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The truth about being Neurodivergent (Rant)
Amy22
Posts: 5,795 Part of The Furniture
Lately I've been thinking this a lot recently and I don't know if it's just me or if anyone else gets this or even feels this way. For me I realised that sometimes the truth about being neurodivergent for me (I am autistic) is that it is so hard to find employment and life in general is just 10 times as harder than it would be for a neuro-typical person.
I find that when I am doing volunteering or on an internship/programme to help find employment companies think thats great. But when I actually want to start working and I ask for a job then the company turns around and says 'no' simply because they aren't willing to take on someone who is like me. Even to the extend of asking for reasonable adjustments which isn't too hard because often they can be very small adjustments like being in a quieter environment or having more time given when doing tasks. I saw a post on social media the other day about it and I coulden't agree with more it. Ultimately I personally believe there is so much more than companies can do to accomodate for those who are neurodivergent. It goes to the point where even companies who are 'neuro-inclusive hiring' and 'disability-confident' employers often don't take on neurodivergent folk, as well which is kind of sad to see. Don't get me wrong I understand and I'm aware that a lot of the time it is to do with funding and having the financial costs to employ people into companies and workplaces. Sadly the world is run on money, it's how the world goes around in a nutshell. Without it nothing society woulden't be able to function. However, I personally believe that there is a lot more that can be done when it comes to hiring neurodivergent and disabled people.
The worst part is that the economics of the whole world at the moment is awful because of inflation and what is going on in the US etc. But I also hate when the government consider young people to be 'lazy' and 'unwilling to work' when actually in fact its the companies being lazy and not actually taking anyone on. Young people are not lazy and many of like myself want a career and want to work. It's the government who isn't doing anything to support young people at all.
Another thing that I guess frustrates me is that most of the time neurodivergent folk like myself are often seen as 'special' or 'inspirational' for doing everyday tasks and stuff. I often found that terms like 'special needs' for example a bit de-grading because I just want to be treated like others and accepted in society rather than have a label that defines who I am. I also feel like a lot of people are scared to use the world 'disabled' when in fact 'disabled' isn't a dirty word and it should be accepted more as part of terminology. In fact I consider myself disabled to be fair because some of my conditions are literally disabling. I don't need to have 'special treatment', I just want to be part of your society and accepted for who I am as a person not because of my 'disability'.
Again this is a super long rant of mine, and I do tend to ramble on about all sorts of things. So apologies for my super long rants of mine.
Comments
Thank you for sharing your thoughts @Amy22 it is really insightful to hear what you are describing and i'm sure lot's of people can relate and agree. I can really understand how the contradiction of being told you are 'inspiring' whilst also being ruled out from jobs/interships can be frustrating. Asking for adjustments is completely reasonable and it must be confusing to hear companies cannot provide this when they are advertised as 'neuro-inclusive hiring' and 'disability-confident'.
Thanks for highlighting these barries that you have unforunately experienced. Please don't apologise for rambling, if something matters to you it's deserves space and we are here to listen and support.
Aw thank you @Verity
Hi @Amy22 , how are you this morning? I've just had a read of your post, and thank you so much for taking the time to share this.
As I was reading your words, I really felt that frustration alongside you - particularly when you said that the government might consider young people 'lazy', when in fact, it's employers and companies that might be lazy for not adequately providing even simple adjustments to help make workspaces feel more inclusive and accessible to all people. This feels like such a striking point, and I really hear you! How infuriating to be wanting to work, to be treated like everyone else and accepted, and yet, to have that experience of companies not providing essential adjustments even when they claim to be 'neuro-inclusive' and 'disability-confident'. We really appreciate you opening up about this, and it feels like a really important conversation to be having.
What do you feel you most wish employers or companies would better understand about the experience of folks who are disabled?