Dyslexia should not restrict access to employment, AKEL MP Anastasia Hasikou, deputy chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee, said after the Committee’s meeting.
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Committee examined the barriers faced by people with dyslexia at its meeting today.
Dyslexia is a specific neurodevelopmental learning disorder that mainly affects reading, spelling and the processing of written information. It does not, however, mean reduced intelligence or fewer qualifications and professional abilities, Ms Hasikou said. She added that reasonable adjustments to examination procedures are not a privilege, but a necessary condition for candidates to be assessed on an equal basis.
Coordinated action
According to the MP, the discussion identified significant gaps. Among other things, it found a lack of suitable psychometric tools adapted to the Greek language for diagnosing dyslexia in adults. The need to assess whether dyslexia coexists with other learning difficulties or disorders was also highlighted.
The discussion also brought to light shortcomings in early identification and intervention, as well as the absence of a comprehensive mechanism for personalised support based on each person’s needs. Support, Hasikou noted, should not stop at access to employment, but continue throughout a person’s professional career.
The MP called for coordinated action by the competent bodies to address the gaps and ensure equal opportunities in practice.
“We cannot speak of equal opportunities at work when assessment procedures create barriers for people who have the knowledge and abilities, but need a different way to demonstrate them,” she said.
Source: CNA
