Work Accommodations
While we have grouped these functions by condition, we know that there is much overlap and encourage Neuroqueer folk to check everything out. Why did we do it this way? It can be helpful for individuals who have been recently diagnosed and are not fully aware of how to use the tsunami of new vocabulary involved.
What Can I Ask For?
Here are just a few creative examples of things you could ask for, if you believe the company is genuinely supportive of accommodating you.1
- Extra time
- Advanced access to interview questions
- Scheduling reminders
- Camera off (for interviews)
- Colored paper for instructions
- A communication partner (for non-speakers in interviews)
- 1-1 Interviews
- Allowance to use fidgets in an interview
- Frequent interview breaks
- Written interview instructions
- Interviewer experienced with Neurodiversity
- Alternate interview format … and many more!
How To Ask Template
“I have X condition which means I require Y in order to perform my work effectively. When I do not have access to these adjustments, I may experience mental, physical, and productivity consequences. There may also include business consequences. Examples include…”
Mental Health Consequences
- Insomnia
- Brain Fog
- Irritability
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Emotion regulation consequences
- Panic attacks
- Impulsivity
- Flashbacks
- Difficulty maintaining routines
- Retraumatization/reinforcement of trauma pathways
Physical Health Consequences
- Distress-induced vomiting
- Fatigue
- Pain
- Dysregulated appetite
- Inability to engage in self care mechanism
Productivity Consequences
- Burnout
- Autistic burnout
- Attention and concentration
- Loss of skills
- Regression
Business Consequences
- Reduced cohesion with teammates
- Increased risk of consequences to client relationships and interactions
- Increased risk of errors
- Increased risk of tardiness/sick days
Autism
Some of these can be put in your standard email signature. Others are better to mention in conversation or the body of the email.
The Double Empathy Problem
- “Playing a simple game of telephone, Autistic people are able to communicate just as effectively as neurotypical groups. However, the communication performance tanks when they are mixed. Extended meetings create the necessary buffers to accommodate neurodivergent communication gaps and finding common ground.”
Delayed Processing
- “What are the most significant questions that I should anticipate? By taking just two minutes to reflect on this, including thorny questions, I can engage in the conversation on equal footing.”
- “Could you send me your questions ahead of time? It allows me to preprocess the meeting.”
Footnotes
Retrieved from Mentra’s top examples of accommodation.↩︎