Dyspraxic Adults

Indeed. I was under the impression though that dyspraxia *was* officially recognised as a disability?

it is

So Ihave a job, whooop. So do I tell them or not?. I'm thinking not because I didn't tell my previous employers because I didn't know and it worked ok.

New stuff as you know is scary enough and I've been having trouble with this lately. I don't want that trouble to get mixed up with work.

Opinions please! as many as poosible . THankyou

Ruth wrote:So Ihave a job, whooop. So do I tell them or not?. I'm thinking not because I didn't tell my previous employers because I didn't know and it worked ok.

New stuff as you know is scary enough and I've been having trouble with this lately. I don't want that trouble to get mixed up with work.

Opinions please! as many as poosible . THankyou

Depends if you'll be doing anything that dyspraxia will be a factor in. If so, you really should tell them. For example, if you had troubles and later said "well i can't do this this and this because of dyspraxia" they'll ask why you didn't tell them sooner.

BEST THING TO DO IS NOTICE THE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS BEFORE YOU ARE CONFRONTED WITH THEM, SO YOU CAN PRACTISE THEM BEFORE YOU MAY HAVE TO DO THEM. Forgot caps was on sorry.

I'll add my 2 cents worth.

I have a feeling that ruth is going to be just fine without telling them . Since this is your first placement, it’s going to be a good way for you to gauge if this is necessary in the future. I think disclosure is going to be an added unnecessary stress for you right now. If something does crop up, and you feel you need to disclose - then that’s fine and I’m sure you will handle it well.

Go and enjoy your placement... you will be great!

Thanks tortoise.

That is just what I'll do. the problem that I'm having with Dyspraxia at the moment it that I'm fimding it difficult to seperate it from me. What bits are Dyspraxia and what bits are things I'm just not good at and is there any difference and what sort of support would I ask for anyway?

What sort of support do you get in the work place? If anyone gets any I would be very interested to know all about it.

Hey Ruth,

I’ve been staring at this post for a while! But haven’t responded because it was such a tough question!
I really understand when you say

… I'm finding it difficult to seperate it from me

I guess its all too tightly weaved together. The deeper you think about this question, the harder it gets!

You sound like you have worked without much problems so far and what you are doing now sounds well suited to you. I cant really give you much advice from experience because i havent got a "real" job yet. I guess you will just have to play it by ear. If you feel something is limiting you from achieving your potential then that’s when you know you might need help.

I spoke to a careers person today who wasnt very understanding when i brought up this topic. She basically made me feel like i was making a big deal out of nothing. The only thing she said when i expressed concern about my ability to work full time was... "oh dont limit yourself, you probably can work full time" and "do not disclose all this when you get a job".

It's hard when nobody understands I'm afraid that when i do get a job, I will just have to put up and shut up like always (ah... the joys of hidden disabilities!)

I have decided to tell my employers, I'm meeting them to morrow and I'm going to include the information as part of the conversation. Then if things are a bit tricky I can more easily ask for help .

i will be slower than they would expect to get myself up and running and I hope telligng them will explain why. I'll let you know how it goes!!

Wow Ruth, that's really brave. I get so nervous about things like that. How did it go?

Interestingly, I decided not to disclose in the beginning because i felt it wasn't necessary for me. It seemed that it was quite an independent and flexible sort of position and I couldn't foresee any problems. Having said that, one of them sort of knows now (but not in the context of disclosure).

The main problem im having at work is people not understanding my speech!

I'd love to know how it went.

well it went fine - no biggie as they say!

I started by saying that during the course of my studies I had discovered that i have Dyspraxia - they said 'Pardon ?' I said I have Dyspraxia and followed it with my potted definition - that it's like dyslexia but rather than being concerned with words and reading it's a difficuklti with organising and sequencing. As a result I am super organised because I can't keep things in my head! They said ' oh, well thanks for letting us know' and that was it!! easy peasy. I was dead nervous though. I'm sure they'll notice the spelling and stuff - I do try but I just can't see the word as wrong! hooray for spell checkers - They said may have to hot desk - I think that means share a desk with someone - That's going to be fun, and not in a good way but I'm sure I can find ways to make it work

I don't start until september - I'll keep you posted.

I prefer to disclose, but to try to remind the employer that it hasn't prevented me from, eg getting a degree. If you word it right, you can usually get a few points for showing determination.

good point Mark _ I'll try to get that in thanks

Hi Ruth,

I word of warning about hot desking.... check that you have all the software you need on each computer you use as sometimes when you change PC's you don't always have what you want... also some bigger companies are funny about what software you can put on additionally as it may affect their system....

I found out the hard way...

I told an employer I'm dyspraxic today!
I signed up to an agency last week, who said they were a very honest agency, and almost told them then, but I've never told an employer before and was quite nervous and unsure. But they just called me offering me a job that involved occasional weekends, which I don't like doing cos of the change in my routine. I didn't want em to think I was bein awkward, so I took a deep breath and confessed!!
She was REALLY nice! She thanked me for my honesty, said it made her job easier now she knew, and said that they would never be funny if I turned down a job offer. They read the profile they send out about me to potential employers and were so understanding I couldn't believe it!
Man, that was such a relief!!