Workplace adjustments

I'm currently trying to get into teaching. Something I've wanted to be all my life really. Love being with children. Got told to take time of due to 'concerns over my wellbeing' as soon as the course started and am currently in limbo awaiting tests - occupational health, psychiatric reports, GP reports - before/if they let me continue. Not even allowed to study or socialise until the reports. Really being treated like a leper and I'm still struggling with the unfairness of it all. 

So if I can continue with my training and these 'adjustments' or 'accommodations' are put in place, I have no idea what they will be because I haven't been told anything. It's like people are delighting in withholding as much information as they can from me at the moment. But I so want to be a teacher and I know I'll be a good one, so I've got little choice but to go along with it all. The whole charade, as it is. I'll just make myself out to be as 'normal' as possible, focus on the whole 'it's due to a miscommunication' thing and mask as much as I can - risk of burnout or otherwise. Nothing I'm not unused to all my life. Little faith that anything can change for the better really. 

Saddened to read of teachers who have been struggling and forced out after so many years' service but sadly not surprising as autistics remain misunderstood.

I’ve just started teaching and am finding it very difficult to get my employers to understand the intensity of my distress. Could I possibly message you privately to ask you some questions about how you managed as an educator? 

My experience of the NHS as an employer in my field of work is a culture of if you are different you are singled out and the old adage of 'needs of service' is used to discriminate. I grant you that is only my experience and I have met some lovely people who I know would not act in this way.

Although the NHS is a healthcare provider there is little care shown to staff and HR needs to be renamed as Managers Resources as my experience is they are only there to protect the organisation and not the humans who work for it.

Thank you, this is very helpful as I also work in a very bright and noisy environment 

Im sorry your boss has not been helpful, I work for the NHS so trying to improve diversity and disability support is a big thing for my employer 

Thank you, I work in an open office so all suggestions are helpful 

The adjustments you need will depend upon whatever it is that you do. I would focus on looking for adjustments that would minimize whatever your triggers are. 

I was a teacher for 32 years. My accommodations included:

* I was excused from before school recess duty.

* To facilitate my need for scheduling, I was given advanced notice of pending emergency drills so that I wouldn't be caught off guard by these disruptions to our normal routine.

* While teachers were expected to work out their differences with one another, the building principal would act as a mediator if I were to have a problem with a colleague.

I am so happy that the previous posters have positive experiences. It is not always that way. Get occupational health help as suggestions they make have gravitas. Try an get an independent workplace assessment of your needs.

I am biased in my opinion as my experience has been a negative one where I am being forced to take another position in the organisation and may well end up at a tribunal. My manager has taken a very ableist view and has used assumptions and stereotypical views about me and my abilities. They kept trying to bring up past instances of communication breakdown to enhance their narrative.

I am pleased that your manager is being proactive in asking you as mine never did and rubbished the suggestions that myself, occupational health, access to work and my diagnostic assessors made.

Sorry to paint a gloomy picture

Workplace Adjustments vary and can be different for different working environments. I work office-based (at least I did before the pandemic now mostly work from home).

Some of my adjustments are:

• Access to music and personal electronic devices
• Clear, precise, unambiguous and prioritised written instructions for tasks where possible, including deadlines
• Individual support during change (anything that impacts routine or working environment)
• When in office to use a chair that he feels comfortable with
• Stable working environment – where possible - not changing often
• Be allowed paid time to attend support networks e.g. peer support group with Mind
• Be allowed paid time, and funding for appropriate ASD training e.g. social skills
• Works best in a well organised team, on well understood projects, with clearly articulated outputs, job roles, and expectations
• Extra breaks as needed
• Able to go home to work if overwhelmed, after consultation with Tasking Manager

When I got my diagnosis about 7 years ago, my employer's Occupational Health recommended a DWP "access to Work" assessment which recommended reasonable adjustments for my employer to consider.

Hello Lucy, I work in a very busy, noisy catering environment. If I get overwhelmed by the noise I can take a short break, also if I feel light headed I can have a short break to have a snack. There are bright lights too so if I needed to I could spend some time away from them. Hope this helps.