[happygolucky]

Hi, my husband is Dyslexic it effects the way he processed information and it can be very testing when he will ask for explanations of everything and often ask several times, however, in a work environment, he usually, once its sunk in, works without any problem, off his own initiative, he currently works with an agency, our problem is his current boss had supervision and had picked up the way  he works and that's when the mention of Dyslexia came in, his boss said he must tell the agency and prospective bosses before he works as then they will be able to help him.....well, this is true BUT, in this time of job shortage, how can that be the case, most people wanting a temp worker will see that and go to the next worker, yet he is very good at his job, no matter what the law says...sad but true.
So, I know there are few out there with Dyslexia etc, do you say or not? I would even worry about telling employers about my problems...

[mojocafa]

As an employer, I currently have a person working with me who is dyslexic. Her honesty, caring skills and fab sense of humour are natural qualities that mean more to me than her ability to write and spell
I would promote honesty
Mojo

[happygolucky]

My husband has been told he is great with the people he works with the main issue is its not a perm job, he actually is finishing just after Christmas and if he tells the agency, the people needing instant staff will possibly choose some one else. In his permanent jobs it was made known and as they were council jobs, they did help him a lot....sometimes, his thinking is very different, his logic is not too good and that worries me although I am very experienced at working with people with learning difficulties and the difference is, often once they are taught the proper way, they will keep to that way, whereas I may cut corners!!!
My husband is very down yet again as he had a job in Edinburgh that he was going back to but now they have employed some one else...so when this one ends there is nothing again..
Also, he does not drive, and in Edinburgh came off his bike due to the tram lines, now they will not let him use his bike for work, he has to visit clients.....its effecting all sorts of things and it scares me a lot!!
 
 

[SallyintNorth]

If you lie - either by telling a lie or by omitting to tell something germane - on your application then you may find you lose many if not all of your employee's rights and, for instance, can be sacked on the spot.

Sadly I suspect you are right and that many if not most small employers, given a choice of applicants, would initially look at those who do not have disabilities that would affect their performance in the job.  Larger employers probably have quotas and may be pleased to be able to employ someone who can not only do the job but also tick an equality box for them.

If you are not honest and anyone talks to a previous employer who mentions it...   

[happygolucky]

Apparently, I checked with the disability rights people, you have no obligation to discuss disability to an employer and they can not pass on info re your disability to future or past employers, even if you have spoken about  your disabilities, its an infringement on human rights...that's one side, in permanent jobs its best to say and explain so that measures can be put in to assist the disabled employee.
As for agency work, any person employing an agency worker can finish them..."Just Like That"  and can skate around the disability laws unless, you have told them and then they have not made the necessary adjustments for you to be able to work like any non disabled person, however, that's still very very difficult in non permanent positions.
Its a no win situation....
 

[Bionic]

I am another one for honesty. Its very tough because he might well be turned down for a job because of it although they will use some other reason, but when he does get a job they will be more understanding and value him for the work that he does.
Sally

[doganjo]

It is always best to be honest, but I do understand what you mean about possibly being passed over.  But really dyslexia is not a big problem except for paperwork,  and I would have thought Steve's lack of logic is unrelated. (is that not just because he's a man  )

Some information withheld could affect the company's insurance but I can't see that dyslexia would.
 
I'm sorry he has nothing lined up after Christmas, but you've been here before and it has worked out.  I hope he finds a job very soon.  Wish I could help, but all I need is someone to help with my huge garden, as I've said before.

[happygolucky]

He  usualy does say in perm jobs...hes just been doing bits of filling in for ages and now is a bit down yet again, he now wants to re train, he is a Youth Worker, so am I....now wants to do the extra bit for Social Work, and I wish I had done that too!! Most social jobs with councils are great re disability although, when I had my hip very bad, I had to keep reminding my crap boss at that time, I could not work physicaly with disabled children as no matter what, they always ended up needing some physical intervention that was unsafe for me to do!!! anyway, thats me done years ago!!
THanks ALL

[happygolucky]

Its much more than paper work with him, in fact  his written skills are good afterall he did manage a Degree, but his short term memory is very bad and so is his processing of information is bad, IT is a big problem, logic problems are difficult, eg, if he came out of a room without his shoes he would think they have gone!! but logically they would be in there...we have that one all the time...Once he went to a house to check their gas meter...he said they did not have one, I knew they would as most  have, he did not think logically and look in other places than where ours was in our house, it was outside the front but I would have known there was one some where whereas he has little logic. There is loads of work for him about its just getting it!!! He has had loads of interviews and loosing heart but he is great with people and sorting logical things out like paying bills, sorting out benefits etc etc.........I have work if needed anyway but he is very down as he turned down some other work to get the one he is doing now and is being finished earlier than expected and now the other job is taken!!

[Ina]

Major problem - I can see that. Basically, I was diagnosed with a mental health issue 30 years ago - I never mention it in a job application, because with the job situation as it is, what chance would I have to get a job at all? And in fact, a secure job would be the one factor that would ensure I have less mental health issues... So I'm all for mentioning it only when it really matters. So your husband is dyslexic? Well, does the job entail writing anything for publication? If not - don't mention it. (That's the only way "normal" people understand  dyslexia.)

