28th July 2019
Last week was an interesting week at work for me. We are currently having our office redecorated (to be fair it really needed it!) and so the team has been placed at temporary work stations around the building. I have been allowed to work in a room on my own thanks to one of my colleagues volunteering to sit elsewhere. As an Autistic person who often struggles with sensory issues this opportunity was like a dream come true.
Both myself and the people I work with have to make allowances and sacrifices in order to work together in the same room. I have sensory overload problems with temperature, lighting and noise. Sometimes they are really understanding but at other times, when I am tired and overloaded, it can be more problematic, as the minor things in the room become major. I have to work with others and therefore I use sensory aids such as desk fans and headphones to help to control my environment without making theirs uncomfortable too. Generally I am lucky to say we get the balance spot on and I am grateful for that understanding.
Last week though was amazing. I could switch the lights off, open the windows, listen to music (still through headphones as I didn’t want to upset my temporary neighbours) and control the temperature. Apart from the fact that last week was the hottest week ever, and my new room has no air conditioning. Many many fans were in operation. Our normal office does have air con, so despite the positives there was this one downside to being in this room.
Also though the change of environment was also a bit upsetting, I don’t like change. It makes me anxious and often I am not sure why. I know this can be a common thing amongst some Autistics. Therefore there is also an underlying anxiety about being in a different room for a few weeks. I am also worrying about returning to the redecorated room where I will be sitting in a new position. Although this position should be better for me, I still have a sinking feeling about it. Why do I always worry so much?
I am trying to make the most of this room though while I have it for another week. Only 16% of Autistic people are employed. I wonder how many of those that are not in work, are unemployed because they could not cope with the working environment that they are placed in, due to working with others and sensory issues? I don’t know. I only know I function because I am in an office where there is some understanding. I’m lucky. It amuses me sometimes that managers and senior staff have their own rooms purely because of their positions within a company, when there are individuals that need this opportunity to function in work and offer their skills which might be a huge benefit to said company. If a person has a lot to offer and reasonable adjustments can be made to allow them their own space then a company should explore that option. If not then of course another solution that allows everyone to work in the same room should also be sought with compromise and understanding.
I also want to say that being in my own room did not prevent me from socialising and working with my colleagues. I regularly visited them in order to discuss both work and other non-work related topics. You don’t have to be in the same room with someone to work with them and to achieve great results that benefit both the individuals and the company as a whole.