Reasonable adjustments at work

I struggle in the times before I start teaching (half an hour to forty minutes which isn't enough time to really do anything)

I don't like the transitions between classes and at the end of the day when I am not in control. 

I don't like feeling out of control.

Hi Raindrops, that's a good start.

I can try to help you unpack that a little bit if you like - which might help you put your finger on something that would help?

As your meeting is this afternoon, it's probably worth thinking over that you don't have to get everything 100% clear today; starting the conversation and explaining where you are at will be a great step forwards. Tell the story of how you experience autism and let the conversation evolve - which it will over coming months. It is a journey (and a freeing one as you get to know yourself even better).

I know that is difficult if you don't like feeling out of control - same here (I want everything decided *now* -:) ).

I am feeling guilty for having to ask and don't know how much I can realistically ask for without being seen as over reacting!

I am feeling guilty for having to ask and don't know how much I can realistically ask for without being seen as over reacting!

The reaction depends on your managers personality. I've worked in the same post in three different institutions since my diagnosis and have completely different reactions from each line manager in regards to the RA I've requested.

Please don't feel guilty about asking for support, your having these issues as many workplaces have been designed in a way that isn't suitable for autistic people. If our needs were thought about at the start we wouldn't need as much help.

If you don't know what do ask for this afternoon, rather than quickly come up with a list that hasn't really been thought through, it could be useful to state that to your manager that you don't have enough information yet to make an informed decision so you'd like a workplace assessment (NAS can do these) to explore your needs and what RA could be put in place. A2W could also fund a workplace assessment (although it will be a generic disability assessor rather than an autism specialist), plus they can fund RA in the workplace. This could include a mentor to help you to develop strategies around your need for control.

Well, the "reasonable" part of reasonable adjustments means that your employer doesn't have to do something that causes them a huge headache; so putting it the other way round, anything that they agree to is no (maybe a little!) hassle for them - so no need to feel guilty.

So - for example (& I'm having to guess here) if the thing about that half hour before you start is that you have nothing productive to do and hence feel anxious, potentially the head would agree for you to spend that time in a quiet corner somewhere, or reading something useful, or helping out elsewhere in the school, or tidying up your classroom? (I'm having to guess wildly here but hopefully you get the idea? - something that's good for you and a minor hassle for the school is good for everyone).