[in the hills]

Happygolucky, don't have an answer to the dilemma but interesting what you say about lack of logic. My husband and 14 year old son are similar. Very intelligent but both will claim things have "gone" or "aren't there" ..... similar things to examples you give. I've been told that my son thinks outside the box ..... just wish he'd think inside it sometimes.    Although not diagnosed and certainly not severe, I (ex-primary teacher) have sometimes felt that my son maybe slightly dyslexic and certainly learns/approaches things in an unusual way. Has got A grades in his mock, mocks (yes, they have mock,mocks  ) so I am not overly concerned but do find it fascinating how different people see things/learn. Also I can now see far more clearly than when I was teaching how difficult some learning/working environments must be for some children/adults and how even the very academic may struggle or under achieve.


Sorry, no answers but I wish him well and bet he has loads of strengths and much to offer.


Cross posted with Ina and agree that many may only be aware of the written/reading aspect.

[happygolucky]

Its so hard, I think mental health issues confuse a lot of employers..if it were a mobility issue etc it would be easier to understand, Ina, I so agree, its going to stress him out and result in us having a miserable time if he has no job, that's understandable to anyone, that's a good reason we are downsizing so it does not matter too much, small morgage = less worry.

In the Hills, my grandson is very similar, they can make you smile as well, for instance, another example that happens often is no multi tasking skills, he tackles only one job at a time, one day he went up the garden empty handed to get the empty wheel barrow, even though there were things to take up, I watched and he came back down with the empty wheel barrow and left a bucket full of stuff at the top of the garden, when the wheel barrow was where he wanted it, he went back up the garden, empty handed again, to get the bucket of rubbish, then, when that was in the correct place, he took the stuff up the garden, so that's  3 trips when it should have been 1, he does that with everything.....although he can remember political stuff and read a lot....Its certainly hard work sometimes and get the name for something wrong and its a long uphill struggle, when I am chatting with  him I often regret mentioning things that are too obscure for him to understand...a friend who worked with him for ages and has a fantastic sense of humer sent him a text, it was ment for hima and I saw the funny side straight away but my husband did not get it and thought it WAS a mistake, it was at Christmas and went something like this:_
Happy Easter Harry and Mary from your friends  Hilda and Joe from the alzheimer's club

[Lesley Silvester]

My younger son has epilepsy and dyslexia.  He usually doesn't mention either on application forms but, if he gets an interview, will mention the epilepsy and say that he hasn't had a seizure in years.  If he gets the job he will then mention the dyslexia if it is going to be relevant.  His spelling is good as is his handwriting.  Where he has problems is in processing information and writing down what he wants to say.  I can understand this as my dyslexia takes the same form.

I suggested he mentioned the problems when applying for jobs and he says he won't get an interview then. He says that if he gets as  far as an interview he stands a chance as he interviews well His biggest problem is that most employers in his line of work (care) want people with clean driving licences.  As he still has the occasional 'absense' (and those usually occur when he is resting, ie watching TV) he can't apply for a licence. 

I was only diagnosed with dyslexia a year ago so it hasn't been an issue for me.

On the bright side, I find it difficult to remember what I have just read, especially non-fiction, and need to read something several times before it penetrates my brain.  I love to read crime books and can read the same one more than once as, although I remember that I've read the book before once I've started it, I can't remember who dunnit.

[happygolucky]

Mad Goatwoman of Madeley, blimey your life is soooo similar to mine, my husband cannot drive and similar, he can however drive but has not passed a test as he is a little worried, he nearly went for his test a few years ago, passed his theory but then money was tight, like it is now.....he needs to drive.
A lot of people do not understand that Dyslexia is not about spelling, in fact, my spelling is very poor and in no way am I Dyslexic, or maybe I am?? He like you, reads loads of books and cannot re call them!!! I often say life's all a suprise to him as he sometimes even forgets what hes had for tea or dinner..it is a serious concern for me some days though!!
He gets the wrong words, I did laugh when we were taking the plaster off the wall and he found some material behind the plaster and said " Hay, its some Hacienda"  of course he meant Hesian....
He was lucky and got a diagnosis at 8 they other thing that made me smile is he used to go to Ballet and had an audition for the Royal Ballet School but could not do hands and feet at the same time, as I said, he cannot multi task!!! he gave up Ballet at 13 Buy the way
It is a very difficult disability that did cause him to have health issues when a child.........funny how me and you have so much in common...Oh and we are both care workers, he is brilliant working with street homeless, he used to work in Liverpool, London and Oxford and Leicester, that's where we moved from, there we both had a brill network of work contacts, anyway, I got him a contact a min ago with hopefully some hostel work, that he IS good at!!

[deepinthewoods]

employers often have targets that need to be met to cover anti discrimination law and you might find that his dyslexia could be an employment advantage particularly with a larger firm.