Reasonable Adjustments - Neurodiversity

Reasonable Adjustments -

Neurodiversity

AGCAS Disability Task Group

This document is intended as a starting point to help you consider the reasonable

adjustments you may need in the transition from university to the workplace. Rather than

focussing on the labels Autism/Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), Asperger Syndrome, ADHD,

Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia and Tourette’s Syndrome, this looks at various presentations

across neurodiversity and the adjustments that may be helpful. It is unlikely that you will have

all of the challenges below, so choose which you think are most relevant to you as an

individual. It also takes into account the fact that symptoms and challenges are often on a

spectrum and can vary over time and from person to person, depending on factors such as

background distractions and stress.

Providing information about you and your disability to work colleagues educates them about

how to work well with you. If you haven’t disclosed to colleagues they may not understand

and may resent some of the adjustments you need. It may be helpful to write down

something for co-workers explaining how your disability affects you and what you can find

challenging in the workplace.

Challenge: Concentration and focus, Easily distracted, Procrastination, Fatigue

Examples of reasonable adjustments:

 Take short breaks throughout the day. Negotiate taking 10-15 minute breaks regularly

away from your desk. This may mean working slightly longer core hours to

accommodate this e.g. 8.30-5.30 rather than 9-5 would give you four 15 min breaks to

take during the day when you needed them.

 Focus on one job at a time rather than multi-tasking when you may be distracted

often

 Set a regular timer on phone or PC to bring you back to focus should you tend to go

off track – can be visual or auditory. This needs to be intrusive enough for you to

notice it.

 Use a “do not disturb” sign/function on your telephone and email, when specific tasks

require intense concentration.

 Ask your employer to encourage co-workers not to disturb you unless absolutely

necessary.

 Ask your employer if you can work somewhere that is quiet and away from

distractions, for example away from doors, busy phones, loud machinery.

 Understanding any sensory issues, e.g. open plan offices have lots of noise and lights,

which may be minimised by the use of desk partitions, telephones that light up when

ringing, noise-cancelling headphones, desk low-lights etc.

 Ask about the possibility of working from home occasionally or coming in early or

staying late, to reduce distraction, stress and fatigue.

 Relaxation techniques can help with concentration.

Challenge: Hyperactivity

Examples of reasonable adjustments:

 If you need to move a lot, perhaps a chair that has a wide range of movement

(balance chair) or a rise and fall desk allowing you to stand to work when you need

to.

 Movement breaks can help control this – using stairs rather than lift, walking in office

rather than internal phone/email

 Stress ball – it’s a quiet outlet for the need to move rather than something that taps.

 Be aware that your need to move may be someone else’s distraction. If you need to

pace up and down while thinking at work try to do it in a corridor rather than a

shared office.

Challenge: Social interaction and communication

Examples of reasonable adjustments:

 Ask for an office mentor – maybe line manager, colleague, buddy arrangement.

Someone who can help you build awareness of how you communicate and any

other issues with social cues. They can help defuse difficult social situations before

they become too large.

 Asking for breaks from the office can help control heightened emotion and avoid

outbursts.

 Understanding that your eye contact, speech, and body language may not be the

same as other co-workers.

 Ask for clear and specific information and instructions about what is expected of you

e.g. when going for interviews, completing work tasks etc. This could include travel

directions, photographs of people you will be meeting, when activities will start and

end.

 Understanding that you may find hypothetical or abstract questions difficult and that

you may also interpret language quite literally.

 Ask if the employer can avoid asking questions that are too open e.g. “Tell me a bit

about yourself”.

 Let employers know if you have a tendency to talk too much or focus on one

particular topic at length, and that it is okay for them to let you know when you are

doing this.

 Let the employer know that they may need to prompt you and ask supplementary

questions in order to get the information from you that they need.

 For job interviews, invite a supporter along to help you, in case questions need to be

rephrased, or you have misunderstood the context and need to be prompted. This

person can act as a go-between to ease communication between you and the

interviewer.

 Ask for a work trial so that you can demonstrate exactly how you would perform in

the workplace. Some employers find that a two-way placement evaluation - a period

of work experience - is a better way of assessing individuals’ talents than a formal

interview.

 A first day at work could start with a full induction, an introduction to each employee,

a map of the building/office and where each person sits and a timetable for the first

week.

 Ask for an explanation of any unwritten rules of the workplace.

Challenge: Arithmetic

Examples of reasonable adjustments:

 Ask for a handheld or talking calculator, or use the calculator function on TextHelp

software.

 Say the numbers out loud or write them down

 Allow (and ask for) more time than usual for any tasks that involve arithmetic

 Ask for written rather than verbal instructions

 If possible, ask for mathematical data to be represented in a visual way e.g. graphs,

charts and infographics

 Ask for facilities for speed dialling of telephone numbers

 Appropriate reasonable adjustment for using security codes for doors and computer

Challenge: Reading and writing

Examples of reasonable adjustments:

 Understanding that some tasks such as taking the minutes of meetings or reading a

page of text may be difficult for you, and that you may need extra time to complete

them.

 Allow (and ask for) plenty of time to read and complete tasks.

 Ask if the employer can use other ways of giving the same information that avoids

reading.

