Dyslexia is a neurodivergent condition affecting over 10% of the population. It is often linked to reading and writing challenges, but also gives rise to strengths like creativity and problem-solving. Each individual experiences dyslexia differently. Despite its prevalence, it remains under-recognised globally. With proper understanding and support, people with dyslexia can thrive in education and work, contributing their valuable perspectives. This potential is showcased by many dyslexic individuals and their success stories. This free course, Understanding dyslexia, aims to empower learners to reach their full potential.
Enrolling on the course will give you the opportunity to earn an Open University digital badge. Badges are not accredited by The Open University but they're a great way to demonstrate your interest in the subject and commitment to your career, and to provide evidence of continuing professional development.
Once you are signed in, you can manage your digital badges online from My OpenLearn. In addition, you can download and print your OpenLearn statement of participation – which also displays your Open University badge.
The Open University would really appreciate a few minutes of your time to tell us about yourself and your expectations for the course before you begin, in our optional start-of-course survey. Once you complete the course we would also value your feedback and suggestions for future improvement, in our optional end-of-course survey. Participation will be completely confidential and we will not pass on your details to others.
Earn this free Open University digital badge if you complete this course! The badge can be displayed, shared and downloaded as a marker of your achievement. The badge is awarded for completing the course and passing the quizzes.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- understand a variety of definitions and perspectives on dyslexia
- discuss some of the different explanations given for the observed symptoms of dyslexia
- recognise the challenges faced by individuals with dyslexia in educational and professional settings
- apply dyslexia-friendly strategies to foster inclusive, engaging environments in both educational and professional contexts
- outline the disclosure process, workplace assessments, and reasonable adjustments for dyslexic employees.
First Published: 06/10/2025
Updated: 06/10/2025
However, it was unfortunate that the statements regarding the usage of a "dyslexia-friendly font like Arial or Calibri" and larger print were not entirely reflected in the accompanying MS Word document (particularly within the tables.) The lack of table borders was also disappointing. That said, these aspects are common to most OU OpenLearn course documents and should be reviewed.