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Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

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Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#61

Post by dijit »

I'm not sure if we fit your description but our "core hours" are 10-16, which is a bit different from other companies in the industry: and there's a lot more focus on getting tasks done vs being in the office with your arse in the seat (though how much of that is COVID? unsure, but the company culture is affected a lot by how we worked during the pandemic as this is when most people got onboarded- we more than quadrupled in size since the start of the pandemic).

I believe I have ADHD, I'm seeking a diagnosis (or at the very least for someone to confirm that I'm just extremely lazy), which in Sweden is actually very difficult, and so far this has been the best company to work for.

That said: I personally have a lot of responsibility, and with responsibility comes more "free reign" on what needs to happen -- this is definitely where I lack the focus to understand what needs to happen next as I get paralysed when there's equally important tasks.. This is not the case for the majority of my company though.

We're hiring. https://career.sharkmob.com

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#62

Post by vkk8 »

krono wrote: post #54
newaccount74 wrote: post #42

I wonder why ADHD gets singled out so much. If I look at the suggestions that would help people with ADHD, then I see suggestions that would help lots of people. Eg. not being reprimanded for being late when it has no consequences would help everyone. Good calendar software also helps everyone. There are lots of people who are struggling with the demands of the workplace -- in fact, I'm not sure I know anyone who doe…

ADHD brains are physically incapable of doing these things without assistance on a neurological/biochemical level. It's not much different to elevators being pretty convenient for everyone, but an absolute necessity to the wheelchair-bound. Edit: better fitting analogy.

ADHD isn't a discrete trait, it simply means that "you are in the lower x percentile of the population in the ability to concentrate". Even people whose concentration skills are close to the mean of the population can feel like they "have ADHD" and be diagnosed with one if they eg. work a job that requires more than average amounts of concentration which they don't have. For a good layman's discussion on this, see: https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/12/28/adderall-risks-much-mo... (for people who are not familiar with SSC, the writer is a psychiatrist by profession so he should know this stuff).

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#63

Post by gyulai »

gyulai wrote: post #57
burntoutfire wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's quite interesting, but I believe that procrastination and burnout are rather obvious signs of ADHD and if you experience this you should verify this. My guess is that procrastination and burnout are signs that work in our society is just not a good fit for our mental needs (see also immense popularity of video games, which provide "fake work" that is closer to what we need). I suspect there were no procrastina…

Couldn't agree more. I don't see it as a reflection of my own mental state or mental health at all, just as a reflection of the fact that it's time to start looking for a new job. I think that it is quite common for software engineers to have a feeling of being badly attuned to their work environments and then misattribute that as a problem that lies within themselves rather than their work environments. I even feel…

BTW: adhd_thraway Can you provide an e-mail or other way to reach out 1:1? There might be an opportunity for a collaboration here.

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#64

Post by adhd_thraway »

Mordisquitos wrote: post #33
staticelf wrote: post #17

Quoted post unavailable.

> Judging from some self tests I have made I could perhaps have it myself but it hasn't affected my career in a negative way the slightest. If it hasn't affected your career (or your personal life etc.) in a negative way in the slightest you simply don't have it—the last D in ADHD is essential.

Unfortunately ADHD gets worse with age if untreated leading to a nasty numbers of mental issues such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse.

And yet there are things that seems not problematic but then they are. Relationships might be a problem because it gets boring much faster and also some people exhibit all-or-nothing. It's either full obsession or absolute ignorance.

Yet we all know that premature optimization is the root of all evil.

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#65

Post by geden »

pliptvo wrote: post #47

I literally just off the phone to my GP trying to get a referral for an adult ADHD diagnosis. She basically said, there's a massive backlog and underfunding of the service, and instead of her referring me to the adult ADHD and autism psychology services directly I should approach a more generic NHS Adult Mental Health service and try to get them to refer me for a diagnosis, or write a letter asking her to. Just seems…

We got a private diagnosis for my son (to save potentially a year waiting) and that was recognised by the NHS paediatrician.

Horrible experience with his school though, that’s another story!

