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Autism at work

HappilyUnhappy

Hi all,

I’ve just been diagnosed with autism, and it makes so much sense with all I’ve been through over the years, I’m 41!

however, I’m rostered on a training course next week at a place I’ve never been too before and involves a taxi which I’ve already raised as a concern at work. Does anybody know if I can request for the training to take place at a depot I’m familiar with as a reasonable adjustment. I’m struggling to cope with the thought of this new training as it is, even more so as it’s at this place I’ve never been before, and hear stories that the taxis get lost on route trying to find it.

thanks for your time 

  • in reply to Caelus

    Companies used to provide a coach; for workers. Especially in Northern Ireland.

    My village only has a handful of bus services; apart from School Buses.

  • Thanks all, 

    my boss has noted my anxieties and she’ll make sure I have a colleague with me so I’m not on my own 

  • taxis are expensive, id instead ask for the place and find a alternative transport as taxis are a rip off now. charged me 30 quid one way to get to my workplace, total rip off.

  • You can ask for a reasonable adjustment, if they are unable to support you look at applying to access to work. ( a quick Google search). You can apply online and they can help with alot of things like mentors, travel buddies, taxis to and from work etc. They can do in work assessments too to see if there is anything else they can advise to your employer or help pay for.

  • in reply to Dawn

    Cheers for the reply. They have instructors at every depot who could brief me on the new traction and then work on the services as instructed coz that’s at a depot I know well!!!

    I once got lost on the way to a therapist appointment, freaked out and didn’t go to it, which looking back now is ironic!!! 

  • Whether that would constitute a "reasonable adjustment" would depend on whether they are or can run another course somewhere better for you.

    I very much sympathise yet am also chuckling at one of my memories of training. I was a trainer with the MPS. Sometimes training for trainers was held at a place near Oxford Circus. Every flaming time I went there, I'd get lost. I'd pop out of Oxford Circus tube and be totally disorientated and confused. All the exits to all the streets looked the same to me. I could never work out where I was.

    I did know I was dyslexic with right/left confusion and all that, but had no clue I was autistic at the time and it was pre-smart phone days. I had nice colleagues and was used to dealing with my foibles and quirks as a joke on the one hand yet insisting on my needs on the other. It was always a case of: "Oh God, we're sending Dawn out of the office tomorrow, we'll station someone at a PC on Google maps ready for her call". Invariably, I'd call: "Errr, I know I've been here before but I'm totally lost". A colleague on google maps would kindly try to guide me over the phone...."No, Dawn, try your other left, lovvie". "Ok, so headed in the other direction now, which left was the other left?" Heavy sigh, no matter how early I left the house, I'd be 10 minutes late having turned in circles for eons, and very stressed by then. But someone would pass me a back coffee and let me catch my breath.

    I'm chuckling now. It's funny in hindsight, but ok I was pretty stressed at the time.

    At the end of the day, even if they can't change the venue for it, chances are the taxi will get there ok. They've got SatNavs these days and if somehow it doesn't, sneak in the back and just simply state: "Sorry, taxi got lost". Hardly your fault. No one's fault and no one will hang you for it.

  • Hopefully you can get the location changed to one you are familiar with.

    If that isn't possible try researching the location yourself online, using google street view. I do that a lot if I have to visit anywhere new. You can also use 'what three words' to pinpoint an exact location.

    I suspect taxi drivers getting 'lost' is more to do with them trying to drive up the fare. I hate using taxis for this reason.

  • Congratulations on your diagnosis. I feel that’s entirely appropriate for you to ask for this adjustment. It’s something that can easily be arranged.