 Alternative formats such as audio or videotape, drawings, diagrams and flowcharts.

 Ask for mind-mapping software, such as Inspiration, Mind Genius.

 Digital recorders and speech to text software.

Challenge: Spelling

Examples of reasonable adjustments:

 Assistive text software such as ClaroRead or TextHelp.

 Allow (and ask for) time for proofreading work.

Challenge: Written communication

Examples of reasonable adjustments:

 Ask for verbal as well as written instructions.

 Use alternatives to written information such as voice mail.

 Use/ask for screen reading software and scanners.

 A Reading Pen may be useful for unfamiliar words.

 Ask for information on coloured paper and set up a computer screen with a coloured

background.

 Keep operating instructions next to office equipment such as photocopiers and

scanners.

Challenge: Spoken communication

Examples of reasonable adjustments:

 Ask for instructions to be given one at a time, slowly and clearly, and in a quiet

location.

 Ask for certain tasks to be demonstrated and/or supervised.

 Use a digital recorder.

 Back up verbal instructions and information with notes or diagrams.

Challenge: Organisation and planning

Examples of reasonable adjustments:

 Ask for a workspace that is quiet and free from distractions such as doors, phones and

loud machinery.

 Ask if it is possible to work from home occasionally.

 Ask for a workspace that is well lit, neat and tidy.

 Ask for a wall planner that visually highlights appointments, deadlines and tasks.

 Ask for reminders of important deadlines and regular reviews of priorities and projects.

 Ask for timetables, mnemonics and mind maps if these help with prioritising work and

meeting deadlines.

 Colour code items in your workspace.

 Ask for a personal digital organiser.

 Use computer features such as calendars, alerts and alarms.

 Create a daily “To Do” list.

 Ask for work to be broken up into manageable chunks.

 Build planning time into each day.

 Allow extra time for tasks and projects, for unforeseen circumstances.

 Ask for templates for detailed work, such as reports.

Challenge: Memory

Examples of reasonable adjustments:

 Use mnemonic devices and acronyms.

 Use diagrams and flowcharts to organise information.

 Use multi-sensory learning techniques such as reading material onto a tape machine

and then playing it back whilst re-reading.

 Use appropriate computer software such as program menus and help features.

 Ask for incoming telephone calls to be kept to a minimum.

 Before making a telephone call, jot down the key points you want to cover.

Challenge: Sense of direction

Examples of reasonable adjustments:

 Try to use the same route each time

 Ask for a visual representation of a route, and visible landmarks.

 Ask for detailed maps and/or GPS system.

Challenge: Working at a computer

Examples of reasonable adjustments:

 Change background colour of screen.

 Use/ask for an anti-glare screen filter.

 Take frequent breaks, at least every hour.

 Ask if you can avoid working on a computer all day and alternate computer work

with other tasks.

 Ask for an ergonomic keyboard.

 Change or slow down the mouse. Keyboard short cuts can also be used as an

alternative to the mouse.

Useful apps for helping keep you focussed.

These are just suggestions there will be others that work just as well and may suit your needs

better.

 Anti-Social Set the app for your chosen time frame and it will block distracting social

media websites. Currently only for Mac users.

 SelfControl This will block access to the websites that distract you the most for a set

period that you determine. Until the timer expires, you will be unable to access those

sites—even if you restart your computer or delete the application.

 Write or Die Set your time period, word goal, and preferred “punishment” should you

stop typing. Once the setup is complete, you’ll need to type fairly continuously;

otherwise, there will be consequences which you also choose. Gentle Mode: A

certain amount of time after you stop writing, a box will pop up, gently reminding you

to continue writing. Normal Mode: If you persistently avoid writing, you will be played

a most unpleasant sound. The sound will stop if and only if you continue to write. 
Kamikaze Mode: You will need to keep writing or your work will start to unwrite itself.  
  StayFocusd This is a free Chrome extension that will help you to stay more focused on 
your writing by restricting the amount of time you spend on distracting websites. You 
set a certain amount of time for social media for a day, after you have used your 
allotted time you will be blocked for the rest of the day. 
  Freedom – app to block internet, messages and social media leaving you free to 
focus on your work  
 
 
With acknowledgements to the following: 
 
https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/ - British Dyslexia Association  
https://dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/ - Dyspraxia Foundation 
http://www.lexxic.com/ - Lexxic 
http://www.mathematicalbrain.com/ - The Mathematical Brain (Professor Brian Butterworth) 
https://www.autism.org.uk/ - National Autistic Society  
https://www.tourettes-action.org.uk/ - Tourette’s Action 
 
Web pages –  
Hallowell New York City (2018). Benefits (Yes Benefits!) of Having ADD/ADHD [online]. 
Hallowell New York City [Viewed 5
th
 October 2018]. Available from: www.hallowellnyc.com 
 
Articles -  
Lehrer, J (2011). The advantages of Tourette’s. Wired [online]. April 2011. [Viewed 5
th
 October 
2018]. Available from: www.wired.com  
Nall, R (2016). The benefits of ADHD. Healthline [online]. February 2016. [Viewed 5
th
 October 
2018]. Available from: www.healthline.com 
 
 
 