Navigating Challenges and Maximising Success
In the workplace, ADHD and autism can present unique challenges affecting focus, communication, and social interactions. However, with understanding, accommodations, and support, individuals with ADHD and autism can leverage their strengths to thrive professionally. Employers and colleagues can foster an inclusive environment by implementing strategies tailored to the needs of neurodiverse individuals, leading to enhanced productivity and job satisfaction.
Introduction
There is a growing number of adults with an ADHD and Autism diagnosis. This is due to greater awareness of neurodiversity and an evolution of the techniques screening over the years.
ADHD can be a challenge in the workplace because individuals can be impulsive, hyperactive or struggle to focus. People with Autism may struggle with relationships at work or find that their senses are overwhelmed in a busy, noisy work environment.
In this blog, we will look at how many people are overcoming workplace challenges with ADHD and Autism and how employers can provide ADHD and Autism support in the workplace. We’ll also look at workplace productivity tips for adults with ADHD and Autism.
Overcoming Workplace Challenges with ADHD and Autism
The workplace can be a challenge for people with Neurodiversity, and people may struggle with:
- Managing tasks to complete their work efficiently
- Building relationships with managers and colleagues
- Attendance and lateness
- Learning new skills
- Receiving feedback at appraisals
Workplace Accommodations for Neurodiverse Individuals
However, workplaces across the UK are doing some great things to make ADHD accommodations in the workplace and provide Autism support in the workplace:
- Having neurodiversity policies accessible for all staff.
- Adapting recruitment processes to support neurodiversity inclusion strategies.
- Helping to raise neurodiversity awareness in the workplace.
- Making communications clear and unambiguous.Adapting workspaces to accommodate people’s sensory needs, such as dedicated quiet working
- spaces and being able to adjust the lighting.
As workplace strategies for adults with ADHD and Autism become mainstream, more people will enjoy being in the workplace.
Neurodiversity Inclusion Strategies: Coping with Sensory Overload
Our blog on Sensory Processing in Autism talks about the different sensory processing challenges that might impact people with Autism in the workplace. People might be over sensitive to smell, touch, taste, sight and hearing.
The following workforce accommodations for neurodiverse individuals could reduce sensory overload:
- Changes to the workplace, such as less bright lighting or workstations that block out visual distractions.
- Earphones to help reduce noise, especially in crowded or busy areas.
- Reducing strong smells such as fragrances, detergents and shampoos.
- Having bland food options available in the work canteen.
- Asking if they are comfortable shaking hands with colleagues or guests in the workplace
- Adapting workwear so that it’s comfortable and minimises any irritating fabrics or seams.
To find out more firsthand about thriving in the workplace with ADHD and Autism, read Employment Autism’s feature from Lauren, who talks about some of her sensory challenges in the workplace.
Supporting Those Who have Careers with ADHD and Autism
Advocating for your own needs is key to thriving in the workplace with ADHD and Autism.
The best way to advocate for your ADHD or Autism needs in the workplace is to be proactive. There are a few ways to do this:
- Know your strengths and the value that you add to the team.
- Communicate with managers, colleagues and HR and ask for reasonable adaptations that will help you to achieve career success.
- Build a routine that works for you, such as taking regular breaks and time to reset between tasks if it’s needed.
Structure your time so that you optimise your productivity.
Career Success with ADHD and Autism
Increasing neurodiversity awareness in the workplace can be a huge benefit for a lot of organisations. There are many ways that companies can benefit from supporting people with ADHD and Autism in the workplace.
A neurodiverse team is:
- Innovative and creative
- Good at technical work
- Able to concentrate at a very high level
- Highly accurate with a strong recall of factual information
- Reliable and persistent
- Always thinking of new ways to solve a business problem
However, neurotypical people will also feel the benefits of an employer with a diverse and inclusive work culture. Forbes talks about the mutually beneficial relationships between organisations and neurodiverse employees. Hiring neurodiverse employees can boost employee engagement.
Workplace productivity tips for adults with ADHD and Autism
People with ADHD and Autism have different levels of executive functioning, which are likely to make time management and organisation challenging.
These simple productivity tips can help someone with neurodiversity achieve career success with ADHD and Autism:
- Find out if your team can facilitate a morning ‘huddle’ to set the agenda for the day and give a valuable dopamine hit with prioritised tasks and clear decisions.
- Block out time in your diary for focused work.
- Turn off emails and notifications so that you aren’t disturbed during focused time.
- If your desk is untidy, consider using clear boxes so that you can find key items easily.
- Use the RAN technique to boost motivation. It means Reward, Accountability and Novelty – one of these techniques can help to overcome ADHD paralysis.
- Gamify decision-making. Set a timer and make a decision within 15 minutes.
- If you’ve got a piece of work to complete, try using a body double (ie: somebody next to you or online) who ‘works with you.’ You both agree on a timescale and what you’d each like to achieve, then hold each other accountable.
There are lots of apps and technology solutions coming onto the market which help teams with workflow and planning. They can help any team member, but are especially helpful for people with ADHD and Autism in the workplace who struggle to organise their work. It might be worth discussing this with your line manager so that they can purchase the software to help you manage your time.
Autism Support in the Workplace
Thriving in the workplace with ADHD or Autism – especially if you are recently diagnosed – can be daunting.
Here’s a couple of resources that we think might be helpful:
- Business Disability Forum – supported by Microsoft, members can gain access to an invaluable toolkit with guidance on language to use and how to overcome the barriers people with neurodiversity face in the workplace.
- Inclusive employers offer training, consultancy and membership for any organisation who wants to champion for inclusion.
- The Guardian’s post “I was terrified of the Tea Round” has some brilliant practical neurodiversity inclusion strategies and practical tips to help people with ADHD in the workplace.
Final Thoughts
People can achieve career success with ADHD and Autism. They might need workplace accommodations for neurodiverse individuals. However, teams can work in harmony if there is clear communication and neurodiversity awareness in the workplace.
Many organisations have neurodiversity inclusion strategies which are invaluable for anyone who is overcoming workplace challenges with ADHD and Autism.
Take the first step towards diagnosis by scheduling a consultation with The ADHD & Autism Clinic today.
Our expert team is here to provide personalised support and guidance to make sure you’re thriving in the workplace with ADHD and Autism. Contact us to start your journey towards career success with ADHD and Autism.