Neurodiversity and Reasonable Adjustments

I was diagnosed with autism and ADHD 5 years ago. Since then, I have not once asked for reasonable adjustments. I also don’t intend for this to continue.

Being a woman and an artist isn’t the best combination for getting paid fairly. If you add into the mix the complication - as it would be viewed by many organisations - of reasonable adjustments, you could be forgiven for thinking you could lose work.

The media deliberately stokes this fire, claiming, in particular, that neurodivergent people get preferential treatment, which clearly disadvantages other non disabled people.

As a person who also suffers from chronic conditions (I need a hip replacement and suffer from chronic migraines), I hardly ever mention this either, yet ironically, it’s often in the case that I am supporting people with other chronic conditions and disabilities.

On the flip side of this, if you don't tell an employer or contractor how they are supposed to support you, how are they supposed to know? How could the situation improve unless we raise awareness and take that chance?

I absolutely love my work, but I pay a heavy price for doing it. After teaching, I’m often exhausted for the rest of the day, if not the day after. But if I don't speak up, I'm doing a disservice to myself and my fellow disabled artists. Sometimes you don't get the result you want, and I know that from fighting for my daughter's provision. But if you don't raise the issue in the first place, you definitely won't get the support.

Image; NDSA.UK