Working from Home is an Accommodation

Work-from-home (WFH) during the COVID-19 pandemic was the greatest accommodation for differences ever offered. For those of us with physical differences and Neurodiverse minds, the WFH years allowed us to recharge and work whenever we were personally most productive. We did 40 hours or more of work weekly, but not on the artificial clock of many workplaces.

One of the benefits of teaching MWF or T/Th was that I could rebook every other day and prepare to “people”  again. (My mind and body preferred the T/Th schedule.)

I had not worked in a traditional office workplace since the 1990s, and even then, I had flexible hours. My recent experience in an office revealed to me that my physical and mental limitations require that I defend myself from impossible expectations. I’m not “normal” and shouldn’t demand a false normalcy of myself.

Autistics and other Neurodivergent people can be extremely productive. Add in my hyperactivity and we’re off and running when I focus on a task. But, offices aren’t designed for focus; they are designed to be distractingly social spaces in the name of collaboration. I collaborated fine from home.

When I cannot focus, the pain and sensory overload wins. The emotional spiral of failure takes hold quickly. After all, it’s always the Neurodiverse person’s fault when we fail to adapt to a space or schedule.

For the first time in two weeks, I have medication for my spinal and brachial plexus pain. I’ve endured chronic and sudden pain; this pain rivals the subdural hemorrhage headache.

I had said to a colleague that I wanted the arm ripped off and the pain gone. It’s that bad.

I slept 7 hours last night. I also fell asleep twice during the day. Pain is exhausting.

Autistics learn to mask. Our experienced pains get dismissed as “merely” autistic sensory sensitivity. Real, serious medical issues end up ignored until we need emergency care.

I can usually mask for three or even four days. Right now, I can barely manage a few hours. I pushed myself too hard to be a “good” employee. That left me needing a lot of extra rest.

Workplaces are not designed for Neurodiversity. They really don’t (or can’t) accommodate extra needs. Right now, I would require random hours, all WFH, to be my best.

I’ll rebound and get productive. I’ll also focus on locating flexible work situations.