Hi all! how supportive are MCs about disability, in particular dyslexia? I am about to start a graduate scheme at a tier 2 SC and feel that I would perform much better if I get support with my dyslexia (such as specialist software installed). I was diagnosed recently so went through education without support and got 3 As at Alevel and a 2.1 at a top 5 uni. However, I'm worried that there is a general perception within MCs that being dyslexia is synonymous with being thick.. Any thoughts or experiences from anyone? Really not sure what to do.

Very unlikely that it would hold you back. All you need to do is make sure you take good notes in meetings you attend and always clarify things with project manager's and clients. I imagine that Excel modelling would be quite tough and document writing, but all you need to do is spend the extra hour or two getting it right. If you have managed to make it through uni, I can't imagine you lack motivation so ...

Whether to tell comes down to a) how severe your dyslexia is and b) what your employer is like.My guess is that yours is mild or have very effective coping strategies- to get through formal education and only be diagnosed having graduated would suggest this. In which case just get on with the job and build in extra checks and peer review your work before handing it on. If you have a sympathetic boss, you get on with, I would also talk it through with them. The point is if you can deliver the work without having to tell them - why jump up and down about it.If your dyslexia is more severe and you require significant help and or time to complete work to required standard - you absolutely should raise it. If you don't you run the risk of causing issues for both yourself and your superiors.I am dyslexic - though it is very mild and chose not to tell work as it did not outwardly make very much impact.Hope this helps.

HiThis is a really interesting post for me, as I am also Dyslexic, and starting at a SC in Jan. My dyslexia is pretty severe, and although I am constantly developing stategies, it makes life easier if people around you know, and can lend a helping hand ( eg proof read things/ not got crazy at typos the spell checker misses....)Has anyone got opinions on how to handle this? I don't want to rock up and be " the dyslexic one" from day one. Are people helpful about things like this, or is it such a competitive workplace that you don't want to set yourself apart on these terms.Any comments/ opinions would be welcomeThanks

Hi everyone Great thread thanks for posting it.I have just been showen the door by a company i'll not mention who. I never told them that I am semi Dyslexic its not that severe but when reading over documents I fail to see grammer issues and some minor spelling (i know spell check should pick it up) I also would sometimes fail to pick up notes when in meetings. My employer said it was suitablity more than capability than anything else, no "fit" they are bang on and I accept that. I'm just worried that i'll repeat this poor performance in another position what should I do? Tell the firm oh by the way I might not beable to do the back bone of my job and check a document!!

Thanks for the replies and glad others are finding the topic helpful. I am moderately dyslexic, slightly more towards the severe side than mild. The main issue is that I am keen to do the best I can in my new job, and dont want the dyslexia to hold me back. Throughout formal education I struggled and had to put in many more hours than my peers. So, I am keen to a) learn cognitive strategies that will excel my capabilities b) get equipment/aids that will help - for example, I can complete work much quicker when using an overlay.My main issue is how MCs perceive dyslexia (similar to the other dyslexics posting) and how they view supporting employers with it - In a competitive environment notoriously known for zero-tolerance, will employers be negative towards an employee who asks for support with dyslexia? Also, how will colleagues view it...excuses, excuses etc?

I'm not dyslexic, so maybe shouldn't comment, but I am old (40) and wise.I would be open and honest with your employer, if they can't accept what you are then do you want to work for them? This could apply to any disability or impairment. Show them that you are able to perform welll but ask for support if you need it, whether this is special software, more time to proof read a report, or whatever. They have a duty of care to their employees.

OK, I'm deliberately being contentious here, so pls think of this as being some of the negative opinions (right or wrong) that you might have to face. Here goes:Nobody makes an allowance for my lack of social skills or self confidence, even though I can give 1,000 reasons why it's a 'condition' and not because of laziness or stupidity. Because of this, I get poor ratings for delivery after giving presentations and my career progression is limited. How does this differ to someone who can write good content, but does it slowly or riddled with typos?At school, the fat kids were always picked last for sports teams even though some of them had medical conditions. The ugly kids were always picked last for dates. The unassertive kids were always picked first for bullying. The kids who couldn't add up or write properly were put in bottom group. The pretty girls and athletic boys were always surrounded by 'fans'. How does the world of work differ in its approach to that of school?Some employers might think 'why should I hire someone who can't do the job'? I for example will never be hired as a professional model. Nor will I be hired for speaking engagements or put in front of a board to make a presentation because of my social awkwardness even though I might know my subject inside out. I'll never succeed as an accountant because my maths isn't all that great. I'll not succeed as a salesman because I lack charisma. How do these opinions stack up against to a situation where somebody in a job which involves written communication has difficulties with writing/spelling because of medical reasons? Just some thoughts. I'm not giving my own opinions here, just testing how people perceive these things.And for the record, I also have dyslexia.And also for the record, I know several very high flying MC's who have dyslexia so don't think it will hold you back because it won't.

