Slashdot Mirror
Ask Slashdot: Dealing With Disabilities In the Workplace?
mpol writes "The job market can be hard right now, depending on your background and location. Having a disability makes things even more interesting. Seven years ago I suffered from a psychosis, and I was diagnosed with schizophrenia. I have been recovering quite well, and last year I started searching for a paying job. I found one, but it didn't turn out to be the right place, so I'm back at my volunteer job as web developer. My current workplace is quite unique, as there are several people who have had a psychosis in the past, or have been diagnosed with autism. When I look at myself I know that I have some things that will always play a role: I'm very sensitive to the atmosphere in the workplace for example. I also need clear communication, more so than other people. Furthermore, a workweek of maybe 20-25 hours is the max for me. I tried self-employment, but motivation and discipline are a bit hard to come by, and it's not something that will work for me long-term. In theory it's perfect, in practice not so much. I'm not sure what my short-term future will look like, and for this year I'm quite happy where I am, but next year I might go searching for a salaried job again. I'm wondering if there are more people on Slashdot who have a job in ICT, or are seeking one, and also have disabilities. How did you land at your job, and what issues do you run into in daily practice?"
So your story of a workplace with "several people who have had a psychosis in the past" while yourself being a schizophrenic made me laugh when I imagined you working alone at home as I do while being surrounded by other "people" with mental problems.
Sorry... I'm a bad person it seems.
"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
My last job included an employee with well controlled schizophrenia and another with moderate autism. The employer did all the right things as far as I'm aware, shorter hours and short-notice time off were available, and all of the management were made aware of the issues. There were plenty of staff meaning that unsuitable or particularly stressful jobs (eg dealing with large crowds at busy periods) could be avoided and the members of staff in question would pick up on the jobs more suited to them instead.
By far the most useful thing, however, were the pub trips after work. Both employees were quite happy to talk openly about their respective conditions, which took it from being a confidential, management-only issue to being an open one where people were encouraged to ask questions and understand how they could help the employees adapt. The chats over a beer/coffee were far more useful than any management policy could have been.
Please consider this account deleted, I just can't be bothered with the spam anymore.
I've got good news, most people in I.T. seem like they have autism to non I.T. people. You'll get by just fine.
There are collectives such as the renocollective.com that offers very affordable workspace to freelancers and start-ups. This way you can be self-employed, not working from your home and meet other creative people during the day. You can pay by the day if you plan to work few days a week. I think this can be the next best thing for you if you cannot land a job. Look around your area. Best luck to you.
Tomorrow is another day...
Why hire you when there are probably hundreds of alternative applicants without your baggage? Either you have some crazy unique skill to bring to the table, or they have a financial incentive to hire you (pay less money than someone "normal", or maybe there's some weird tax writeoff).
I don't mean this as an insult or anything, just as a shot of reality. You say you are happy doing volunteer work right now, which sort of implies that you are able to pay bills and stuff. If that's the case, stick with it. You can do that and some self-employment on the side as your motivation allows. You aren't going to find that kind of happiness with a salary job.
Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 as per http://www.autismpolicyblog.com/2011/03/americans-with-disabilities-act-new.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADA_Amendments_Act_of_2008
http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/11-7-11a.cfm "Comfort Suites To Pay $132,500 For Disability Discrimination Against Clerk With Autism"
This one is very important, look at page two "Examples Illustrating Definition of Disability" one of the examples used to define a disability was specifically to list autism, by name. Its kind of hard to wiggle out of "autism isn't a disability" when its specifically listed by name in regulation as an example of a legally protected disability.
http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/regulations/upload/adaaa-summary.pdf
I mean when the EEOC uses your diagnosis as an example of what the law covers, its kind of hard to claim that example doesn't fit under the definition. Now my ingrown toenail was not listed by name, so I would have a fight in court to prove its a disability by definition, unlike your diagnosis.
Obviously your best bet is as per your own comment:
Accordingly, at the advice of my attorney
Yeah that'll probably work a hell of a lot better than the advice of some idiot on /. who none the less knows some people with autism and also knows how to use google really well. However if you haven't talked to your lawyer since 2008 when they passed the law, or 2011 when the EEOC released their new regulations specifically naming autism, maybe its time to talk again, or at least think about it?
"Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger