Dyslexic -,didn't get job due to spelling

Shaznay1

Hi

Applied for a government job and advised in the job application disability part of my dyslexia diagnosis. Just got an email rejecting the application because of spelling...(which is related to dyslexia.) I would call them but their is no visible contact number for recruitment and the email advised to not respond to it. If I'm having this issue with dyslexia i can only imagine that they are probably ignoring others disability issues as well! Does anyone know of a governing body who maybe able to investigate. x

shortcrust

Sorry but being dyslexic doesn’t mean it’s ok to submit an application with spelling errors. I’m amazed that isn’t obvious.

tazwhoever

All this cr*p things are written on paper, equality act, etc.
Of course discrimination exists. Keep trying OP, you will find a employer that can understand.

Yes, my comment is from experience.

Takeaway_Addict

Shaznay1 wrote: »

Hi

Applied for a government job and advised in the job application disability part of my dyslexia diagnosis. Just got an email rejecting the application because of spelling...(which is related to dyslexia.) I would call them but their is no visible contact number for recruitment and the email advised to not respond to it. If I'm having this issue with dyslexia i can only imagine that they are probably ignoring others disability issues as well! Does anyone know of a governing body who maybe able to investigate. x

What stopped you filling it out, getting someone to check and amend mistakes and redoing it?

Or completing it online in Word with spellcheck etc?

shortcrust

tazwhoever wrote: »

All this cr*p things are written on paper, equality act, etc.
Of course discrimination exists. Keep trying OP, you will find a employer that can understand.

Yes, my comment is from experience.

Discrimination exists, but so do dictionaries, spell checkers and proof readers. I’ve worked with many dyslexic people who wouldn’t dream of using their dyslexia as an excuse for submitting misspelled work.

BorisThomson

tazwhoever wrote: »

All this cr*p things are written on paper, equality act, etc.
Of course discrimination exists. Keep trying OP, you will find a employer that can understand.

Yes, my comment is from experience.

The Equality Act allows for reasonable adjustments. Ignoring a failure to spell check an application would not fall under this provision. I note that the spelling in the original post is perfect, so the OP must have a access to assistive technology to overcome their difficulty. Also dyslexia in isolation is unlikely to fulfil the definition of a disability under the Equality Act, only the most severe cases would qualify.

tazwhoever

shortcrust wrote: »

Discrimination exists, but so do dictionaries, spell checkers and proof readers. I’ve worked with many dyslexic people who wouldn’t dream of using their dyslexia as an excuse for submitting misspelled work.

I agree...

But I remember once I applied for a job, filled in health questionnaire and saw occupational health provider. Accepted the job from HR director and started. Few days later some person from management phoned HR and said I shouldn't be working because of a disease I have and was told to go!!!

suki1964

Im dyslexic , you wouldn't know it when I use a computer.

I transpose letters and numbers when I hand write and my spelling is so bad at times Im left for ages trying to find the right word

Using a PC means I don't transpose and I always have another window open so I can check the spelling or make sure I am actually using the right word

Being dyslexic has never stopped me from getting a job and Ive certainly never thought of saying it was a disability. I never even knew I was dyslexic until I was in my 20s

Takeaway_Addict

tazwhoever wrote: »

I agree...

But I remember once I applied for a job, filled in health questionnaire and saw occupational health provider. Accepted the job from HR director and started. Few days later some person from management phoned HR and said I shouldn't be working because of a disease I have and was told to go!!!

The point is the OP is unrealistic to think that more effort shouldn't have been made to fill an application form out correctly when she had ample time to do so.

Employers would be reasonable in allowing errors in day to day unimportant work but if the OP can't be arsed to fill an important application out correctly then they aren't going to be arsed to do what is required to fill important paperwork out for the employer. As such IMO the employer was fair to dismiss the OP's application.

Shaznay1

Thanks for your feedback everyone. I took a copy of the application and suffice to say there were no spelling errors in it. (Its been double checked)Have managed to find a phone number for the department and they sounded very positive when I advised them x I also let them know about the disability part being missed out...that could really affect a lot of people who are more than capable of making a difference in the workplace. Will keep you all posted, either way x

Pensioned_Off

Several things about this query just don't add up... I smell fish.

Firstly, HR teams for 'government jobs' rarely give any feedback on first stage application processes so I am really surprised they would mention 'spelling' as the cause of any rejection.

Secondly, the sift teams do not actually see the disability declaration.

The above points aside, some roles will require absolute accuracy and would not ever be suitable for someone with dyslexia. Roles that require observational records of, say, registration numbers, names or DOBs. It is sometimes just not practical to make reasonable adjustments.

Those of us with disabilities (and I am one of them) have to be realistic and accept that some roles will never be suitable for us. That's life. Move on.