As we finish our month-long focus on dyslexia, we want to say thank you for your involvement, enthusiasm and openness to support and share stories with our Parish community.

There are so many fabulous resources available and if you would like any further information or to be connected to local support, please contact Tanya Slavin, tanya.slavin@stagnesparish.org.au or call St Agnes’ Parish Administration Centre on (02) 6588 7444.

7 tips for people with dyslexia in the workplace:

1. Let co-workers and managers know.  Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence. If possible, be upfront and honest about your dyslexia as it is nothing to be ashamed of.
2. Adjust your computer settings. Not everyone realizes that certain fonts can make it easier for dyslexic people to read text on a computer screen. They are weighted differently so the letters and numbers are easier to read. Adjusting the background colour of a screen can also reduce distractions and make it faster to navigate a desktop.
3. Become a student again. There is nothing shameful about taking a course outside of work to strengthen your literacy skills. In fact, many managers and companies take pride in helping workers enhance their abilities.
4. Work your words. Figure out which vocabulary is important at your job and find a program or an app to help you reinforce these words. Overlearning via typing drills can help with spelling and sight-reading.
5. Plan for extra time. Time is a major factor at workand knowing how to wield your schedule means allotting extra hours for tasks that may take longer to complete with dyslexia.
6. Use more charts and diagrams. You may find that it’s easier to process information if you turn tables into charts and text instructions into diagrams. Try printing them on different colour paper as it may make them easier to discuss in meetings and during presentations.

Stay organized. Stress affects everyone in the workplace but it can be particularly crippling if you are already struggling with a learning difficulty. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, stay organized and manage your tasks wisely. If you know you have a difficult project to work on in the morning, plan a different focus for the afternoon to give your brain a chance to recover.

Information sourced from www.readandspell.com