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Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

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Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#81

Post by mijoharas »

jacek wrote: post #43

I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult in my thirties and I have been taking medication for the last two years. I am also in EU. I would recommend two things (YMMV). First, use ADHD to your advantage. People with ADHD have tendency to be inquisitive, but easily bored. Because of this I have become a jack of all trades. Although I have my specialty (ML), employers really appreciate that I also able to do Linux administ…

Out of interest, how did you get into your freelancing? how did you start off? Do you work with a company or agency or something?

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#82

Post by resonious »

carlmr wrote: post #74
jacek wrote: post #43

I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult in my thirties and I have been taking medication for the last two years. I am also in EU. I would recommend two things (YMMV). First, use ADHD to your advantage. People with ADHD have tendency to be inquisitive, but easily bored. Because of this I have become a jack of all trades. Although I have my specialty (ML), employers really appreciate that I also able to do Linux administ…

Regarding freelancing, how do you deal with the multitasking related to getting the next project while working on the current project? Did you outsource this? The organizational work, the back and forth, the scheduling of interviews, etc. It seems like something that's very difficult to do with AD(H)D.

I'm not a freelancer but do have the ADHD ("inattentive type") diagnosis.

Personally I thrive in multitasking situations. My mind is always wondering, so situations that have many productive "wander targets" help me from going off and doing irrelevant stuff.

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#83

Post by tgaj »

vkk8 wrote: post #59

Every time someone tells me they have ADHD and suggest they should take some measures to accommodate it, I think of this Slate Star Codex post: https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/12/28/adderall-risks-much-mo... It's about Adderall (a popular medicine for ADHD), but the beginning of the article has a great discussion on the nature of ADHD.

It's very simplistic. ADHD is not only problem with just focusing, there are many other symptoms. And yes it's hard to diagnose if someone is lying, but if someone is honest then there are many easy to spot patterns. And I think most honest people do not go for meds just because of work-related problems. ADHD cause problems in every aspect of life.

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#85

Post by ericraio »

mijoharas wrote: post #80
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 brains are physically incapable of doing these things without assistance on a neurological/biochemical level. I realise the point that you're making is that ADHD is a biological condition, and it's likely you're using your wording for emphasis, but I think "physically incapable" is a bit strong. Both my sister and I have ADHD, I don't take methylphenidate (ritalin) while she does. I'm still capable of being on…

I agree with you on this. For me personally, I find that my ADHD fuels my obsession where I am extremely persistent and every new “shiny object” is related to the interesting topic I am working on. Like new nodes to add on a mind map.

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#86

Post by krono »

mijoharas wrote: post #80
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 brains are physically incapable of doing these things without assistance on a neurological/biochemical level. I realise the point that you're making is that ADHD is a biological condition, and it's likely you're using your wording for emphasis, but I think "physically incapable" is a bit strong. Both my sister and I have ADHD, I don't take methylphenidate (ritalin) while she does. I'm still capable of being on…

Yes, obviously there is some nuance that I left out.

There's a severity spectrum (without meds I'm guaranteed to be late and/or distracted by the most random things), and the ability to concentrate is very hard to predict or control - not something that can be relied on for most.

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#87

Post by notRobot »

krono wrote: post #19

No one wanted me and my ADHD and so I went out on my own. Now running a decently successful software/consultancy firm (not funded and not a single loan, I'm proud to say - edit: as in "told you I had it in me"). Of course this isn't an option for everyone, but starting your own business might be worth considering.

As a business owner with ADHD - what are you thoughts on hiring people who also have the condition? Are you open to making the workplace more neurodivergent-friendly?

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#88

Post by dgellow »

mijoharas wrote: post #80
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 brains are physically incapable of doing these things without assistance on a neurological/biochemical level. I realise the point that you're making is that ADHD is a biological condition, and it's likely you're using your wording for emphasis, but I think "physically incapable" is a bit strong. Both my sister and I have ADHD, I don't take methylphenidate (ritalin) while she does. I'm still capable of being on…

> One thing I'd like to point out, that is utterly unrelated to anything you're saying, is that people with ADHD can be hugely productive on things that they find interesting.

Just sharing some personal thoughts: my main issue is not to be productive, but the lack of control over what I can be productive at. It's the most frustrating feeling ever. You get a new cool idea and can spend 2 weeks being the most productive person ever working on it. But you know it doesn't matter and you don't really care. You can see yourself being obsessed about it but also that you did not decide to find this specific thing motivating/interesting. Then you struggle for months to do very basic stuff you actually want to be productive at.

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#89

Post by dgellow »

krono wrote: post #69
vkk8 wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

But have you tried creating a list?! /s

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#90

Post by annie_muss »

krono wrote: post #19

No one wanted me and my ADHD and so I went out on my own. Now running a decently successful software/consultancy firm (not funded and not a single loan, I'm proud to say - edit: as in "told you I had it in me"). Of course this isn't an option for everyone, but starting your own business might be worth considering.

As a counterpoint: I also have ADHD and went out on my own. Without oversight and managing I performed absolutely terribly. The company I started produced nothing and I ended up worse off after the experience.

If you think starting a company/freelancing is right for you, by all means do it. But if you have had multiple failed jobs already because of your ADHD then think long and hard about giving yourself a job that arguably requires more executive function than a regular day job.

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