Reasonable adjustments in the workplace

I can see this being very helpful. The less change in one moment, the better in my opinion. A lot of my day relies on predictability, so I can see that being very useful.

I’ve found this community to be a great place to ask questions, especially on a topic like this where I really can’t come up with a solution myself or where I need to see things from many perspectives.

I’m glad that this conversation has been of use to you too though. I often think that if one person has a question, many could benefit from the answer. This week I’ve spoken to my leadership team about arranging a meeting in the near future to discuss possible adjustments and managed to set a small quiet space up for between lessons. Open dialogue, with the right management, seems to be a key to this so far. 

Beat of luck with your referral and on gaining support at work too.

I forgot to mention one of my "adjustments"  was to work in the same classroom. In my role we often change even in the middle of the day.  This has helped because I'm not having to switch my brain so much. 

This is interesting and not something I’d really considered. Fortunately for me, I’m alright to have a wander when needed, but the idea of a sit - stand desk is great (good for the back too). 

Thank you for sharing this. I am also a primary teacher, not diagnosed but think I am autistic. I have self referred for a diagnosis as I feel I need support at work and this has helped me so thank you. It is hard though to visualise how adjustments would work in a busy primary school!

I think this depends a lot on what country you are working in and what the employment laws are.

For example in Australia - you should absolutely tick that box if there is some sort of reasonable adjustment you need. For example, I always like to have a sit-stand desk if it's an option because when I get antsy I can stand up and continue working without feeling the need to walk away.

That sounds like it could be a very rewarding, but exhausting, role. And I do agree, teaching and the process of learning is incredibly enjoyable and great to be a part of.

I teach adults at university, it's exhausting as well, though not quite as exhausting as primary or high school I would imagine. Teaching is wonderful, though

That you so much for this kind response. I really appreciate the help you’ve offered here- please don’t feel like you need to go out of your way and through the effort of copying that document for me though. The explanation of reasonable was a very useful idea to think about too- it has again framed things differently and in a wayI’d not managed to consider. I think I can get stuck on the meaning of a word and over think it slightly, so a fresh perspective here has been very helpful.

Apologies for the delayed response. I’ve been a little overwhelmed with the amount of supportive replies and just needed a bit of time to process it all. This community is brilliant. 

I really enjoy seeing learning happen. If I can help someone to see that there is a universe of interesting things to see and learn about, then I feel pretty satisfied. Even if I’m just introducing something that catches someone’s interest. I think that balances out some of the difficulties that I face to some extent. That said, some days are much harder than others! 

I do sometime wonder what teaching adults would feel like- maybe one day if I’m feeling brave.

Thank you for all of your thoughts on this and for taking the time to advise too. It has been really appreciated. I think I’m starting to see the impact of autism on my life so far too, so there is a bit of a journey ahead I feel. I can entirely relate with the idea of negotiating expectations.

Noise being what it is for me might mean it’s worth looking into good quality (and comfortable) headphones/ ear plugs. I could definitely benefit from something along those lines anyway.

I was given a document from an OH referral following my diagnosis to share with work about supporting someone. It’s a little old as it refers to ‘supporting someone with asperger syndrome’ but it had some useful tips for employers on. I only have a hard copy and not sure if we can upload documents here but would be happy to share it with you if you like. I can scan it to make an electronic copy when I’m next in the office on Friday.

For reasonable, it was explained to me that it was ok for me to think about what I thought would help and ask and explain it to work then it’s really up to the employer to see if they think they can make the adjustment or not and that they decide if they think it’s reasonable; generally this seems to come down to cost, space and impact on others. The worst that can happen is that they say no and you’re no worse off than you are now but appreciate that not every employer will have the same way of looking at it and there might be consequences for you. I suppose though that if you’re not saying you can’t do your job without the adjustments then there shouldn’t be any grounds for them to suspend you etc. My employer has been very good overall but wasn’t able to provide everything as it just wasn’t possible; I too would like somewhere quiet to be able to go when things get too much but there isn’t any space to be had so I have noise cancelling headphones, a desk in a quiet (ish) corner in the office and am encouraged to go for walks whenever possible to get away. I’m also able to work from home everyday if I choose to, though am encouraged to go in to the office at least 1 day a week to help with my socialising skills and stay part of the team better. I realise this will be different for you teaching but maybe there could be some flexibility for you?

