beck7422
Regular
Posts: 342
Joined: Jun 2010
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When I was working I tried to get Work Accommodations for SPD under the US ADA law. I had already asked for Work Accommodations for two other conditions (none of which had been accommodated for) and my work place retaliated by making my sensory life worse.
I also got introuble for "letting" myself get sensory overwhelmed and then falling at work all the time. This is despite HR and my managers stripping away the tools I needed to handle my sensory problems.
Has anyone else ever been able to get SPD Work Accommodations that were actually implemented and respected at their work place? If so, how did you do it?
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06-07-2010, 03:22 AM |
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Dani
Administrator
Posts: 261
Joined: Apr 2010
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Hmmm...
From the sounds of it, I don't know that this is the right working environment for you. They won't recognize your disability, they take away the things you *need* to help keep you centered and sane, and instead of helping make things easier for you, they intentionally make things worse! This is not a combination you want to be a part of!
You can try all you want, but I honestly don't know how responsive this place will be to you. They seem to be the opposite of helpful, and that shows a disrespect for you as a person. If they don't respect you when you are requesting special needs accommodations, will they respect you if you need a raise? A promotion? A vacation? You want to work for someone who respects you and the work you do for them. I know the economy is real rough right now, but if it's at all possible to find a job that better suits you, I would strongly advise going for it.
I feel as though employers are either willing to accommodate, or they are not. If they are the type who is unwilling to accommodate, it shows they are unwilling to support you basically for who you are.
I'm not sure if this was as helpful as you wanted it to be, I'm just annoyed they won't help you any more. I didn't get much of any help at my old job, and that's why I left it a month ago.
Hi, welcome to SPD Support! Have a free cyber hug!
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06-07-2010, 03:12 PM |
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beck7422
Regular
Posts: 342
Joined: Jun 2010
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I no longer work at that job. It was the last full time job I had. They broke me physicially and it will take a very long time before I might be able to work even part time again.
One of the things they had me do was work with equipment that tested a wide range of temperatures. I am incredibly sensitive to temperature changes. During the first time I used that equipment my back gave out due to the cold. Three years later and my back still doesn't regularly support me.
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06-07-2010, 05:34 PM |
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Dani
Administrator
Posts: 261
Joined: Apr 2010
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Oh, oops! I'm a little embarrassed, lol.
I missed the whole "when I was working" line. Anyhow, I'm really sorry to hear everything that happened to you while you were working that job. That's tough, real tough. I too am recovering neurologically from my job at the grocery store. It just wasn't a good environment for an SPDer, overall. It'll take time for me to recover from it. Fortunately, the job didn't screw me up physically too badly, but the sensory damage it has done was bad enough.
Well, hopefully you are able to find a job sometime soon that will help you in this regard. Try to find someplace that's really low-key. Odds are, you'll find people with sensory issues already working there, so accommodations won't be as rough to obtain. Just an idea.
Hi, welcome to SPD Support! Have a free cyber hug!
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06-07-2010, 06:30 PM |
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beck7422
Regular
Posts: 342
Joined: Jun 2010
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I was informed by many HR directors that I would never be hired by their companies because of my inhallant food allergies would require accommodations that their companies wouldn't be willing to make for any employee. That is even ignoring their unwillingness to make workspaces handicap accessable for me. If I start mentioning my sensory problems the HR directors just hang up or their eyes glaze over as they walk away.
That is when I realized I was no longer employable unless I started my own company and worked mainly from home.
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06-07-2010, 09:14 PM |
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mawkinberd
Regular
Posts: 218
Joined: Jun 2010
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I have yet to find an employer that is willing to help with too many issues, but then again, I work in Louisiana. At Will termination is the good-for-everything pill when it comes to getting rid of "nuisance" employees. Luckily, I've been able to find jobs that weren't too hard on me, but I think, from reading your issues, that most of my SPD issues are less severe than yours.
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06-08-2010, 01:20 PM |
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