Dyslexia and dyspraxia awareness

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The signs and symptoms of dyspraxia and dyslexia overlap in many ways. They are both classed as a neurological difference; both can occur alongside other neurological differences; and can affect people of all intellectual abilities. Importantly, people with both conditions are at risk of encountering similar prejudice and discrimination. 

What’s the difference? 

Dyslexia	Dyspraxia
Affects 10-15% of the population	Affects 3% of the population
What does it cause?   Issues with processing information and remembering things you see or hear.	What does it cause?   Problems with gross and/or fine motor coordination.
How does this affect people?   It affects the ability to read, write and spell.   It can also affect organisational skills.	How does this affect people?   It affects large movements – like walking or balance; and smaller movements – like writing or using a sticky tape dispenser.  It can also affect speech, vision, perception, or cause sensory sensitivity.
Common strengths of people with dyslexia:  Highly creative  Lateral thinkers  Seeing things holistically  Sharper peripheral vision  Enhanced picture recognition memory  Good spatial knowledge – manipulating 3D objects in the mind  Improved pattern recognition	Common strengths of people with dyspraxia:   Problem solvers  Logical  Methodical  Task orientated  Good long-term memory  Good general knowledge  Determined  Hard working
Famous people with dyslexia:  Mohammed Ali (boxer)  Richard Branson (businessman)  John Lennon (musician)  Albert Einstein (scientist)  Agatha Christie (author)	Famous people with dyspraxia:   Daniel Radcliffe (actor)  David Bailey (photographer)  Emma Lewell-Buck (MP)  Florence Welch (musician)  Cara Delevigne (model, actress, singer)

Dyslexia in the workplace

In the University’s Accessibility Webinar on 26 August, there was a section focusing on dyslexia. You can download a toolbar in Chrome to get an idea of how reading a website can appear to someone with dyslexia.  

This highlights how important it is to make our communications as plain and clearly laid out as possible. 

Dyspraxia in the workplace 

Check out the Dyspraxia Foundation Guidelines for Employees to see how dyspraxia manifests in the workplace, and some strategies and accommodations to alleviate this.  

Neurodiversity  

We’re going to focus on neurodiversity much more in the future, with a Lunch and Learn in planning already.

The key point is that neurological differences should be recognised and respected in the same way as any other human variation – including, or maybe especially, in the workplace.  

More information and support

As always, you can contact our Equality and Diversity leads, Rai Furniss-Greasley and Stella Poole, if you have any queries or need advice.

• If you you think you may have dyslexia or dyspraxia, but aren’t yet diagnosed, you can have a screening through Workplace Wellbeing.
• If you already have a diagnosis, approach Workplace Wellbeing for advice on reasonable adjustments – such as software to help you to read from your screen more easily (Colorveil – available from the Software Centre) or specialist equipment.

The Enabling Staff Network also offers support to members of staff with disabilities. The Network is open to any member of staff who considers themselves to be disabled or who has a long term health condition.

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