How To Get Neurodivergent Work Accommodations Without Exposing Your Diagnosis

When it comes to disclosing your neurodivergence when getting a job is a highly personal choice. There is no one right answer as it depends on the person, the job, the environment, and everything in between. It also depends on your particular diagnosis and issues. I am approaching 49 years of age, and I have never asked for work accommodations. I grew up in a time when we wouldn’t have gotten them anyway! So, I had to find other ways to get what I needed so I could get the job done.

Quick Summary

• Know your sensory deal-breakers
• Know the environment
• How to get non-traditional hours
• Use “focus and productivity” instead of your diagnosis
• Lower-paying jobs sometimes have low-sensory environments and low-demand shifts 

Keep reading, and let’s talk about the different ways you can get accommodations without ever saying a word about your diagnosis. This can apply to all people, whether you live with autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, auditory processing disorder, or something else.

Expose or Hide?

I can usually get a sense right away if certain people are empathic towards neurodivergence. Sometimes, I feel safe enough to blurt out that I have a rare genetic disorder called Chromosome 15q13.3 Microdeletion Syndrome. Most of the time, it comes out several months later, and they are all really surprised, but then they also say, “Oh, that explains a lot.” 

The fact that I’m a really productive and happy worker helps a lot. However, this post is more for people who are looking for work or new hires. 

Determine Your Neurodivergent Needs

I’m not going to go into “careers” because I’m not experienced enough for that. I found my current career in a roundabout way and the industry is shaky these days. However, I can help with entry-level jobs. 

First, you need to analyze what kind of sensory deal-breakers you have. It’s easier to filter out jobs that will NOT work for you no matter what. 

Sensory Questions To Ask Yourself

• How do you handle crowds? 
• Bright lights and ringing bells? 
• How do you handle slow times versus constant rushes? 
• Are you better at dealing with people one-on-one? 
• Do you need silence, background music, or headphones? 
• Do you need to work with others to keep yourself accountable, or are you better on your own? 

These are all important questions to ask yourself so you actually know what you need.

How To Get Breaks 

I used to use cigarettes as a way to get my necessary breaks. I didn’t know how to explain to managers that after a big rush, I NEED 20 minutes to myself. When smoking became socially unacceptable, I used the bathroom. I don’t pee very often, but I would pretend to at work just to get the breaks I needed.

Now, I told my kid the bathroom trick for when she gets overwhelmed at school. However, I forgot to tell her that you don’t stay in there all day, you have to come out! LOL!

These days, it is totally acceptable to say you need some fresh air, just try to keep it brief so they don’t complain.

Processing Level Honesty

You also need to be honest about your processing level. I am very resourceful, but I have a very slow processor. People look at me like I don’t get what they are saying. I do, I just need someone who will be patient and isn’t all tweaked out and will wait a few seconds for me to process the information. 

If you process slowly, then you are going to have a hard time at restaurants or even retail.

However, I have found that my slower processing speed is perfect for dealing with the older generation. As people age, their processing speeds slow down. So, I guess that’s why all the elderly customers always loved me so much. We were on the same processing level. 

Office Jobs

Small offices might be okay, too. Maybe as a receptionist or check-in clerk. Bookkeeping, payable clerks, night desk at a hotel, things like that. The environment and the business of the office is what you need to pay attention to when it comes to this kind of work. Not all offices are the same.

Say No To Fast Food

I have found that due to my auditory processing disorder, I can’t work in fast food. Even if I tell them I can’t hear through a speaker, they get busy and throw me on it anyway. Then, the orders get messed up, and I get fired. So, fast food should be a big NO unless you can get a cook or janitorial position.

Gas Stations/Small Retail Stores

Small retail stores are okay. I did amazing working graveyard at gas stations. I actually held those positions a long time. Just be sure you aren’t working in a bad neighborhood. It’s also important to note that graveyard gas station positions usually mean you are by yourself. So, keep that in mind and make sure you can be accountable working independently. Some of us thrive on that, and others need others close by.

