Reasonable accommodations. Have you heard of them? Reasonable accommodations empower people with disabilities at school, in the community, and even at work.

What are Accommodations?

Accommodations are anything that can assist a person with completing a task. They are a key in the disability community that opens up the inaccessible world to those of us with disabilities.

My Reasonable Accommodations at School

I was not diagnosed with Autism until I was in college. I spent a lot of my high school career frustrated in the classroom. I did not understand why I couldn’t focus in a room of 30 other students. I did not understand why I couldn’t “get” the verbal instructions of a teacher even after she repeated them multiple times. I didn’t get why I struggled to finish a test in the same amount of time as everyone else.

While I was able to make it through high school with good grades, things changed when I got to college, specifically in my Western History class. I was failing. I would spend hours reading and studying the material and was able to verbally give the information to anyone who asked, yet I could not finish the 10 question quiz in the 30 minutes we were given. Frustrated, I spoke with my teacher after class. She told me about the disability services center at our college, and I went straight there.

After dealing with the paperwork, I got the following accommodations:

  • time and a half on tests
  • ability to have preferential seating
  • ability to take breaks during class
  • ability to take my tests in the testing center
  • use of ear plugs for assignments in class

Later on, I added the following accommodations:

  • use of a recording pen
  • verbal questions written down
  • request of professors to speak slowly and clearly during oral exams

My Reasonable Accommodations at Work

When it came to employment, I feared that I would be stuck again. I was afraid I would be unable to complete tasks that my co-workers did because of my sensitivity to noise, specifically background noise, and my need to fidget. Thankfully, I work at a very progressive disability focused nonprofit.

After speaking with my supervisor and human resources, and submitting a formal letter, I was able to obtain the following work accommodations:

  • use of noise canceling headphones (which my employer purchase)
  • use of a fidget during meetings
  • receive meeting minutes
  • receive instructions or important information in written format
  • ability to take breaks in meetings or trainings over one hour
  • request for all employees to approach my desk in a certain way, as to not startle me

These accommodations have been very empowering. I feel as though I am on am equal playing field as my co-workers. I am able to get the same amount, sometimes even more, work done as them.

As I was growing up, my mom always told me, “you only get what you ask for,” and, “the worst thing they can do is say no.” With school and workplace accommodations, these pieces of wisdom hold true. I would not be working in the place I am, finishing the degree I am, without my accommodations. My accommodations allow me to provide my work and school with my best work.

Resource for Obtaining Accommodations at Work

A great resource and starting place for accommodations is the Job Accommodations Network. There you can find information on the process of disclosing your disability and requesting accommodations, in addition to lists of sample accommodations for most disabilities and job duty.