ADHD Accommodations Guide
IDK what I have exactly but it’s some combination of Aspergers and ADHD. I can mow through a lot of tasks and projects. When it comes to research or exploring some big problem domain, I can do that really well.<p>If people leave me alone and give me some wide berth to go complete some massive project I can do that fine. Better than fine. I can do projects that 15 people together can’t do, by myself.<p>I typically am able to develop an extremely accurate prediction of the future from the base technology up to the market.<p>However.<p>At this point in my life, it isn’t a matter of “if” I am going to get into severe interpersonal problems and fights with co-workers it is “when.”<p>What has helped me is to have a small group of friends who I use to improve my decision making quality. Left to my own devices, I misunderstand and misinterpret people and this leads to war in many cases.<p>I can’t read peoples intentions, I don’t understand peoples motivations, I can’t understand what “normal and expected behaviors” are.<p>Once I get pissed off at someone, I stay pissed off permanently. That person is “dead” to me. This is apparently typical of people with Aspergers.<p>My favorite analogy is this: “normal people have a wide variety of tools ranging from soft to hard in their toolbox. People with Aspergers open their toolbox and all they have is a hammer.”<p>That is exactly how I feel. Once I lose my composure, I only have a hammer to solve the problem.<p>This leads me to become highly paranoid. When people start annoying me or infringing on me, interfering with my ability to work on my own terms - I start building resentments.<p>I get along really well with older people who have calmed down. Mid career managers and I do not have a great track record.<p>My career has been a nightmare. A lot of great parts. The number one thing that protects me now is having a panel of advisors who have normal brains. Without these advisors, I am literally wandering blind through the land of the humans, unable to understand them.<p>On the surface I often look and act normal, underneath the hood I am a genius and a mess. Working in the modern workplace has been a nightmare. I have come to realize that people like me don’t get to “win” in corporate. Sooner or later, they figure out what I am (different) and it’s over. Highly discriminatory against people like me.<p>My idea of heaven now is not to be promoted, but to be left alone to pursue my interests where they align with the corporation.<p>I tend to have a very massive positive impact at companies where I work. My ideas, creativity, research and insights result in massive wins. But other people always get the credit, never need. I am so misunderstood, it’s my lot in life. I don’t expect to ever have my abilities respected, noticed or rewarded.