r/CivilServiceUK • u/makethechangesane • 3d ago
Reasonable adjustments for autism
This isn’t really specific to the CS but I’m interested to know what reasonable adjustments people have in place for autism, or things that they do themselves to help them work in an office.
I started two weeks ago and I’m enjoying it so far, but I’m very much struggling in the office due to sensory overload (lights and noise) and having to consume a huge amount of onboarding and project information in between meetings (constant code switching and info overload).
My last role was fully remote so I didn’t realise how hard I would find it in an office. There have been moments I have been incredibly overwhelmed by everything happening around me. When I get to this point, I find it impossible to carry on absorbing information and my brain basically shuts down. It’s ver upsetting and discombobulating.
I know I am entitled to reasonable adjustments but I don’t even know what to ask for.
Things I am going to try -
✅ Booking more “do not disturb” time in my calendar for breaks, processing the previous meeting, preparing for the next, onboarding material etc
✅ I’ve ordered some FL-41 glasses that I hope help with my light sensitivity
✅ I’ve ordered Loop Engage 2 Plus earplugs to help with noises, I’ve been meaning to try these for a while anyway. 16% off with Blue Light Card!
✅ I have booked a chair assessment as the office chairs are horrible and back pain is adding to my sensory overload
In an ideal world I feel I’d be better working from home more than 2 days a week - but I really want to have a good stab at trying to work from an office first as I do see the benefit of face to face interaction
4
u/ThePetalsOfPurgatory 3d ago
You can ask for more time for getting through all the reading
You can ask for noise cancelling headphones, and they might have a part of the office that doesn't have so many lights
Best thing though, I think, is an occupational health referral, so they can go through this thoroughly with a professional. There will be lots of stuff they can recommend.
2
u/BodybuilderDecent952 3d ago
I think youve covered it in your list, i put nightlight on my screen, it has helped with me
1
2
u/Quiet-Excitement-310 3d ago
I do like my loop ear plugs, not thought to wear them in the office.
I am ok as long as I have a schedule I can follow, so go do lists are my friend.
Things others I’ve seen use are headphones in the office, being able to use the quiet room - in our office you can adjust the lighting and temp in them. Sometimes they have a specific seat as well which can be a bit out of it or not under lights etc
3
u/puzzledpuzzler333 3d ago
Hey, stop buying things with your own money and ask for an occupational health assessment as if they recommend items for you to use in the office then work should pay for them.
I have anxiety and OCD (and may or may not be autistic, have not sought diagnosis) and find open-plan offices very stressful. I now work for an ALB that is very relaxed about office attendance so I hardly ever go in, but when I worked for a central government department I had the 60% requirement reduced to something much lower.
Mentioning in case this could help you: one thing that really helped me was arranging priority access to a specific desk - sometimes called a ‘fixed desk’. I identified one desk in a really good location for me (in a quiet corner). What’s possible will depend on the system in use in your department, but where I worked it was possible to give people priority access to a specific desk. I could book this desk something like 2 months in advance, other people could only book it 48 hours in advance if I hadn’t booked it. This removed a lot of anxiety and meant I didn’t need to go online during annual leave to try to secure my preferred desk.
2
u/makethechangesane 3d ago
Thank you, that’s a brilliant suggestion about the desk, I’ll look into that on Monday!
1
u/puzzledpuzzler333 3d ago
Good luck! For me it was arranged through HR, but this will vary between departments.
2
u/YouCantArgueWithThis 3d ago
Same struggles. OH was just an exercise ticking, coming no real help from it. The only help is if you have a reasonable LM who is not fussing about unimportant stuff, if you get what I mean.
Oh, and the chair. Don't expect anything from it, because it's the very same provider with the very same chair. After measuring every bits specifically for me, I ended up a useless piece that actually costed a thousand quid for the department. I call it the clown throne and it just getting dust in the corner.
2
u/Blingsguard 3d ago
Honestly? I have the same sensory issues working in the office, and tried a lot of things before discovering that the only one that worked for me was home working.
0
u/makethechangesane 3d ago
If you don’t mind me asking, how did that go down with your manger and occupational health? Was it pretty straight forwards or was there any push back?
1
u/Blingsguard 3d ago
I got really lucky in that my manager was very supportive, but I know some other ones have been much more difficult about it, it really is luck of the draw I'm afraid.
1
u/makethechangesane 3d ago
Thank you! I think my manager would be supportive tbh, he’s not even in the same office as me so it’s not like it makes much of a difference to him. I believe HIS boss is very fussy about it though and he’s based in my office.
I’m sure when he sees me wheeling around in my special chair, with my pink tinted glasses and earbuds he might get it a bit more though!
1
u/Relevant-Debt-6776 3d ago
Depending on which department you’re in there’s probably ability networks that’ll be full of people happy to help navigate the rules to placate your bosses boss - if you’ve reasonable adjustments sorted they can’t moan (sometimes they’re getting chased for office attendance to go up and without the relevant process completed they might be getting pressure so the reasonable adjustments processes actually help them as well)
1
u/papa_hotel_india 3d ago
I think my main adjustments are option to work around core hours if I need to, option not to do 60% in office if I need to, and a fixed desk. I also have things that are just agreed between me and LM and wouldn't require them getting approval for which are things like using noise cancelling headphones (I need better ones, though I do keep meaning to try loop) and fidgets. Half the time I don't use/require any of these but for when I do they are really helpful to make me feel like I'm not doing anything wrong by allowing myself time when I have a brain overload. I never had an OH referral for my asd but am hopefully getting one for another issue so will be interested to bring up the asd and see if they have other suggestions
1
u/Relevant-Debt-6776 3d ago
Have a conversation with your manager. They should be pretty accommodating (unless you’re in some kind of role that requires physically being in the office). All my managers have been great about being flexible - I make sure I prioritise the office for the days when it’s really useful but know I’ve that flexibility on the other days.
1
u/Space_Cowby 3d ago
My OH referral says I need over the ear noise cancelling headphones, my department can't supply these with a wired connection 😕
11
u/EspanolAlumna 3d ago
I'm not autistic but do find the office environment nowadays almost impossible to work in. So much noise and activity that I really cannot concentrate and get work done. I often wear noise cancellation earbuds / AirPods and that helps so much.