‘C was dismissed for refusing to apologise for offending his colleagues. C’s position was that he had mixed up his words due to his dyslexia. The offence that he had caused was unintentional. He had refused to apologise, or to apologise sufficiently, for that reason. He asserted that he was being required to communicate in a way that could not be misinterpreted, and that as a Stoic this was something that he could not do.’
3PB, 7th October 2020
Source: www.3pb.co.uk
‘The level of educational achievement by incarcerated offenders in the UK is far lower than the average. In addition, 40-50% of prisoners assessed in John Rack’s research for the Dyslexia Institute (2005) were at or below levels of literacy and numeracy expected of an 11-year old. In 2007, the Prison Reform Trust reported that prison populations who showed serious deficits in literacy and numeracy reached up to 60% with a 30% dyslexia rate. This literacy problem extends to oral speech. People in the Criminal Justice System are ten times more likely to have a Speech and Communication Difficulty than members of the public. Research shows that 60% of young male offenders have a communication deficit as opposed to 3-10% of the general population (Available evidence for young female and adult offenders shows similarly high levels of speech-difficulties.) In the UK, low socio-economic status (SES), speech difficulty and school exclusions are co-morbid factors for offending. Having a speech difficulty also makes it near impossible for anyone with significant communication difficulties to navigate a legal system built upon excessive jargon without help. The criminal justice system must make structural interventions to protect the rights of persons with Speech and Communication Difficulty.’
Oxford Human Rights Hub, 17th September 2020
Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk
‘A dyslexic former police officer has been jailed for forgery after he was caught out by his bad spelling.’
BBC News, 28th July 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A businessman embroiled in a bitter divorce case with his estranged wife has been criticised by a judge for using his dyslexia as an excuse, telling him “even Einstein had dyslexia”.’
Daily Telegraph, 21st February 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
‘A woman with dyslexia has won a disability discrimination case against her employer Starbucks after she was accused of falsifying documents.’
BBC News, 9th February 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“The case of Mr John Scarborough v Canterbury Christ Church University (Scarborough) which was recently decided carries potentially significant implications in terms of bringing a case that may fall under separate heads of action.This article discusses this decision and its practical effect on future litigation.”
Hardwicke Chambers, 7th November 2013
Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk
“A pupil with dyslexia has received almost £25,000 in compensation from the local council after teachers failed to diagnose his condition, it has emerged.”
The Guardian, 7th October 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“A medical student with dyslexia is to take legal action in a bid to prevent the use of multiple choice exams as part of doctors’ training.”
BBC News, 29th July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Dyslexia means that chief inspector of police is disabled
Paterson v. Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
Employment Appeal Tribunal
“A chief inspector of police who was dyslexic and who was found by an employment tribunal to have been disadvantaged in comparison with his work colleagues in examinations for promotion, was disabled within the meaning of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.”
The Times, 22nd August 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
“A Metropolitan Police officer has won a test legal victory that dyslexia is a disability in the eyes of the law.”
The Times, 25th July 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
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