Go-Ahead launches pioneering toolkit to support Dyslexic bus drivers

Credit: Go-Ahead Group

Go-Ahead has announced that its subsidiary, Go South West, has launched a Dyslexia toolkit to support colleagues who have been officially diagnosed with the condition.

Dyslexia is recognised as a learning difficulty which can affect skills such reading, spelling and writing, often making it difficult for bus drivers to read bus timetables and to complete paperwork at the end of the shift. The toolkit offers colleagues:

• Coloured overlays to help those who struggle with reading text on white paper
• An online to-do list and task management app that can be downloaded onto colleagues work phones
• Paper to-do lists for those who find them preferable to electronic communications
• The ability to record meetings if colleagues struggle with notetaking
• Additional time for paperwork at the end of shifts.

Devon County Council launches new community travel fund to tackle loneliness with transport

Joe Savage, Bus Driver at Go South West, said: “As someone who is diagnosed as Dyslexic, and who understands the struggles it can entail, I was keen to get involved in this project. The toolkit has been designed with our Dyslexic colleagues in mind, but it is important to understand the resources are available for all our colleagues. Simple adjustments can make a big difference to our workforce.”

Richard Stevens, Go South West Managing Director, said: “I welcome the new toolkit, it’s very useful for our colleagues. Sometimes it can be easy to overlook the struggles people with Dyslexia face in their day to day. At Go-Ahead we want to ensure everyone is included and supported to do their jobs with ease.”

Steve O’Brien, CEO of Dyslexia Foundation, said: “It is a great idea to address the needs of staff with Dyslexia, the toolkit created is a good starting point from Go-Ahead Group and it will be interesting to see how this develops over the coming months. We encourage and support initiatives like this, Dyslexia Foundation promotes a positive attitude towards dyslexia and offers an environment in which to enable support and to talk about dyslexia.”