“I’ve found that a single screen feels very restrictive to me. I normally have three screens since I jump between tasks a lot. Many neurodiverse people like myself find it difficult to stay focused on one thing for very long. Having my work “scattered” around on different screens feels sort of like having papers all over a desk; I can pick up pieces in parallel without the need to stop and start what I’m doing. Basically, being able to easily move between the different things helps me find a flow. “ — John Abel, Technical Director, Google MULTIPLE SCREENS If you spend a good deal of your time working on a computer, you may find that adding a screen (or even more than one […]
Essential Tech: Favorites for Work/Life [Premium]
Every year technology gets better and better and it’s clear that finally it’s catching up with dyslexic minds. Major technology companies have finally responded to calls to optimize their text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and spell and grammar checkers to the dyslexic community. If you tried and then gave up on technology in the past, now is the time to check again. VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS Phones, tablets, laptops, and smart watches all have virtual assistants. Siri will send and read texts, set alarms and timers, make calls / start facetime, set reminders and check calendar, do translations and conversion, solve math equations, navigate on apple maps, search and create notes, play voicemails, check the weather, find files on the Mac, check stocks, even fill out […]
Going Back: Learning To Live With The New Normal
This is an old post from the early peak post-COVID times. We'll leave this up in case some of the advice is helpful. Whether it's you going back to work, or your children trying a new part-in school, part-remote school routine, many of us will be having to adjust to...
Online Certifications
With some jobs and higher educations up in the air because of the pandemic, some college graduates and workers are looking to online certification programs to improve their future job prospects or salary. Certificates may be highly desirable or required for certain...
Welcome to the Real World: Landing Your First Job [Premium]
For entrepreneurs, their first jobs may have been of their own making in elementary school, but for the rest, the first real jobs are when school is finally over. Compared to the volumes of resources available for school children, the advice and resources for the newly employed or newly job hunting, information is scarce. FOR JOB HUNTERS: 1. CONSIDER YOUR STRENGTHS AND LOOK FOR A GOOD JOB MATCH Ask for others’ opinions if you’re too self-critical. Don’t be afraid of aiming high. Jobs where you will be valued and where you can use your creativity and problem solving on a daily basis will not only be more enjoyable, but also be suited to your strengths. 2. LEARN YOUR TECHNOLOGY Now’s the time to get up […]
Surviving and Thriving Without College
Just over 1/3 of the U.S. adult population has a 4-year college degree, but as tuition rates skyrocket, many dyslexic families with young people might reasonably ask - "Is it worth it?" or even "Do I even want it?". Even if we know in theory that we want our children...
[PREMIUM] How to Talk About Dyslexia in Interviews
Although it’s not required to disclose one’s dyslexia in job interviews, many people make decisions to do so. Some want to be assured that they are joining a workplace that is welcoming to dyslexic employees. Others feel as if they want to be open with their prospective employer, while others choose to disclose for other personal reasons. Regardless of the reason, if you’ve decided to disclose, interview prep can only be be helpful. “If [the medical disability] is not obvious, unless it is germane for the actual job, I don’t think it’s necessary to discuss it during an interview.” – Roy Grizzard, Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy at the US Department of Labor. 1. HOW MIGHT OUR PROGRAM NEED TO BE MODIFIED TO […]
Dyslexia at Work Survey
If you haven't filled out our DYSLEXIA AT WORK SURVEY - there's still time! Click HERE. What's the #1 strength that people report at work?.... Big picture strengths! A wide range of occupations were reported. Here are some examples: program coordinator, physician,...
DYSLEXIA AND THE NURSING PROFESSION
‘‘Nurses with dyslexia [. . .] can use a multidimensional approach to patient care and can visualise a patient as an integrated whole. They can connect with a patient in way that integrates the art and science of nursing...(Dyslexic nurses) use ‘‘novel and creative...
[PREMIUM] Dyslexia and Job Interviews
Here are some quick tips to consider if you’re on the job hunting trail. Job interviews can be pretty stressful, so prepare (actually, over-prepare) to help the process go as smoothly as possible. 1. Research the Company or Business – Do your homework: use official channels (the company’s website) as well as unofficial channels (former employees, LinkedIn, Glassdoor) to learn as much as possible about the company you want to work for. Does the company seem to value neurodiversity? Do you know of any dyslexic employees or executives there? 2. Prepare for the Interview – If you are new to the workforce and interviewing process, use Google or another search platform to check out sample questions and answers. If your interviewer asks complicated or multi-part […]
DYSLEXIA AT WORK: New Skills
Q: I’m working full-time and also am a mom. My employer recently told me that I need to learn new skills to earn a higher salary. My reading and writing aren’t the best. A: Sounds like you’re carrying a full load! Without knowing the details of your occupation, a good general resources for the work place is https://askjan.org or the Job Accommodation Network. Their phone number is 1-800-526-7234. Title I of the ADA or Americans for Disabilities Act states that employers with 15 or more employees should consider providing reasonable accommodations for individuals who meet the criteria of having a disability. Here is a link to Ask Jan’s page of job coaches and accommodations. Job coaches can sometimes be paid for by the state’s […]
From the Community: Difficulty at Work
Q: I'm trying to help a friend who's having some difficulties at work. What resources are available for adults? A: As you may already know, there are many more resources for children than adults when it comes to dyslexia testing and support. Not all assessment...
