MELISSA BROWN

ADHD, Dyslexia and Autism in the Workplace

Barriers and Solutions

INTRODUCTION – About me

What do I do? HR Generalist – Lexington Medical Center Columbia, South Carolina

What I’m interested in learning about… Working with people in the business environment Organizational aspects Human behavior – “what makes people tick” How to build and maintain dynamic teams

INTRODUCTION – About my topic

Why I chose it Inspired by reading about disabilities in the workplace There is a lot to be known about the subject Many people, including myself, are uninformed A great opportunity to learn something new and help

othersHow it relates to my own development

I have become aware of the issue and as a result will be sensitive to its presence in the workplace.

I will know how to handle myself if confronted with a learning disability.

I have a better understanding of individuals in my personal life who are affected by these disabilities.

PREVIOUS LITERATURE

What have others done/said about my topic? There is quite a bit of research that is aimed at increasing understanding of these

learning disabilities, the causes, symptoms and solutions. Research supports the fact that individuals who suffer from these learning disabilities

are very capable of succeeding in the workplace when surrounded by an caring and accommodating team.

What other topics are related? Physical disabilities and workplace accommodations In depth information about the laws and regulations that protect individuals with

disabilities. What/where I searched for my information.

I gathered my research by using the Clemson University Library on-line, Google Scholar and by consulting various websites of organizations related to my topic.

About the process: There was a wealth of information available on this topic and there is so much more

to know about each of these disabilities beyond what is presented here. I found this topic very easy to write about because there was an abundance of

research available and it was thoroughly interesting. In fact, there were times when it was difficult to stop writing on one of the disabilities so that I could move on to another.

ACTIONS/ANALYSIS

Synthesis Main/overarching themes

Three common learning disabilities were discussed: ADHD, Dyslexia and Autism.

Symptoms/how to recognize the disability Statistics and facts Solutions for the training professional

Relationships/subtopics Scenarios were given for each disability so the reader

could envision what the disability and training solution would “look like” in action.

Laws and regulations were briefly discussed Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION

What do I know/think differently as a result of my research? That learning disabilities affect more working professionals than I realized. That simple solutions can make all the difference for individuals who suffer

from these disabilities. I know that it is vital for training professionals to have knowledge of this

subject. What would I do differently now that I’ve finished?

To be cognizant of the likelihood that I may be confronted with a learning disability and to remember what I have learned from my research.

What should I add/take away to make this a stronger paper? I would like to expand on the legal aspect as I believe it is imperative that

HRD professionals are always up to date on these regulations. How has this process impacted my own development?

I am aware of the numerous resources available to HRD professionals and have now learned how to access this information (via the Clemson University Library on-line as well as Google Scholar).

I have gained experience with a variety of new electronic tools such as Power Point, SlideShare and Archive.org

FUTURE DIRECTIONS/QUESTIONS

Now that you’ve written this, what’s next? I look forward to continuing my research on various topics

throughout the program. I realize that there are so many areas to explore and so much

knowledge to be gained. What aspects of your topic are most intriguing/meaningful for HRD

professionals in the future? That because we are a profession that focuses so much on the

“human” aspect of the workforce, we will be faced with a variety of different and often challenging situations.

That these situations can often be overcome with patience, diligence and the willingness to explore and become educated in various areas.

What questions do you now have that you didn’t before this project? As I stated earlier, I would love to gain more knowledge of the legal

regulations surrounding my topic.

CONTACT

M. Melissa Brownmarym618@gmail.com https://connectnow.acrobat.com/bliss618