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Adult diagnosis - experiences informing work

JohnnyBeGood

Hi

I'm looking at getting a formal diagnosis, after speaking to a psychologist who can help me with it. I mostly want it for myself, my own understanding, and not feeling like a "fraud" in the ND community. 

However, I would love for a diagnosis to allow me to gain some kind of understanding of me by my work place (at least my managers). 

What experiences have you guys had with informing your work places of your diagnosis? I have read a post where someone had a very negative experience. I am wondering what other experiences people have had. Especially where adjustments had been made to accommodate. 

Cheers

Dave

Parents

  • I think it depends who you work for. Some folks have had horrendous experiences. Public service tends to have good practice. Some IT companies actively recruit people with ASC because their way of working and talents are ideal for the job.

    I've been incredibly lucky. I work for local govt. My boss is a head teacher with years of class room experience with kids with ASC. He is also a very intuitive NT guy with a very big heart. 

    When I thought this was just a MH crisis he was wonderful. After the total failure of MH services to help me, he never lost faith in me, no matter how much time I've had to take off. When I finally worked out for myself what was really going on under the crisis and initiated the assessment process, I told him everything. He recognised it straight away. He is so clued in. He said to me that schools pick up on boys whose melt downs cause them to be chucking chairs across the class room, but miss out on those who shut down or who hold it together only to melt down later at home, especially girls. He knew all that! He then sent me a bunch of links to really good resources on ASC and women. I can't believe how much knowledge he has.

    He's bending over backwards to make me feel supported while I go through the assessment process and I will provide him with the outcome and any recommendations. I know I'll get whatever I need because he values me as a person and of course he'd like his data manager back on form with all her hyper focus and analytical know how, lol.

    Bless him, he did once say to me that if I ever left, he'd follow me out the door. We are kind of opposite brain types with a lot of respect for eachother, who manage to plug each other's weaknesses with our respective strengths, and make the job work between us.

    I think my boss is an object lesson in how an NT/ND working relationship with the right attitude can be wonderfully productive. I only wish I could sprinkle his positive attitude out to everyone's work place.

    A diagnosis, however they respond, should give you some legal protections, at least.

  • in reply to Dawn

    You're so lucky. That's great that you are so supported. It helped that you were so highly valued before your diagnosis. 

    I honestly have no idea if I'm valued outside of my immediate small team. I feel that if I say something it will be seen as a nuisance. Not that I'd need massive adjustments or anything. 

    Thanks for your story. 

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  • in reply to Dawn

    You're so lucky. That's great that you are so supported. It helped that you were so highly valued before your diagnosis. 

    I honestly have no idea if I'm valued outside of my immediate small team. I feel that if I say something it will be seen as a nuisance. Not that I'd need massive adjustments or anything. 

    Thanks for your story. 

Children
  • in reply to JohnnyBeGood

    Like I say. Depends on the boss/ employer.

    It is hard for any of us to say because there are as many good stories as bad ones. 

    All you can do is get the diagnosis. Tell them. Hope for a supportive response but know you are are protected in law if you don't. 

    No, I've never needed much of an adjustment other than a bit of understanding. Good luck.