The CIOB is hosting a free live webinar on Dyslexia in the Construction Industry on 6 October. Member Luke Birkett has campaigned to raise the issue based on his own experience.
The webinar will start with an introduction from the BDA, which will explain what dyslexia is, signs of dyslexia and how to support dyslexic employees or colleagues.
Three CIOB members with dyslexia – Luke Birkett, James Nolan and Kirsty Ainsworth – will then share their experiences and talk about having a successful career in the construction industry despite having dyslexia, the challenges they have faced and how they have overcome any obstacles.
There will be time at the end of the webinar to answer any questions and registrants will be sent a link to the webinar 24 hours before the event.
Dyslexia is a neurological learning difference that is often poorly understood. It primarily affects reading and writing skills, but is actually about information processing; dyslexic people may have difficulty processing and remembering information, which can affect literacy and organisational skills.
According to the British Dyslexia Association (BDA), 10% of the population are believed to be dyslexic. Studies have shown that practical roles, such as those in construction, attract a larger proportion of people with dyslexia and Dyslexia Scotland estimates that around 20,000 people in the construction industry are dyslexic.
There are positives to thinking differently and many dyslexic people show strengths in areas such as reasoning and creative fields. With the right support, the talents of dyslexic people can really shine and neurodiversity can be a significant asset to an organisation.
