It can be hard to imagine that its been over 30 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law and for most of those years, I have hardly had to ask for accommodations when it comes to being able to manage life’s circumstances. I have long been under the misconception of working to be “normal” and that I do not need accommodations when experiencing challenging situations.

When I have thought about disabilities, I think more about visible disabilities. When people see me before I communicate, it appears as if I have no issues. However, when I start to communicate, it is pretty apparent that I am a person that has challenges. For most of my life I have just endured things as they are and managed life as it is. I know what I can do and what is too much for me. But what about things that would make life easier for me? Now this is in no way taking an easy route for things as I should try my best to live life as best as I can. Nonetheless, there are times when things are challenging for me, and situations can be hard to where I need a little extra help. Little did I know that these are called accommodations.

It can be hard to ask for accommodations when for so long my brain was expected to do just as much as possible. When I would not be able to do something because I was being retaliated for being different or having more than my cohorts, there was a sense of shame about needing something different than everyone else. While I did many things that made me appear as if I could fit into the mold of what is expected, there are times when being exposed to certain elements for a prolonged period proved difficult and as such, I would experience challenges later in the day.

Some of the earliest reasonable accommodations is that of work when I need to get up and walk or take a small break, I am permitted to do so. I did not know this until my former supervisor told me. In the common workplace, employees are expected to be constantly engaged at work until it is time for them to go on break. Sometimes, things can be overwhelming for me and there have been times when it has been such. Therefore, I can be reminded that I need to get up, go to the restroom, get a drink, and take a few minutes to regroup.

One of the most notable accommodations that I have is that in the former building that my employer was housed in, there was poor ventilation in my office. It was apparent that in the summers as it is now that it affects me to perform the duties of my job without air blowing on my face. So, a fan was purchased, which at the time there were electricity upgrades in the offices we were in, so the fan could only be so many amps, but nonetheless I received it, and it was moved to my current office where it is still put in use.

Another type of accommodation is that of knowing that I need to wear headphones with music to assist in limiting other distractions and to keep my distractions at bay. Being in a congregate office environment with high ceilings can be difficult with excessive noise pollution as its in many other environments such as day services and the bus to name a few. But have begun to accept this as a way of being able to cope with the environment around me and that it is important to have them when situations get tense or overwhelming. I do have an autism disclosure card to aid in explaining about autism.

As much as it is about learning what accommodates me in the workplace, program, bus or any other place where I may need extra assistance in the form of accommodations to make sure that I am able to have the same experience as others without any or little disruption to others in the same way that I experience things. You must find what works for you and do what you need to do by appropriately advocating for what you need to do things, not what you want to do. Its making sure that needs can be appropriately and reasonably accommodated for me and others’ challenges.