meet the legal definition. Our page on your legal responsibilities around reasonable adjustments sets out the basics, and our write up of a dyslexia tribunal case shows what can happen when it goes wrong. Acas also publishes clear guidance on adjustments for neurodiversity.
Get it right and dyslexic staff can bring their strengths to the fore, from big picture thinking and creativity to verbal communication and problem solving.
From awareness to action
Reasonable adjustments rarely need to be expensive or complicated. In most cases small changes remove big barriers. What matters most is a willingness to listen, try things and review them together.
Download the guide
You can download the free guide here: Dyslexia Reasonable Adjustments Example Guide (PDF). It works well alongside our dyslexia style guide, which covers making written materials easier to read.
How Enna can help
A guide gives you options; a workplace needs assessment tells you which ones will work for a particular person. Our assessors look at the role, the environment and the individual, and give you clear, practical recommendations.
For managers who want to feel confident agreeing and reviewing adjustments, our Reasonable Adjustments: Putting It Into Practice workshop is a good fit. To discuss either, book a call with our team.
