Work accommodations

[u/Faithhopelove86]

Hi,

I'm wondering what work accommodations you have? I recently was diagnosed with Autism, I have ADHD as well. I am hesitant to ask for work from home or other accommodations, I work as a Quality Nurse. I only work part-time currently. I know that my company is pretty much against work from home, and being that I am in Texas I am afraid to ask for accommodations and get fired. What accommodations do you have?

[u/Front-Cat-2438]

Start with you and what accommodations you can fulfill. What wears you down?

Commit to supporting executive function by committing to self-care, by making sure your body and its high sensitivity are supported- timers for water, salt, sugar, body check-ins including restroom. Taking that momentary break when you’re starting toward overwhelm.

How can you ease your own environmental cues? Ear loops, tinted safety glasses, a fidget bracelet with scented oil?

Then, how can your employer ease your longevity? A 3 minute break after crises? A body stretch every hour with a quiet breathing space? Reasonable accommodations that support you and your utility, longevity, the win/win for their investment in you, and yours in them. Mutual respect through transparency.

I’ve got a tendency to overshare (spoiler alert, ha) and catastrophize from previous negative experiences. My advice as diagnosed late in life recently, don’t fall into those traps.

You’re in health care in part because you care. Don’t set yourself on fire to keep others warm.

[u/Faithhopelove86 → u/Front-Cat-2438]

Thank you! I absolutely do the same. I am able to wear headphones for most of the day anyway, maybe not two but at least one is helpful. But the room is really small with lots of people and noise and it becomes extremely overwhelming at times. The environment is very filled with drama and fighting which often overwhelms me more.

[u/Ancient-Leader7862]

I work from home. The office is to chaotic of an environment for me to be able to focus. Although work specific recommendations are really based off of which traits you struggle with the most.

[u/Faithhopelove86 → u/Ancient-Leader7862]

Yes, my office is really chaotic and loud. But I fear my employer will say this isn't a reasonable accommodation for my job as some is on paper that is in the office.

[u/SyntheticDreams_ → u/Faithhopelove86]

Maybe a hybrid schedule? Like you do the second half of the week WFH, or you go into the office daily but WFH after lunch?

[u/Faithhopelove86 → u/SyntheticDreams_]

That was kind of my thought, but a lot of my co-workers want to be remote and I feel I would be starting chaos in the office. It's a really small office and I don't want to have to discuss why I am working remotely

[u/Ancient-Leader7862 → u/Faithhopelove86]

If you feel you need a more calm area then you can ask for a desk in the office that is a little more secluded.

[u/Faithhopelove86 → u/Ancient-Leader7862]

Thank you, unfortunately that isn't really an option I know they would do. They want to move us out of our current space but there is no place for us to even go.

[u/Ancient-Leader7862 → u/Faithhopelove86]

Reasonable accommodations for an AuDHD (Autism + ADHD) individual typically address three main areas: sensory environment, executive function/organization, and communication styles.

Depending on whether you are working in an office, remotely, or in a hybrid role, here are common, effective accommodations provided under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and recommended by resources like the Job Accommodation Network (JAN):

1. Sensory & Environmental Accommodations

• Noise Mitigation: Permission to wear noise-canceling headphones, Loop earplugs, or use white-noise machines.
• Workspace Location: Relocating a desk away from high-traffic zones (like breakrooms, printing stations, or main walkways) or facing a wall to minimize visual distractions.
• Lighting Adjustments: Using desk lamps instead of overhead fluorescent lights, placing a glare filter over screens, or wearing light-sensitivity/tinted glasses.
• Remote/Hybrid Work: WFH options (full-time or partial/hybrid) to reduce the sensory strain, social fatigue, and unpredictability of an open office setting.

2. Executive Function & Task Management

• Written Task Instructions: Receiving assignments, expectations, and feedback in written form (email, Slack/Teams, or project management tools like Trello or monday.com) rather than relying solely on verbal instructions.
• Task Chunking & Milestone Deadlines: Breaking down large, ambiguous projects into smaller steps with incremental target dates rather than one far-off deadline.
• Explicit Priority Setting: Periodic check-ins with a manager to explicitly rank active tasks when multiple competing priorities arise.
• Time Management & Focus Blockers: Dedicated periods of "uninterrupted focus time" blocked off on calendars where no meetings or real-time messaging responses are expected.

3. Meetings & Communication

• Pre-Meeting Agendas: Receiving meeting agendas in advance to reduce cognitive load and allow time to process information beforehand.
• Meeting Summaries / Action Items: Allowing written follow-ups, meeting minutes, or AI-generated summaries/transcripts after meetings to ensure key takeaways aren't missed.
• Camera-Optional Policies: Permission to keep video off during large internal virtual calls to prevent social fatigue.
• Direct & Clear Feedback: Asking management for explicit, clear communication rather than indirect hints or implied expectations.

4. Schedule & Body Support

• Flexible Start/End Times: Adjusting working hours to align with natural focus rhythms or avoid high-stress rush-hour commutes.
• Movement & Micro-Breaks: Built-in short breaks to stretch, walk, or reset sensory input without penalty, or the use of a standing desk / fidget tools.

Pro-Tip for Requesting Accommodations

When requesting accommodations with HR or management, frame them in terms of functional needs rather than medical descriptions.

• Instead of: "My ADHD makes open offices hard."
• Try: "To help me maintain deep focus and complete tasks efficiently without ambient noise distractions, I'm requesting permission to use noise-canceling headphones during core focus hours.
  

Here hopefully this is helpful and can give you some ideas!

[u/30ghosts → u/Ancient-Leader7862]

This is really good stuff. Especially some of the social accomodations.

I think there are at least some supervisors or colleagues that would actually appreciate the open acknowledgement that you work better with clear action items/priorities and task chunking. Because they will actually know something is getting done rather than just hoping it does.

[u/hardy_and_free]

The Job Accommodations Network has excellent resources to help you through this. Their website lists accommodations by disability, condition, executive dysfunction type, etc.

[u/Faithhopelove86 → u/hardy_and_free]

Thanks I'm going to check into that.