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#66

Post by adhd_thraway »

ojkelly wrote: post #48
poopooshire wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

Not really. At least not long term. Amphetamines help correct for a lack of dopamine and norepinephrine, by helping then stay around longer in the brain. It often likened to wearing glasses. There’s non-stimulant medication, and multiple versions of stimulant medication that’s used because it doesn’t affect everyone quite the same way. In neurotypical brains, or rather brains without a deficit of dopamine and norepin…

Once I was accused by close friend that I'm enjoyed something only because I was "high on drugs". I told him that from my underperforming dopamine brain it's he who is constantly high on drugs, and I finally were able to feel the same.

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#67

Post by cakemedia »

pliptvo wrote: post #47

I literally just off the phone to my GP trying to get a referral for an adult ADHD diagnosis. She basically said, there's a massive backlog and underfunding of the service, and instead of her referring me to the adult ADHD and autism psychology services directly I should approach a more generic NHS Adult Mental Health service and try to get them to refer me for a diagnosis, or write a letter asking her to. Just seems…

UK here. Your GP is right about the massive backlog in mental health referrals (2+ years in my area) but wrong about prescription charges & the NHS recognising a diagnosis from a private psychiatrist.

Because of that huge backlog I went for a private diagnosis & prescription and then had that prescription transferred to my local GP under what's known as a 'Shared Care Agreement', so my scrip cost ~£110 per year (buy a Prescription Prepayment Certificate or 'season pass').

I know people who've managed to circumvent the waiting list (and private fees) using 'Right to choose' but I understand that can vary depending on your local health authority. Certainly worth exploring though.

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#68

Post by alasdair_ »

vkk8 wrote: post #62
krono wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

ADHD brains are physically incapable of doing these things without assistance on a neurological/biochemical level. It's not much different to elevators being pretty convenient for everyone, but an absolute necessity to the wheelchair-bound. Edit: better fitting analogy.

ADHD isn't a discrete trait, it simply means that "you are in the lower x percentile of the population in the ability to concentrate". Even people whose concentration skills are close to the mean of the population can feel like they "have ADHD" and be diagnosed with one if they eg. work a job that requires more than average amounts of concentration which they don't have. For a good layman's discussion on this, see: h…

> ADHD isn't a discrete trait, it simply means that "you are in the lower x percentile of the population in the ability to concentrate".

This is an oversimplification to the point of being misleading.

Scott links to several sources to support his claims and most of them are quite clear that ADHD is a whole bunch of symptoms, a lack of concentration being just one of them. For example:

“DSM-IV field trials used a C-GAS score of ≤60 (which implies impairment requiring specific treatment) and determined that five ADHD symptoms were required to be present to reach this cut-off. To avoid false positives the number was increased to six or more symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity.‘

As an example, some people with ADHD have symptoms where their biggest detrimental issue is hyperfocus - their problem is literally that they concentrate too much rather than too little. Simplifying the condition as “ lower x percentile of the population in the ability to concentrate" discounts these people, as it does the people whose principal problem is hyperactivity or other aspects.

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#69

Post by krono »

vkk8 wrote: post #62
krono wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

ADHD brains are physically incapable of doing these things without assistance on a neurological/biochemical level. It's not much different to elevators being pretty convenient for everyone, but an absolute necessity to the wheelchair-bound. Edit: better fitting analogy.

ADHD isn't a discrete trait, it simply means that "you are in the lower x percentile of the population in the ability to concentrate". Even people whose concentration skills are close to the mean of the population can feel like they "have ADHD" and be diagnosed with one if they eg. work a job that requires more than average amounts of concentration which they don't have. For a good layman's discussion on this, see: h…

Ah so I just have to concentrate harder!

Geez why didn't anyone just tell me this, would have been a lot easier

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#70

Post by adhd_thraway »

pliptvo wrote: post #50
adhd_thraway wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Without exposing myself too much that's what I'm doing right now. But while the contracting agency I work for is really great but it's also very massive and I feel very desolated, especially since my last contract was the "build me the forms" which drained the soul out of me.

Mind expanding on what you mean by 'desolated'?

Sure - I'm used to problems on my contract but usually when something went wrong I knew I could count on my agency to step in. Conflict resolution, 3rd person perspective needs analysis, project re-assessment and stuff like that (even to the point of body swap if needed). But as we grew unfortunately it become more of a "don't worry, we have insurance and lawyers". Project was heavily understaffed and neither me or client could get in contact with representatives to get additional help.
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