Haveo · Dyslexia at work

Telling your employer you have dyslexia

Most of what helps can be asked for as a working preference. "Send it to me in advance" and "I would rather not read cold" need no explanation. Disclose when you want something a preference cannot reach, or when not saying it costs more than saying it.

This is not legal advice

What an employer must do, and what you are protected from, depends on your country and sometimes your contract. Nothing here is a statement about your rights.

This is about the decision people describe making.

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Most of it does not require telling anyone

Documents in advance, not reading aloud cold, drafting before sending, extra time on written work — all ordinary requests, all commonly granted with no reason given.

Work out what you actually need first. It is often smaller than the decision to disclose.

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When people do say it

When they want a formal adjustment, when a pattern needs explaining, or when the hiding has become the tiring part.

Commonly after an offer rather than during hiring, and commonly to one manager rather than announced.

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How to say it

One sentence, with the practical effect and the fix: "I am dyslexic. It means I read slowly under time pressure, so having documents in advance makes a real difference."

That is a request, not a confession, and it usually gets a practical answer rather than an emotional one.

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The signature line is a version of this

Adding a line to your email signature discloses to everyone you write to, permanently. Some people find that freeing and some find it a decision they cannot take back. There is a separate page on it.

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Rehearse it before you walk in.

Haveo builds your intro, lets you practice out loud with an AI coach, and keeps your notes one tap away in the room. Free on iPhone and iPad.

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Common questions

Do I have to tell them?
In most places no, unless it affects safety-critical work. The specifics vary by country — check a local source rather than this page.
What if I was diagnosed as an adult?
It changes nothing about how you ask. "I am dyslexic" needs no history attached and people rarely ask for one.
What if they react badly?
It happens, and it is usually the individual rather than the organization. Having asked in writing means there is a record of what was requested.
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