Neuro Diverse Firefighters

[CaptainFlack]

Good morning all,

I have placed the topic in this section of the forum albeit it could easily go in the training and development part as well as a few others as it encompasses a lot of daily life and my question is specifically aimed at FF's already in the job than those trying to get in.**

I would like to know what help and support other services provide to firefighters with Neuro diverse conditions such as dyslexia etc.  I suffer - and by that I do mean suffer - with Dyslexia, dyscalcullia and mildly, dyspraxia and was only diagnosed 3/4 of the way through my probation, roughly 2 years ago now.  If I was to sit an exam, IFEs for example then I would get extra time but after researching the matter further that's where support starts and finishes.

Historically I wouldn't have gotten through the application stage so I am lucky I made it this far even after 13 years of trying but with over 15% of the UK population neuro divergent and the ever increasing strive for services to be more representative of the communities they protect and serve, I'm asking what support is there nationally?

How do other fire and rescue services approach this? Do you have specific policies in place for colleagues who are neuro diverse? Are there any members on here who are similar to myself? It is a hindrance sometimes being dyslexic but I am a fully qualified competent firefighter, I just have a different way of learning. 

We do bring a unique approach to the job and I believe a value to the watch, crew, unit or whatever department we're in.

It is a difficult area to navigate I accept and one that I'm not sure services fully understand yet.

** For those who are ND and at the start of their journey into the fire service make sure you highlight your condition and seek the extra time for behaviour tests and the interview - it is nothing to be ashamed of

Matt

[OscarTango]

Not much to add but thanks for mentioning the dyscalculia (even my phone's autocorrect didn't know the word, ironic). 

I've always really struggled with maths and the ramping up of online timed arithmetic tests as part of the process was a nightmare for me. 

There just isn't the recognition of it and therefore even less support for it compared to dyslexia, and Tia usually chalked up as "people just need to engage with maths more or get better teaching".

Like yeah sure that's true but my brain literally doesn't work with numbers the way others do. It's like asking someone with one leg to do waggle all ten toes. You know what it would feel like to do that but it just won't happen! More research is required I feel. 

[Crog]

Extra time for my service. I do the testing for on call applicants in my area, overseeing 10 rds stations for this. Everyone gets 3 attempts at the tests. If declared, then the first 2 attempts get them extra time.  On the 3rd, we have someone from HR come in, as well as me and each question/answers is read to the applicant as well as them reading them, etc. Lots of extra time given for this way.

To add, we are quite far behind the times for on call recruitment and still have applicants complete paper multiple choice tests which were produced in 2005.

[CaptainFlack]

Feel you regarding the Maths @OscarTango  Put it this way I must be the only guy in the land that had the mathematics element of the apprenticeship downgraded from level 2 to a level 1 !

I had the extra time and expert tuition from an specialist in dyslexia and it was still no good.!!

 

[Healdav]

There is a lot of difference between dyslexia and dyscalculia.

I have written three books, but can't do more in maths than add up and take away. And it's no good telling me it's easy, or just concentrate, or any other of the stupid things people say,. I just go into a panic attack, and that's the end.

Edited September 11, 2022 by Keith
Quote of post directly above removed

[CaptainFlack]

Same here mate, it was a pure dread of anything mathematics.  It was only thanks to one tutor in our L&D team who sat me down after trying an exam and asked about my schooling and this aversion to numbers.  She came from a school  education background and identified me straight away, paused anymore testing and arranged the full screening.

Thankfully nowadays any young child going through the system is identified and captured and has learning support in place which wasn't there in the early 90s at my school.

As much as I despise maths I enjoy simple arithmetic and that's where it should stop for the apprenticeship.  Functional maths means learning about profit and loss within a company, reverse percentages and how many paving stones are needed for a large garden with a circular water feature. WTAF?? I've argued to everyone that specific maths are crucial to our job - calculations of turn around times, cylinder pressures, lengths of 70mm, quantity of foam etc. and this should be the maths we need to learn but no, it's a national standard against many job roles and cannot be tailored.

Edited September 11, 2022 by Keith
Quote of post directly above removed

[Healdav]

Imagine in the m50s when I was in primary, and the early 60s.

In my case it wasn't helped by the fact that my father was a mathematician as is my eldest daughter.

My father never did comprehend that there even a problem, let alone what it was.

Edited September 11, 2022 by Keith
Quote of post directly above removed

[Br9mp81]

on my test day,3 out of 20 passed the maths,and yes it was pass or good bye