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Dyslexia and Dyspraxia (DCD)
Understanding Dyslexia and Dyspraxia (DCD)
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Contents Part 1: What is neurodiversity?
Part 2: Legal issues surrounding neurodiversity in the workplace; research and securing support for employees. Part 3: Understanding specific conditions: Dyslexia Part 4: Reflection Part 5: Planning next steps
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What is ‘Neurodiversity’?
Part 1: Overview What is ‘Neurodiversity’?
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Part 1: What is ‘Neurodiversity’?
Contents The Spiky Profile How the different neurodiverse conditions overlap Key categories of neurodiverse conditions
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Neurodiverse people have abilities which are ‘out of balance’, with significant differences between their strengths and difficulties. Neurotypical individuals (red line) have similar abilities in all areas.
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What is Neurodiversity?
Recent research has grouped these neurodiverse conditions into four key categories: From Psychology at work: Improving wellbeing and productivity in the workplace, Weinberg, A & Doyle, N, 2017.
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Overlapping Neurodiverse Conditions
Dyspraxia (Now known as Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) Innovation Rapport Awareness of others Dyscalculia Intuition Verbal communication Dyslexia Visual thinking Creative ability Connecting ideas Neurodiversity Evolution has created specialist thinkers to bring a variety of expertise to humanity. Sound processing 3D mechanical ability ASC Autistic Spectrum Disorder Concentration Fine detail processing Sequencing ADHD Attention Deficit- Hyperactivity Disorder Creative ability Novel thinking Energy and passion ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Creative ability Novel thinking Energy & passion Tourette’s Ideas Creative ability Cognitive control Based on the highly original work of Mary Colley, DANDA
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Part 2: The Legal Issues Surrounding Neurodiversity in the Workplace
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What are the legal issues surrounding neurodiversity in the workplace?
“A person has a disability if she or he has a physical or mental impairment that has substantial and long term (12 months+) adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.” Equality Act 2010
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Direct Discrimination
Making assumptions about capability and treating differently as a result Failure to make reasonable adjustments Victimisation Harassment 10
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Indirect Discrimination
By treating all people the same, you may inadvertently be discriminating As an employer you are still accountable for this 11
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Getting Support Getting a workplace needs assessment (free through Access to work or some choose full private assessment). This will give advice on: Assistive technology Coaching Informal adjustments Use a free online tool to find out your strengths and difficulties and strategies that might work for you. We have a free strategy profiler on our website:
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Specific Conditions: Dyslexia & Developmental Co-ordination Disorder
Part 3: Understanding Specific Conditions: Dyslexia & Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD – previously known as dyspraxia)
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Part 3: Dyslexia & DCD Contents
Introducing dyslexia and DCD (Developmental Co-ordination Disorder, aka dyspraxia) How are dyslexia and DCD related? Where do dyslexia and DCD come from? Environmental & Cultural Factors What is dyslexia? What is DCD? Dyslexia & DCD: The Four Areas of Diagnosis The dyslexic brain Typical dyslexia profile Typical DCD profile Overview of key areas: Verbal skills, Perceptual Skills, Processing & Working Memory Common strengths & difficulties Supporting individuals with dyslexia Common adjustments in the workplace and their relevance to different neurodiverse groups.
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Introducing dyslexia and DCD?
(DCD = Developmental Co-ordination Disorder - formally known as dyspraxia) Dyslexia and DCD are … Just different thinking styles that comes with many advantages and some disadvantages. Dyslexia and Dyspraxia are not …. Diseases. It isn’t possible to catch them and you can't cure them.
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How are dyslexia and DCD related?
(DCD = Developmental Co-ordination Disorder - formally known as dyspraxia) Dyslexia and dyspraxia both involve a difference in cognitive style affecting learning, communication, organisation and memory. As with all neurodiversity, the abilities of dyslexic and DCD individuals are out of balance. In education, Dyslexia and DCD are both regarded as types of SpLD, 'Specific Learning Difficulties'. There is no one type of either dyslexia or DCD, but clusters of characteristics: these frequently overlap. Dyslexia and dyspraxia can often co-exist in the same person. In both dyslexia and DCD, there is often a difference between intelligence potential and academic achievement.
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How are dyslexia and dyspraxia related?
- Phonology - Auditory memory Developmental Co-ordination Disorder) DCD - Motor skills - Spatial awareness Both - Structure - Sequence - Visual tracking - Attention
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Where do dyslexia & DCD come from?
Dyslexia and DCD are probably hereditary: several genes have been implicated. There are often several members within a family who are similarly affected. Neither dyslexia nor dyspraxia are related to race, social background. Dyslexia and dyspraxia is not related to intelligence.
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Where do dyslexia and DCD come from?
(DCD = Developmental Co-ordination Disorder - formally known as dyspraxia) Do Dyslexia and DCD have an evolutionary purpose? There is a growing view that there is an evolutionary purpose to dyslexia and DCD. The skills that each condition bring are vital for human development, cooperation and day to day functioning. The fact that approximately 10% of society is either or both suggests it is not just an accident.
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Cultural & Environmental Factors
The phonological and structural nature of the English language and how it is encoded in written form is a disadvantage for people with dyslexic and DCD thinking styles. The current UK curriculum, teaching provision and assessment systems do not utilise the strengths and advantages of the dyslexic or DCD brain – it is instead centred on the areas that are common key difficulties for dyslexic and DCD individuals. Culture, society and workplaces place a great emphasis and requirement on areas such as written language, organisation and working memory – all of which are key difficulties for people with dyslexic and DCD thinking styles. This is often the case even in industries more suited to dyslexic and DCD thinkers. The problem isn’t the neurodiversity itself - it is the environment not fitting with its strengths.
