Chapter 16 Autism & ADHD Workplace Adjustments - What's Reasonable?
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- Опубліковано 24 чер 2023
- Chapter 16 recapping my unexpected Autism and ADHD year: this week I'm talking about reasonable workplace adjustments for autism and ADHD. You've maybe had a burnout, you've maybe not long got a neurodivergent diagnosis, you're maybe going back into a work environment and looking to do things differently.
I'll talk about the legal obligation employers have to provide reasonable adjustments, the awkwardness of having that conversation, the well-meaning intention of employers but fundamental lack of understanding what you need, and how you'll likely have to lead this conversation, but why starting the conversation is a good thing to do.
Please do like and share this video and subscribe to my channel if you find it useful, or message me to get in touch and connect.
Contact email: amineurodivergent@gmail.com
AQ Autism Self-Test:
I'm going to keep posting the link to the AQ Self Test for autism every Sunday in case this is the first video in the series people come across. Take the self test (remember it's JUST a self-test) and see how you score. You may have been autistic all along and had no idea, like me:
psychology-tools.com/test/aut...
ADHD Self-Test
And introducing (with all the same caveats as above) an ADHD self-test. Go on, give it a go, you know you want to - you impulsively curious ADHDer you!
psychology-tools.com/test/adu...
Thank you, this is the exact information that I have been searching for.
I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety at uni (but i think it may be ASD, hence I am here) and it was a disaster. I broke down, could only cry, saw a psychiatrist etc, and couldn't fend for myself. My department did nothing to help and just stopped my funding (including health insurance) at some point because I couldn't fulfill my obligations.
I think they didn't care because they did it to someone else as well a few years later. It totally upended my life and now I'm in burnout living on my savings still. It's a disaster. I've managed to arrange health insurance and plan to ask for an ASD/ADHD test so I know more about what is going on.
Thank you for this video, it's kind of a validation for my anger about the lack of help.
Thanks for sharing, that's really disappointing to hear about. Helping people through an anxiety burnout, neurodivergent or otherwise, should be something institutions (work, educational) pride themselves on, not exacerbate. Sadly, as much as I'd like to think there's been progress (and there has been in pockets), I fear the experience you had is still more the norm than not.
The most brilliant list of what to ask for from work and the capitalism system 💯😁
I’m in the US and was diagnosed with Anxiety Disorder and I’m a high functioning on the autistic spectrum. My former employer sacked me after 32 years. Since they employ fewer than 15 full-time employees, there’s a loophole where they needn’t follow the ADA. My anxiety had increased to the point being unable to keep up with the ever increasing work load. I lost everything right before Covid, my personal belongings at work, my employer subsidized housing, my health insurance, and a lifetime of stuff. I ended up living in my car for two months during Covid in NYC. I ended up with my father and took care of him until he passed a year ago. He had dementia. I’m now 64 and have applied for over 100 jobs. I’ve gotten exactly five responses saying thanks, but no. I’m a single female with other health problems. I’ve been turned down twice for disability and have run out of money for lawyers.
I'm so sorry to hear all this, that's really heartbreaking.
This was what was going through my mind when he was talking about job entitlements. Bosses can and will do anything in the US. You have no real rights. And what autistic person has the energy to get involved in legal battles? I'm self-employed, and every time I was working for others I got fired. There were reasons I suppose, but it usually boiled down to me stating bluntly what I thought was going on. Self-employment is challenging, but at least nobody can fire me!
Thanks for this. Its hard to find a vid with SPECIFIC accommodations discussed.
Such an important topic, and thanks for kicking it off. Recently, my wife (late diagnosed ADHD) had her work load radically restructured by her fabulously understanding boss, so that she could do more of what she’s good at and loves doing and less of the bits that she’s inclined to ‘overwork’. This will substantially reduce her stress levels and result in her being, ultimately more productive.
I laughed at the bit (in this episode) about management checking that a worker is stopping to eat and rest. For ADHDers in flow, it can be a bit like stopping a freight train at full speed.
Be great to find out more about these adapted work place principles on a broader scale, eg how they might apply in manufacturing, construction, education, retail etc.
So much yet to be seriously considered, including, as in the case of my wife, the benefits for employers!
Lots there thanks - this is a huge topic and one where I think I ultimately want to take my advocacy once I've properly processed everything. Autism and ADHD both re the hyper-focus: when we're in the zone, we're deep in the zone - food, sleep and peeing be damned. We can keep our heads down for HOURS and not notice the day going by. Neurotypicals take COURSES for the kind of hyper-focus we just (sporadically) have naturally! We definitely bring a lot of benefits to employers and 100% agree these kind of adjustments are quite limited to office/ white collar work. I'd like to eventually start to consider how neurodivergence adjustments in broader employment settings can be ensured. We should have the same opportunities as others across the board.
another fab post. Really helpful, thank you
Amazing topic and so clearly explained
Thank you so much!
thank youu!!
Thank you so much! Great video. Very important topic. Please please please do the follow-up video.
Thanks for watching! I will, promise - not sure if it will be this week (thinking about, planning and recording these videos are taking up a lot of spoons!) but I'll definitely get it done and give my thoughts on adjustments for co-occurring neurodivergent conditions down on video soon - there's not nearly enough discussion about this that I can find, let alone much employer understanding around how two apparently contradictory challenges can both be true at once ....
Done! It's not everything I wanted it to be, but it's hopefully a start...
17:30 this is what i want too... Gene Roddenberry's version of humanity
I listen to Rush to lament and long for these things
Ha! Yeah, I did go a bit Star Trek there for a second 🤣
17:26 this so much! I've had those exact thoughts, almost word for word
It turns out I might have channeled an old Star Trek episode! 🤣
Unfortunately, very little can be done for teachers with adhd :(