North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is marking Dyslexia Awareness Week 2023 by launching a new dyslexia screening tool and a suite of guidance documents for staff.

Dyslexia Awareness Week in the UK runs from 2^nd to 8^th October and this campaign coincides with October being International Dyslexia Awareness month.

The launch of the screening tool and guidance documents later this month builds on the development of a neurodiversity staff network that was established in 2022. The network has already held several meetings and seminars that have raised awareness and enabled staff to share experiences.

The Service’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Benji Evans, said: “Our Service has made huge progressions in the past year in terms of raising awareness of dyslexia and acknowledging the huge talents dyslexic staff bring to the workplace.

“We will be launching a new screening tool and this will enable staff to better understand their strengths and challenges. This information will also help our Service make adjustments that ensure every employee can learn, progress and achieve their career aspirations.   

“In addition to the new screening tool, new training content has been developed for staff and managers to ensure everyone works together to create an inclusive and supportive environment for dyslexic staff to thrive.

“The skills that dyslexic people have are extremely valuable in the fire and rescue sector and we have seen an increase in people be more open and disclose their dyslexia in recent months.”

“‘Dyslexic thinking’ has recently been added to the dictionary, with the following definition: ‘an approach to problem solving, assessing information, and learning, often used by people with dyslexia, that involves pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, lateral thinking, and interpersonal communication’.

“If you have dyslexia or any other learning difference, your skills and talents could well be aligned with being a Firefighter, Data Analyst, Fire Safety Advocate, ICT Infrastructure Engineer or one of the many other roles in our Service. “

If you would like to learn more about careers in the fire and rescue service, please visit our careers page on our website - www.northwalesfire.gov.wales/about-us/recruitment-and-vacancies/

More information about dyslexia can be found on The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) website. The BDA promote a dyslexia friendly society that enables dyslexic people of all ages to reach their full potential.