Getting Help At Work Or University
Work
You may want to think about whether you wish to disclose your diagnosis to your employer. If you do disclose your diagnosis employers are legally required to make reasonable adjustments for anyone with autism, to enable them to carry out their job. It is against the law to discriminate against anyone because they have autism or another disability.
https://www.gov.uk/rights-disabled-person/employment
https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/how-we-can-help/benefits-information/factsheets/work-related-factsheets
If you need help or support with reasonable adjustments at work, you can request an assessment here through Access to Work. Aspiration can also talk to you about reasonable adjustments and requesting them through your workplace. You can refer to Aspiration (our post-diagnostic support service) here.
Aspiration has created a template reasonable adjustment passport for you to download and complete with your employer in order to ensure your needs are met at work. You can find this here.
University or College
If you are at University or college and you have autism you may be able to get extra help, support or adjustments. You may be eligible for help such as an individual note taker, extra equipment, one-to-one support with your studies or extra time in exams. Most universities have a Student disability advisor or Additional needs support team who will be able to advise you on what the university can offer.
For more information about choosing a university and support whilst at university : https://www.autism.org.uk/about/transition/starting-college-uni.aspx
The special arrangements you can ask for in exams include:
- extra time.
- a separate room either in a small group or alone.
- a reader.
- a scribe.
- a prompter to keep students focused.
- supervised rest breaks.