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What is Dyslexia? Lexis refers to language – dyslexia means problem with language. This can refer to reading, writing, spelling, and phonological problems which result in difficulties acquiring new language. This is a symptom not a cause. The same cognitive differences affects specific skills such as: Literacy, Organisation, Short-term memory Certain information-processing abilities. Possibly 10% of people are dyslexic, of these 6% are mildly or moderately affected, 4% severely so.
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(Developmental Co-ordination Disorder, previously known as dyspraxia)
What is DCD? (Developmental Co-ordination Disorder, previously known as dyspraxia) Dyspraxia is now known widely as Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) Praxis comes from the Greek word meaning ‘to do’, related to movement. Three abilities are required for effective movement: Conceptualise the move Organize and plan the move Execute sequences of movements. If one or more of these is impaired then DCD may result. As children dyspraxics are often referred to as having “clumsy child syndrome” because of their tendency to bump into things and they frequently have trouble with sports, e.g. catching balls. Around 2% of the population are affected.
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The Four Areas of Diagnosis for Perceptual Organisation
Dyslexia & DCD Verbal Comprehension Working memory The four key areas of diagnosis Processing Speed Perceptual Organisation
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Verbal Comprehension When this is a strength Explaining what you mean Making connections between ideas Understanding a wide range of words and concepts When this is a weakness Struggling to explain oneself Doesn’t automatically understand how things are related Poor vocabulary and general knowledge Verbal Comprehension is commonly a strength for people with dyslexia and DCD.
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Perceptual Reasoning Connects ideas Sees complex patterns Mechanical ability 3D thinking skills When this is a strength Judging size, distance, space Spots patterns Notices hidden conflict / error Practical skills When this is a weakness Lacks structure Difficulty in putting things together or working out how things fit Doesn’t spot when things don’t match Perceptual organisation is commonly a strength for people with dyslexia.
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Processing Speed Scan Motor skills Sequencing When this is a strength When this is a weakness Quick readers Make quick decisions Spread sheets, data entry Fine motor skills Completing questionnaires Finding route on a map Stressed or frustrated at quick decisions Reading detail in the moment Processing speed is commonly a weakness for people with dyslexia and DCD.
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Working memory is a common weakness for people with dyslexia and DCD.
The number of things you can keep in your attention before you forget. When this is a strength When this is a weakness Can quote verbatim Phone numbers or directions are easy to recall Notices details Keeps track of conversations Forgets phone messages Difficulty in following large amounts of verbal information Forgets names / details Difficulty following instructions Working memory is a common weakness for people with dyslexia and DCD.
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The DCD/Dyslexic Brain
Subtle differences, for English speakers this is mainly within the left hemisphere of the brain (language centres) Differences in visual, auditory and long term memory parts of the brain (resulting in reduced efficiency of transmission of this information) Differences in left/right brain communication across the corpus callosum Physiological brain function during activities such as reading has been found to be different in people with dyslexia and dyspraxia when compared with neurotypical people
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A Typical DCD Profile IQ Strengths Verbal Comprehension Weaknesses
Working Memory Processing Speed Perceptual Organisation Motor Skills
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A Typical Dyslexic Profile
IQ
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Diagnosis for Dyslexia & DCD
DCD/Dyspraxia Fine motor skills (with fingers) And/or gross motor (large movements or balance). Dyslexia Phonological skills – making sense of sounds And/or rapid naming of letters and words Literacy
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Supporting Individuals with
Dyslexia & DCD in the Workplace: Personal Strategies
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Supporting Individuals with Dyslexia & DCD in the Workplace:
Tips for Managers Communication Meetings Awareness Use bullet points in written communication. Highlight key words. Be concise Provide the big picture of - where this message fits in to the bigger picture. Provide templates and best practice examples. Give extra time before and after to review. Give hand outs and slides before the meeting. Follow up requests in meetings with written s or notes. Give agenda to every meeting and link to the bigger picture Build in regular breaks Listen Give specific and objective feedback Set time limits – do not use ‘Give it to me when you are ready’. Be interested in their coaching. Give consideration to time and targets where possible – allow extra time for processing information.
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Common Adjustments and their relevance to neurodiverse employees
From Psychology at work: Improving wellbeing and productivity in the workplace, Weinberg, A & Doyle, N, 2017.
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We are all different …. …. so the best support is individualised.
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Well-known people who have Dyslexia
Prince Harry Whoopi Goldberg Orlando Bloom Richard Branson Jamie Oliver
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Well-known people who have DCD
Daniel Radcliffe Cara Delivigne Florence Welsh Emma Lewell-Buck MP
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Part 4: Reflection
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REFLECTION 1. What are you doing well to make your workplace inclusive
for neurodiverse individuals? What do you see and hear to know this? 2. What are you not doing so well? 3. What could you do better? What will you see and hear when you have achieved this?
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Part 5: Planning next steps
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A social enterprise supporting people with neurodiverse conditions.
PLANNING NEXT STEPS What three things can you do now that will make your workplace more inclusive? What could you do more of? What could you do less of? What could you do differently?
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A social enterprise supporting people with neurodiverse conditions.
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For more information, contact:
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