Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello all im new here and would like to introduce myself my name is Steve and i work on the railway doing maintenance work. Ive worked there for about 12 years now i dont like it but the money is good and im excited to buy my first house at the end of the year. Well the main reason i decided to join this community is that i am in a bit of a predicament and was wondering if there is anybody out there that can give me their honest opinion? What it is i recently watched a lot of bbcs documentarys about autism and suddenly realised that most of those chilrens "habbits"? Was like looking at me when i was a child and still now as an adult in most ways anyway i decided to do an aq test out of curiosity expecting maybe a 18 or 20 score but i got a 36 and then with the eq and sq i got 14 and 15 i know they arent proper diagnosis but i feel i cant get a formal diagnosis as my work is classed as safety critical communication and i worry that i will fail my medical if i am diagnosed has anyone got any ideas? And sorry for the rambling i never know what im supposed to say
Hi lowman,
I don't know if there are different rules for the work you are doing, but usually you are under no obligation to disclose having autism to an employer. Employers are also not allowed to discriminate against you based on it if it doesn't stop you from being able to fulfil your job. You have been doing it for 12 years so you are clearly competent. Autistic people can also have an amazing eye for detail and following processes so potentially better suited than others at certain tasks.
Do you belong to a union? Could you discus things with a rep?