Maybe an OH referral could help you as well as they can discuss with you what adjustments could help and then your manager has it officially and it’s not just you asking?

I think it is. Also headphones. Moving in and around school outside of class wearing ear plugs or headphone might be reasonable.

I'm about a year too. It's about planning going forward so things don't get on top of you. If they value you as a member of staff they'll want to help.

Oakling said:

I’d coped this long

COPED.

I too "got by" and tried to keep up with everyone else (eg chatting at break etc), I didn't know how much autism impacted me until I'd had the assessment. I'm still finding my way through and negotiating my own expectations of myself and what other people expect of me too.

You aren't over thinking. We cope until we don't and then hit burnout.

Have a chat to HR or OH. It's their job to advise management on reasonable adjustment. It may help for them to have sight of your profile report.

God! Kudos, mate! Teaching in a school!? Wow! I'm a qualified trainer with QTLS status who once tried a school role. Never, ever again. The bells! The bells! Ouch! And all that instantaneous task switching to Bells! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! And then all that trying to process Jonny pulling Suzie's hair and noticing that Billy is withdrawn, while simultaneously trying to get my spelling straight on a verticle wipe despite my dyslexia - ouch!! Ouch! OUCH!!! I want to cry just thinking about it. Lol

Adults, though...I'll teach them any time

I feel discussions will go well, as the leadership is very supportive of everyone where I work, I just need to properly think about what support would be of the most use before beginning that conversation. Some things just aren’t possible, and that is okay, but where things are doable, it is something that I’m considering enquiring about. 

Upon receiving my diagnosis, I handed in the generic reasonable adjustments list and suggested I wouldn’t need anything as I’d coped this long (I’ve worked there for a similar length of time to you before you’d asked for adjustments). But I think that was just it, I’d coped so far. Now I’m starting to wonder if things like a quiet space between lessons would be of benefit to me, especially when approaching burnout.

I like the notion of being better informed and wanting to move forward, that is a phrase I’d like to keep and use, as it’s a way of explaining things in a way that I’d not managed to think of yet. It has only been about a year since my diagnosis, so I’m still trying to make sense of it all really.

Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences and advice.

I think you can judge how it'll go with your managers...if you feel they'll be supportive just have an honest chat with them.  If they are supportive they will want to help you so they don't lose a member of staff or have them going off sick. I had worked in my place for 7 years before any adjustments were made. I don't think it's playing up to a diagnosis; you are better informed about yourself for moving forward with your life. If you had a physical problem you might not possibly be saying that. One thing, after my anxiety episode, there were a couple of times where they asked less of me (I wasn't approached for extra classes when I used to be) they didn't want to put on me but I let them know in a kind way that I'd be the judge of that.

Think about how they can help you. For me it was needing a quiet space at break which is nigh on impossible at our centre. Also I was given "easier" classes and I've also been given one day teaching from home. I also went down to 4 days and have some flexibility so if I need to take time off I can pick it up on my day off.

This is interesting to read. My concern is understanding the word ‘reasonable’ in this context. I hope to read into this a little bit, this links above are useful, in order to come to an understanding.  

I teach in a primary school, which I absolutely love doing. I was diagnosed after a long journey with anxiety based interactions with my GP, so I understand what you mean about the link between the two. My concern is asking for adjustments to be made now, where I hadn’t before, thus making people question why now. I suppose I’m worried about people thinking that I’m only asking because I now have a diagnosis and that I’m somehow ‘playing up’ to the diagnosis, rather than seeing what I did before as masking (which caused extreme fatigue and exhaustion). I’m most definitely over thinking things, as I’m prone to doing, but the worries are there nonetheless.