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Autism & work

femininecomplz

Hi all,

just wanted to ask how people navigate work while having autism. 

I have been struggling with burn out recently, and got my first 9-5 role last year. I thought it was going well until my peers thought I was “too quiet” as I didn’t talk as much in loud groups and meetings. And I have to often ask for repeat instructions as its hard for me to take them verbally. Its also left me neglecting daily life things as masking at work leaves me exhausted when I get home.

I told them of my diagnosis but I feel it may have made things worse, as I am on probation and theyve raised that I might not be the right fit for the role. So now I am tackling staying and trying to mask harder or resigning.

I really do want to work, but I wanted to know if anyone relates? And how did they find work they like and manage it?

thanks all white heart

Parents

  • You might find some of the advice in the Employment section of the NAS site useful. Potentially relevant articles include:

    NAS - What support can I get at work as an autistic person?

    NAS - What are reasonable adjustments and when can they be requested?

    NAS - What can I do if I’m having trouble at work?

    As just one example of the types of support that the articles cover, you might find the government's Access to Work scheme helpful:

    GOV.UK - Access to Work

    femininecomplz said:
    I have to often ask for repeat instructions as its hard for me to take them verbally.

    Another is the NAS's list of examples of reasonable adjustments. It includes this one, among many others:

    • "Issue:
      • I can find it difficult to remember verbal (spoken) instructions and information.

    • What is the disadvantage to you (compared to non-autistic employees)?
      • I may not understand what is required of me, what is happening in the workplace and ways I can improve. This may result in my employer having doubts about my ability to do my job.

    • Example of an adjustment:
      • My manager follows up verbal instructions and information with a written summary, and gives feedback in writing.

    • Legal type of reasonable adjustment:
      • Change to the way the employer usually does things.

    • Benefits to you and to your employer
      • I can refer back to written summaries and feedback so that I know what I have to do, what’s going on in the workplace and how I can improve.

    • Why the adjustment may be reasonable:
      • it effectively overcomes the disadvantage
      • has no cost
      • there may be some disruption for the manager as writing summaries takes time, but this is likely to lessen as working patterns are set, and the benefits outweigh the time investment
      • has no effect on health and safety."

    NAS - Common examples of reasonable adjustments

Reply

  • You might find some of the advice in the Employment section of the NAS site useful. Potentially relevant articles include:

    NAS - What support can I get at work as an autistic person?

    NAS - What are reasonable adjustments and when can they be requested?

    NAS - What can I do if I’m having trouble at work?

    As just one example of the types of support that the articles cover, you might find the government's Access to Work scheme helpful:

    GOV.UK - Access to Work

    femininecomplz said:
    I have to often ask for repeat instructions as its hard for me to take them verbally.

    Another is the NAS's list of examples of reasonable adjustments. It includes this one, among many others:

    • "Issue:
      • I can find it difficult to remember verbal (spoken) instructions and information.

    • What is the disadvantage to you (compared to non-autistic employees)?
      • I may not understand what is required of me, what is happening in the workplace and ways I can improve. This may result in my employer having doubts about my ability to do my job.

    • Example of an adjustment:
      • My manager follows up verbal instructions and information with a written summary, and gives feedback in writing.

    • Legal type of reasonable adjustment:
      • Change to the way the employer usually does things.

    • Benefits to you and to your employer
      • I can refer back to written summaries and feedback so that I know what I have to do, what’s going on in the workplace and how I can improve.

    • Why the adjustment may be reasonable:
      • it effectively overcomes the disadvantage
      • has no cost
      • there may be some disruption for the manager as writing summaries takes time, but this is likely to lessen as working patterns are set, and the benefits outweigh the time investment
      • has no effect on health and safety."

    NAS - Common examples of reasonable adjustments

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