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Abbreviations
ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder
DCD: Developmental Coordination Disorder
ICF: International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Framework
SCLN: Specific Communication Language Needs
Addressing the Employment Gap
Despite increasing recognition of the lifelong impact for many having dyslexia and other co-occurring developmental disorders, there remains little research into the benefits of employment, the challenges of gaining employment and considering the support that may be required for some. This article starts to bring together some of the literature and offers some research questions that need to be answered to gain a deeper understanding.
In 2017, the UK government produced a report describing the need to reduce the employment gap for people with disabilities (81% of nondisabled people in work compared to 49% with disabilities, House of Commons, 2017). While this encompasses all disabilities, there is certainly evidence of the economic, social, and health impacts of being unemployed, which not only relate to the person but often their families as well. Hillier and Galizzi (2014) identified the high costs to families supporting their children with Autism Spectrum Disorder into employment, including time (e.g., preparing for work, transport to work, interview preparation, supervision, and emotional support) as well as loss of their income, loss of career opportunities, and depreciation of work skills.
What Is the Value of Employment?
There is much talked about stress and mental well-being for those in employment but a systematic review by Modini et al. (2016) discusses the health benefits associated with being in work, and also indicates that having good quality supervision at work can make a significant difference to well-being. It is less clear, however, which is most important for well-being: having interactions with others in the workplace; having daily routines in place; or the financial benefits. Other studies have highlighted that increased sense of agency and feelings of control over one's life and better subjective well-being are gains of being in employment. This is in contrast to being unemployed, which has been associated with increased mortality and higher suicide rates (Wanberg, 2012).
The Person
In considering how to support people with dyslexia into and in employment, there can be two potential approaches. One approach is to support the person and start by describing the potential...