I do find that these days, I try to find a locally owned place rather than a franchise or corporation. Mom and Pop shops tend to be slower, more understanding, and you can talk to the owner one-on-one rather than dealing with an AI-run corporate system.

Restaurants/Delis 

Restaurants can get busy. If you can handle the noise level (clashing dishes, cooks yelling orders, customers talking non-stop), you could try to get the low-demand hours. Depending on what they serve, that could be early morning, afternoon, or evening. 

I once worked graveyard at Denny’s and loved it. Once they put me on days, the job went to hell. That was a sensory-breaker. I also did great at a deli making sandwiches. 

Janitorial

I did housekeeping for a country club. I also worked at a few motels over the years, cleaning rooms. Those were also successful jobs for me.

Graveyard Shifts

I had some great data entry jobs that were nighttime hours. That was many years ago, though. Check with banks, financial institutions, mental health hospitals, lenders, security offices, etc. One time I worked at the city dump. It would have been perfect except my office manager smoked constantly and I had a hard time breathing. I don’t smell very well, so the smell from the dump actually didn’t bother me. LOL!

Split Shifts

I also worked at an office once where the boss literally asked how he could get the best out of me. I told him my stamina and productivity are amazing for 4 hours, then I need a 2 hour break. Not a 30-minute lunch. That doesn’t give me enough time to recharge and I need to be alone. Once he gave me a split shift schedule, it worked out great for both me and the company. They got my best and two different times of the day. That worked out better than me working great for the first half, then burnt out the rest of the shift.

Split shifts aren’t very common in the US these days, so not everyone will give you one. It doesn’t hurt to ask. You don’t have to say it’s about neurodivergence. Just say you have high stamina for short periods and that’s how to get the best productivity from you.

Environmental Audit

With AI taking over the employment industry, it’s hard for people to even get a call back anymore. I wait a week, then go into the place and ask to speak to the manager. Once they meet me, they usually have a good feeling about me and extend an offer. Not all the time, but remember to follow up. 

While you are there, pay attention to the other employees. Do they seem content, happy, or miserable? Everyone has bad days, but the employees’ faces will tell you more than what the manager will. Pay attention to the lighting, the sounds, how busy the place is, the background music, the smells. I once made the mistake of accepting a position at an office. I’ve worked in offices before with no issues because it was pretty quiet and we actually had OFFICES. This particular job had an “open office floor plan.” No doors, no cubicles, just a bunch of people all talking on the phone at the same time next to each other. I couldn’t hear anything at all! So you definitely want to look at the place where you will be working before accepting the job.

Lower Pay, Lower Sensory

In my experience, I take a lot of the lower paying jobs because it usually means it’s less demanding or at a weird shift. This isn’t true for everything, but I have found I have better luck at jobs that are minimum wage rather than the jobs where my skills actually match. That’s because the other factors have to match too, not just my skills.

I don’t see it as selling myself short. At my age, I want peace rather than money and stress.

Accommodation Hints

Now, say you have a job but the background music or constant chatter makes it hard to focus. Is it a job where you can wear headphones? Just say you focus better with music, no diagnostic explanation necessary. 

Another thing I do is I don’t look people in the eyes. I never have. I look at their nostrils. I’m serious! It’s close enough to the eyes that people assume I’m looking at them directly. But nope, I’m staring at their flaring nostrils. 

There are a lot of ways to get the accommodations you need without saying the real reason why. However, there is so much more that goes into a workplace. When you are neurodivergent, you already struggle with normal daily life. So, you need to make sure the job is going to work for your needs, or you won’t be there long.

What To Say Instead Of Accommodations

The most important tip of all to get your accommodations without exposing your diagnosis: Tell them that these things help you focus, be productive, and give them the very best quality of work.

Tell me in the comments how you make sure you get your accommodations without having to ask for them?