Asking for Accommodations

After disclosing your diagnosis to your supervisor, it is common for you to talk about what reasonable accommodations may help you out at the workplace. 

Workplace accommodations are modifications or changes to your work environment or job duties to make them more suitable to you.  In other words, they are strategies that help you do your job to the best of your ability. 

Some examples of accommodations include:

• Using a written schedule
• Using a to-do list
• Wearing head phones to block out sound
• Allowing short, but frequent breaks
• Using visual reminders of workplace rules
• Having a quiet workspace as opposed to a noisy or crowded workspace
• Providing additional on-the-job training if needed
• Allowing alternative methods to communication with your supervisor or co-workers when appropriate, such as email rather than face-to-face meetings
• Assistance in breaking down the steps to complete a long-term project
• Assistance in identifying high-priority versus low-priority tasks
• Providing advanced notice for changes to work schedule or typical job duties
• Allowing you to sit in a chair/stool instead of standing all day
  
  

 

 

Knowing how to ask for accommodations can be tricky.  A good time to ask for accommodations is when you disclose your diagnosis to your supervisor.  This is a natural time to ask for accommodations.  Or, ask for accommodations before you begin working.  It is best to have your accommodations set up before you begin working so that you can prevent problems from occurring. 

Use this worksheet to help you decide what accommodations you might need. 

Here is an example of how to ask for accommodation:

“Because of my autism, I have trouble remembering verbal information.  However, I have an excellent memory for visual information.  Would it be possible to have a written list of the tasks you would like me to do each day rather than telling them to me aloud?”

You can also ask for accommodations after a problem occurs at work to resolve the issue.  It is never too late to ask for accommodations.  If there is a reasonable accommodation that would help you, you should ask for it. 

Here is another example of how to ask for an accommodation:

“I am having trouble dealing with all the noise in the work room.  I cannot concentrate on what I’m doing, and it makes me feel overwhelmed.  Is there a quieter work space where I could complete my tasks?  If not, could I please wear headphones?”

If you want to ask for accommodations, you must let your supervisor know you have a disability.  Your workplace is not obligated to provide you with accommodations unless you have a documented disability.  According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), your supervisor has the right to ask for documentation of your disability when deciding if they can provide you with that accommodation.  The documentation is official paperwork written or signed by a doctor, psychologist, or some other licensed professional.  This documentation must state that you have a disability, and that your disability requires a reasonable accommodation.  Once you document that you have a disability, your supervisor must provide you with reasonable accommodations according to ADA.

Workplace accommodations are reasonable modifications or changes to your work environment or job duties to help you do your job to the best of your ability.  A good time to ask for accommodations is when you disclose your disability to your supervisor. If you want to ask for accommodations, you must let your supervisor know you have a disability.  Your workplace is not obligated to provide you with accommodations unless you have a documented disability that requires an accommodation.