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Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

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Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#71

Post by adhd_thraway »

lnsru wrote: post #60

Sorry, this is in German: https://m.faz.net/aktuell/karriere-hochschule/buero-co/merhe... 71% of study participants don’t like their jobs. I will not write my opinion about ADHD, but most of the jobs are boring soul sucking time waste. Think about school - there were some good teachers, that liked what they did and the majority that just did their job. HN crowd obviously had good math and computer science and maybe p…

Thank you very much - yet I really like my job. Honestly. I've took hiatus few times (burnout) but I always wanted to get back. I have only the best memories with both companies I worked for and people I worked with. Even fiascos weren't that bad. The only issue I have is about myself, I really want to go somewhere where I can say "oh you know, I am ADHD, I have temper and sometimes you need to micromanage me, that's my thing" and not jeopardize my career over that.

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#72

Post by ekanes »

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…

You’re right, but this is always the way. Accommodating people with differing needs/sensitivities usually helps everyone. non-fluorescent lighting, reduced noise, etc. The majority of people are affected by something but don’t realize it. If you fix it for more sensitive people you fix it for everyone.

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#73

Post by wnkrshm »

I can recommend the "Additude ADHD Experts Podcast" where clinical psychiatrists, neurologists and therapists detail their approaches. Apparently something that works really well is pairing up someone with ADHD with someone who is more systematic. E.g. having someone with ADHD do prototypes and someone behind that who fleshes things out.

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#74

Post by carlmr »

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.

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#75

Post by wnkrshm »

alasdair_ wrote: post #68
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…

> 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-GA…

I just want to add to that, that hyperfocus isn't directed, it just happens. That's why it can mess up the lives of people with the issue - directing attention to a problem that is currently important, from a rational perspective, is almost impossible.

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#76

Post by benjaminsuch »

ojkelly wrote: post #56

It’s worth everyone knowing that there is a high proportion of neurodiverse people in our industry, relative to other industries and the general population. The 2021 Stack Overflow Survey [0] puts ADHD at 8.51% (double the rate in the US [1]), and autism at 3.7% (about 1% globally [2]). The point here is that, you all already work with people who have ADHD or are autistic. If your company isn’t doing right to retain…

I would be cautious about what people say in the survey on Stack Overflow. How many of those who claim to have ADHD or Autism have an actual diagnosis of those from a professional?

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#77

Post by jounker »

adhd_thraway wrote: post #70
pliptvo wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 c…

That sounds closer to “abandoned” or “neglected”.

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#78

Post by pdrbrtt »

Hello There! Former ADHD bro here.

I was diagnosed with ADHD 10 months ago. At that time my life was a BIG BLOB of MESS and CHAOS.

I started attending therapy sessions with a really good Therapist once a week since then.

After 6 months, I had sense of every way ADHD was affecting my life, but couldn't figure out how to overcome the symptoms by myself.

My therapist recommended a psychiatrist, which prescribed Vyvanse 30mg (ADHD med), i started taking it 3 months ago.

It changed everything. I got promoted on my current job, started a post-grad on Data Engineering at a top University here in Brazil. It made me build structures in my life, organize it's mess, gave me focus and HOPE. Productivity at it's best.

I can't think how I could overcome my ADHD without my Therapist and meds.

Before seeking a company that "fits your problems" i recommend you trying these first:

1. go to a really good therapist 2. Make sense on how your ADHD condition affects you 3. Try to overcome it 4. Go for meds if needed (LAST RESOURCE) 5. Keep trying

Don't mix up your ADHD anxiety with depression, it is the worst loophole to dive in.

Hope you find it all out

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#79

Post by pdrbrtt »

wnkrshm wrote: post #73

I can recommend the "Additude ADHD Experts Podcast" where clinical psychiatrists, neurologists and therapists detail their approaches. Apparently something that works really well is pairing up someone with ADHD with someone who is more systematic. E.g. having someone with ADHD do prototypes and someone behind that who fleshes things out.

Great! Never heard of this podcast, will listen to it today! thank u

Re: Ask HN: Neurodiversity/ADHD Friendly Companies

#80

Post by mijoharas »

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 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 time and working on things I find boring (though the latter is definitely a real struggle, so I try and make sure I work on interesting things which helps my productivity to no end). My sister, however, says that she really wouldn't be able to cope in a work environment without the meds.

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.

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