Dyslexia at work: tools and workflow tweaks that actually help
Dyslexia creates specific challenges in most workplaces. Reading dense documents quickly. Producing written work under time pressure. Spelling and proofreading when your brain processes text differently. Taking in verbal instructions and holding them accurately in memory long enough to act on them.
None of that is about intelligence or capability - it is about how your brain handles certain types of information processing. And most of those challenges have practical solutions.
This article covers tools and workflow adjustments that address those specific problems. Not general encouragement - actual software, settings and habits that make a measurable difference.
Text-to-speech: let your ears do the reading
Reading through your own written work visually means your brain often fills in what should be there rather than what is actually there. Listening back catches errors you would never spot by eye.
Microsoft Word Read Aloud is built into Word and costs nothing if you already have Office. Go to Review - Read Aloud. It reads your document back to you, highlighting each word as it goes. Use it to proofread emails and documents before sending - you will hear the missing word, the repeated phrase, the sentence that does not quite make sense.
Natural Reader is a standalone text-to-speech app with a free tier. You can paste text in or upload a document. Useful for processing dense reports, policy documents or anything else you need to read for information rather than proofread.
Speechify works well for articles, PDFs and web pages. There is a browser extension and a mobile app. If you regularly need to read long content - research documents, internal reports, lengthy email threads - having it read to you while you follow along can significantly reduce the cognitive load.
The general principle: use text-to-speech both for processing incoming text (reading) and for checking outgoing text (proofreading). They are different use cases and both benefit from it.
Speech-to-text: draft with your voice
The blank page problem is particularly common with dyslexia - the effort of converting thoughts into correctly spelled, properly structured text in real time can block the thinking itself. Dictation sidesteps this. You speak your draft, then edit in text.
Windows Speech Recognition is built into Windows. Search for it in Settings under Accessibility or Time and Language. Press the Windows key and H to start dictating in any text field. Mac Dictation works the same way - go to System Settings, Keyboard, Dictation. Both are free and reasonably accurate for everyday use.
The workflow that works well: dictate a rough draft without stopping to correct anything, then switch to editing mode to tidy it up. Two separate passes - one for getting ideas out, one for cleaning them up - reduces the friction of doing both at once.
Dragon Professional is the paid, high-accuracy option for people who dictate a large volume of text. It learns your voice and vocabulary over time and handles technical terms better than built-in tools. If your employer can provide it, or if you are applying for an Access to Work scheme grant, Dragon is one of the standard assistive technology tools that can be funded.
Grammarly: a safety net for written work
Grammarly catches spelling and grammar errors and - crucially - explains why something is wrong rather than just flagging it. If you consistently mix up "their" and "there", or put commas in unusual places, that explanation helps you recognise the pattern in your own writing rather than just correcting individual instances.
The free version works as a browser extension and integrates with most places you write online. The paid version adds more nuanced suggestions and works in desktop apps. For workplace use, the free tier covers the majority of everyday writing - emails, documents in a browser, web-based tools.
One note: Grammarly's tone suggestions can be over-eager. Use the grammar and spelling checks; treat the style suggestions as optional.
Fonts, sizing and colour overlays
Some people with dyslexia find certain visual presentations of text significantly easier to process. Worth experimenting with rather than dismissing.
OpenDyslexic is a free font designed specifically for dyslexic readers, with weighted bottoms on letters to reduce visual flipping. You can install it system-wide or use a browser extension (Dyslexia Friendly) to apply it to websites. Results vary between individuals - some find it genuinely helpful, others prefer different adjustments.
More widely effective: switch body text to Arial or Verdana, increase the font size (16px on screen rather than the default 12-13px), and increase line spacing. These three changes together - a clean sans-serif font, larger size, more breathing room between lines - make a noticeable difference for many dyslexic readers without requiring any specialist software.
Colour overlays reduce the visual stress that white backgrounds with black text can cause. On screen: Windows has Colour Filters under Accessibility settings (try a yellow or green tint). F.lux adjusts screen colour temperature over the course of the day. On paper: physical tinted overlay sheets are available cheaply from most office suppliers.
