Despite the achievements of many high profile dyslexic entrepreneurs, a new survey has found that a third of dyslexics view their condition as a barrier to business success.
The survey, conducted by Business Link for London and the British Dyslexia Association, found that 33% of dyslexics thought their condition put them at a disadvantage, despite the successes of the likes of Sir Alan Sugar, Sir Richard Branson and Anita Roddick.
According to Business Link for London, around 45% of dyslexic individuals have not disclosed their condition to their employer, and 9% fear that they would be offered fewer opportunities for promotion and training if they did so.
Vicki McNicol, director of development at the British Dyslexic Association commented that the findings highlight a significant lack of support from employers:
“When an employer is able to support the dyslexic individual’s differences and not see them as a threat, the individuals abilities and talents are able to shine through,” she said.
“Many employers/managers are not able to celebrate difference but more commonly want to penalise employees for it.
“At the BDA we find that many highly intelligent, dyslexic individuals fail to reach their full potential due to ignorance and lack of understanding amongst employers and HR professionals.”
Keith Gilbey, director of strategy at Business Link for London, added that dyslexia can often open up opportunities and should not be viewed as a barrier to success.
“Creativity and tenacity are just some of the traits associated with dyslexics so they have huge potential to become successful entrepreneurs.
“Equally, employers need to create a supportive environment so that they can harness the skills that dyslexics typically possess.”
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