The UK’s First Dyslexia Friendly Accountancy Firm

Ever felt like taxes were giving you trouble? People with dyslexia are now able to take advantage of the UK's first dyslexia friendly accountancy firm.

There are very few people who love sitting down to do their finances, but when you’ve got dyslexia, it can be even more of a frustrating experience. Some people can struggle with reading the legal jargon, some people can struggle with wordy questions and large amounts of text, and people with related conditions (like dyscalculia) can find numbers a little daunting to work with.  

However, there is a movement towards greater accessibility. Many places online offer greater accessibility in the form of text-to-speech options, and some sites even offer the ability to convert the text into a dyslexia-friendly font and format. One UK firm has, however, made a commitment to accessibility that focuses on the dyslexia community’s individual needs and how it can best support them. 

Exchequer Accountancy defines itself as the UK’s first dyslexia-friendly accountancy firm. They’ve taken many steps towards ensuring that people with dyslexia are fully supported at all levels, including reader-friendly text, switching to a phone-based model instead of emailing, eliminating technical jargon, and negotiating with HMRC on a client’s behalf. It’s a great idea: it’s all about making a positive change in the world of work, and supporting people who learn and think differently, or struggle with some aspects of business or the legal system.  

This is certainly something to think about when we look at the numbers of people in the UK who have dyslexia. It’s usually thought to be around a tenth of the population but could be even higher. Exchequer also indicate that these numbers can vary quite dramatically depending on profession: Exchequer report that approximately 35% of construction industry workers have dyslexia. This is unsurprising, as people with dyslexia can often be drawn to creative work that uses problem-solving, hands-on skills like building, business ownership, and the arts; but it’s also these professions that can sometimes need a lot of setup and require some level of independently dealing with taxes and the legal side of things. 

Exchequer’s move is a shift towards a more accessible workplace, and this kind of dyslexia-friendly format makes a great trailblazer for any other businesses looking to put together a more accessible business model.  

You can find out more about Exchequer’s commitment to dyslexia-friendly accountancy at their website, and you can also take a look at what you can do to make your web content more accessible at the British Dyslexia Association’s Style Guide.