Mind mapping for planning and meeting notes
Linear note-taking - writing in sentences as someone speaks - puts enormous pressure on processing speed and spelling simultaneously. Mind mapping separates the structure of ideas from the words used to express them, and lets you capture relationships spatially rather than sequentially.
MindMeister and XMind are dedicated mind mapping tools with free tiers. Microsoft Teams has a built-in whiteboard if your workplace uses Teams - useful for capturing meeting notes visually in real time without switching apps.
The workflow: before a meeting, sketch out the main topics so you have a visual frame to add to. During the meeting, add branches rather than writing sentences. After the meeting, convert the map into action points.
Mind mapping also works well for planning before you write. Instead of staring at a blank document, build the structure of what you want to say first, then write into that structure section by section.
Meeting and communication adjustments
These are all adjustments you can ask for under the Equality Act 2010. They are reasonable adjustments - practical changes that remove a specific disadvantage - not special treatment.
Ask for agendas before meetings. Reading and processing information is much easier when you can do it in your own time before a meeting, rather than having to listen, process and participate simultaneously. Most meeting organisers will send an agenda with no friction at all if you simply ask.
Ask for written action points afterwards. Verbal recall of what was agreed in a meeting is genuinely harder for many dyslexic people. A short written summary of who is doing what and by when removes the reliance on having accurately remembered and retained everything that was said.
Ask for written briefs for tasks. If a manager gives you a complex task verbally, it is completely reasonable to ask them to send you a brief email or message summarising the key requirements. This is not about doubting yourself - it is about having an accurate reference point to work from rather than a potentially misremembered verbal instruction.
None of these adjustments require disclosing a diagnosis. You can frame them as a preference or a working style. If you do want to disclose and formally request them as reasonable adjustments, your employer has a legal duty to consider them seriously.
Writing workflows: reducing real-time pressure
Writing under time pressure is where dyslexia tends to hit hardest. The following workflow changes reduce that pressure without requiring any specialist tools.
Draft with voice first, edit in text. As covered above under speech-to-text, but worth stating as a workflow principle. Use dictation to get a rough version down without worrying about spelling or structure. Edit in text once the ideas are there.
Use bullet points to plan before you write prose. Before writing any substantial piece of work - a report, a lengthy email, a proposal - spend five minutes writing bullet points for what you need to cover and in what order. Writing into a structure you have already built is significantly easier than constructing the structure and the sentences simultaneously.
Read your work aloud to proofread. Even without text-to-speech software, reading text aloud makes errors obvious that your eye skips over when reading silently. If you can do this privately (or use headphones and a quiet room), it is one of the most effective proofreading techniques available.
Factor in review time. If you know written tasks take you longer and benefit from a cooling-off period before a final read, build that into how you manage deadlines. Delivering good work on a realistic timeline is more professional than delivering rushed work because you did not account for your actual process.
Reducing visual noise in your environment
The environment you read and write in matters as much as the tools you use.
Browser reader modes strip out navigation, adverts and visual clutter and present just the text of an article or page. Firefox Reader View and Safari Reader are built-in - click the icon in the address bar. The Readable browser extension does something similar and lets you customise the font, size and background colour.
Single-purpose windows. When you need to concentrate on reading or writing, close other tabs. This sounds obvious but is genuinely hard when email and messaging tools are open in the same window. A second monitor dedicated to the document you are working on, or a full-screen mode, can help.
A consistent system for physical notes. A pile of paper in different formats is harder to use than a single notebook or a set of clearly labelled index cards. Pick one format and one colour scheme for your notes and stick to it - the consistency reduces the cognitive effort of finding information later.
Access to Work can fund assistive technology
If your employer is not willing to provide assistive technology, or if you are self-employed or in a new role, the Access to Work scheme can fund software, hardware, and specialist coaching. This includes text-to-speech tools, speech recognition software like Dragon Professional, ergonomic equipment, and one-to-one coaching with a workplace needs assessor.
You apply directly to Access to Work via GOV.UK - you do not need your employer's permission to apply, and the grant is paid directly to you or your employer depending on the type of support.
If you are looking for employers who already have experience supporting dyslexic employees and take reasonable adjustments seriously, you can search for employers who already support dyslexic employees on Neuro Hire Network.