Hi, I agree with your comments but this is no reason not to get support. One of the reasons it is good to get support is it is likely to make you a more effective, efficent worker - for example (perhaps superfical example), in monetary terms it costs £2 to get an overlay and my speed in reading increases by 20%. This overlay can be used for 5 years. I reckon I'm a good person to employ, with a lot of skills, and basic support will go a long way. This is one reason to disclose to employer. Additionally, I think being dyslexic has equipped me with other skills - on my feedback from various assessment centres one of my strenghts seems to be innovative thought - Im sure being dyslexic has aided this as I have always had to think of other, more strategic, ways to do things. It isnt that you cant do the job per se - if someone with a hearing impairment needed support you would hope they would get it as intellectually, they may be top nosh for an employer.

This subject is a tricky one. I remember being at school when a number of very capable kids suddenly became dyslexic just before exams. They got extra time in their exams and many did a lot better than they would otherwise have done. The upshot in the workplace is that you should not expect special treatment. No client is going to ask for a document to be submitted by Monday but if you are dyslexic you can hand it in on Wednesday. If your presentation is not up to scratch the client is unlikely to make special allowances because you are dyslexic. My view is that in many societies we are developing a dependency/entitlement culture. You are dyslexic, I am rubbish at maths. I do not get special treatment neither should you. To me if you have dyslexia, it is up to you to seek the help you need to perform at the same level as your peers. It is up to you to tell your employer about your condition and/or to explain what help you might need. If you do this, any responsible employer would surely give you the help you need to perform to the right level. What I cannot accept if dyslexia being used as an excuse. I am not dyslexic (possibly numerically if that exists...) and I do genuinely sympathise but if you are going to cope in the corporate world and certainly in the consulting world, you have to front up, research the subject, figure out what support you need and make damned sure you get it. To me that responsibility is yours. If you do this and your employer does not want to support you you are with the wrong company and I suspect that this is a company which will not support other employees with other issues (pregnancy, illness, injury etc).Professionally speaking you have a responsibility to report anything which could impact on your performance. When my wife got pregnant, we did not tell people until the usual 12 weeks. I insisted to my wife, however, that I would tell my boss as soon as we knew. Why? because I knew that she might need extra support and that I might suddenly have to bail out on him if a crisis occured. It was my professional responsibility to alert him of what was happening. We talked, dealt with it and reached an understanding. With dyslexia it is the same principle. It could effect your work, your boss has the right to know and you have the right to expect the necessary support to ensure that you succeed in your job.

boll*cks, of course they should give you special treatment, if you have a bad back, they should give you a back support. it's the same thing. it's not to say that they should employ people who basically can't do the job, we are talking about people who can do a good job (they were recuited by the company after all) just need a little support to help them achieve their full potential. If a company flatly refuses to provide any support then maybe you want to reconisder who you work for - but such narrow minded practice will not help a company in the long run.

Hard Reality Whats your background? You say your bad at maths how does this affect your job and status within consulting?

Hang on. If anon is responding to my message, I am a little confused, you start by writing boll*cks and yet seem to agree with what I was writing. Clients cannot be expected to make allowances and any reasonable employer should give you support. It is up to you to ask for the support and ensure you get it, just as you would if you broke your leg, got pregnant or had any other condition. You get the support you need internally to ensure that the external clients get the service they expect from your company. I am not good at maths so I get a bit of help with numerical matters. I am very good at languages and did very well in the marketing/commercial options during my MBA. What goes around comes around in the workplace. a colleague checks my figures, I check his written English. The client does not see the difference...

It looks to me like the question is really “are MCs a tolerant environment?".