I’m very open about my neurodiversity. I’m autistic and I have ADHD. It has been a very long journey of discovery through my diagnosis and life experience.
In my work, I’m very vocal about accommodations and the things that I might need or how I’m feeling for the day. If I’m non-vocal I have my headphones on. These are the little things that help me feel more safe and confident to be in the workplace.
Most of the people I support in my work are neurodiverse. I think a lot of the people I support find comfort in the fact that I’m also neurodivergent. Some people I support are only just discovering this journey and they find it comforting to know that I still take notes, I do all the work things I need to do, like the steps that I’ve used to make sure that I don’t lose track of time, whether it’s my memory or things like that.
International Day of People with a Disability is a great opportunity to broaden people’s education and perspectives on people with disabilities. I don’t often look like a person with a disability, but autism and ADHD are a disability and it’s life debilitating.
International Day of People with a Disability is an opportunity for individuals and organisations to be educated and start to support people more in the workplace. I’m always an advocate of workplace accommodations and supports and I think there are still so many barriers to that.
Even for neurotypical people who have sensory issues, just being allowed to have the things or the spaces that make them feel comfortable to be at work, I think it is really important.
Call the National Relay Service, if you:
- Are deaf or hard of hearing
- Find it hard to speak using the phone
Need a Teletypewriter (TTY) – call 1800 555 677
Need to speak and listen – call 1800 555 727
