Advocating for yourself...?
I work full time and find it incredibly hard to do so. Unfortunately, I am an apprentice, so I have no choice. I cannot cut my hours down as I have to do a certain amount for my qualification.
My line manager is pretty useless at supporting me/my needs which really frustrates me. I am trying so hard to get myself out of the mindset of "my needs are too much" but it's really hard when the person I'm supposed to go to, makes me feel like I am too much.
I don't want to go above him because I don't want him to take it the wrong way. I think it's mainly that he's just MASSIVELY uneducated on ASD/ADHD (for example, I told him I was overwhelmed by the lights and he said "another thing to add to the list of things you don't like" as if it was something I could control)
I don't know if there's a certain way I should try to explain my needs/certain accommodations (eg, time out if I need it, more forewarning of changes, etc etc) to get him to listen/understand or if I should just escalate it. I HATE trying to advocate for myself because it always feels so confrontational and standoffish. Anyone have any ideas?
Anyways, advice appreciated! Kind regards
-M xx
@PrentissReid
Hello,
Sounds frustrating when the immediate senior you are supposed to talk to is not very understanding of your needs. Finding the balance between advocating for yourself and not trying to come off as too confrontational is hard.
And that comment sounds incredibly hurtful. Makes me wonder if its being uneducated or just not understanding. What are your thoughts on trying to talk to them about how you feel and why you are needing some accommodations? One honest conversation about how their words and making you feel might make a world of difference.
If they are still not very receptive of being understanding, going above them might be an idea too. Also, I was wondering if there is HR in the place you work at. I think it sounds like something they need to be able to help with.
I hope things works out for the better for you. I already admire you for being able to stand up for yourself and being vocal about your needs.
@PrentissReid
That's such an awful thing to experience! And it's so insensitive to hear from someone that you have a list of needs going unmet, but they won't do anything about it.
You're probably right. They may not understand Autism. But that doesn't mean you can't receive the appropriate accommodations for it.
Something that really helps is having a professional diagnosis and meeting with a counselor or therapist who can write up a letter of accommodations for you to give/email to the Human Resources (HR) department at your place of employment.
If you're diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, then under the ADA an employer must accommodate you. If you don't have access or cannot afford a therapist or counselor, an alternative is to create a list of accommodations yourself and give it to HR, also keep a copy for your records, and see how they respond. Employers must accommodate workers under the Americans with Disabilities Act or face legal consequences.
From what you've said, your accommodations aren't unreasonable. Apprenticeship or not, you have a disability. Requesting accommodations is your right per the ADA. There's no debating that. An employer will either accommodate you or you can file a legal claim (don't say that to their face or anyone else though).
I'm not sure if you live in the U.S., so the ADA may not apply to your country.
Here's a helpful article from the U.S. EEOC's website about the responsibilities of an employer per the ADA: The ADA: Your Responsibilities as an Employer | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Did you know modified work schedules is one of the things listed under the employers obligation?
Here's a similar article on the ADA's website with very good explanations and a bit more broken down: Reasonable Accommodations in the Workplace | ADA National Network
For further reading, check out what the ADA says about Accommodating Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Employment: Application of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Title I Standards | ADA National Network
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