Written communication skills are essential criteria in many workplaces across all industries, especially those roles which are office based. Specific examples include report writing, completing forms, developing instructions or procedures, providing written quotes and corresponding via email.
For some people the ability to write, either by hand or using a keyboard can be difficult, especially for people with vision impairment or a physical disability that affects the capacity to use the hands. For others they may be able to come up with ideas, but due to conditions such as dyslexia may struggle to transfer these ideas into written format.
If a worker has or develops difficulty expressing themselves by written means, it can impact on their work performance and success within the workplace.
Workplace solutions and adjustments:
There are a range of aids and equipment which can assist and support people who may experience difficulty in this area within the workplace:
Other job requirements or solutions that may assist with enhancing writing:
For people who specifically have difficulty holding a pen to enable writing or for people unable to see a page clearly due to vision impairment, aids to assist with writing are available:
For alternative methods of computer input either due to physical disability, blindness or vision impairment, or learning disability, aids are available to assist in overcoming this barrier:
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Software including voice recognition software
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Hardware including links to Braille equipment
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(Nuance 2009; Independent Living Centres Australia Inc 2009)
References:
Nuance 2009, What’s New in Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10.1?, Nuance Communications, Inc., Online, viewed 17 July 2009, <http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/products/whatsnew10-1.asp>.
Independent Living Centres Australia Inc 2009, Equipment Database Search – Writing Aids, Independent Living Centres Australia Inc, Online, viewed 17 July 2009, <http://www.ilc.com.au/equipment-search.php>.