Why I Don't Request Accommodations At My Job As An Autistic Adult
I wanted two accommodation at my warehouse job: to work at a station completely alone, with no other people nearby. Precisely to avoid small talk and the autistic burnout that comes from masking and performing all of the time. I just wanna work and get my paycheck then go home.
Also to wear my light sensitivity Theraspecs and my noise cancelling headphones (Since my earplugs and the permitted headphones they allow use to use doesn't block enough noise from the conversations and laughter of coworkers nearby that overwelms me.
Why I Didn't End Up Asking
My previous manager moved me around as much as 8 times in a single day—roughly 3 station rotations per lunch break, which I have 3 per day. That's already enomorous cognitive load on top of dealing with everything else (The forced small talk, and loud noises at home, also just as common)
I never requested it my accomadations. I know the ADA says I can ask for reasonable accommodations, but I'm afraid of what happens after. Asking would paint me as the "high-priority" worker in the area. Even without saying it word, that narrative still ended up playing out given what I mentioned above just now as the constant shuffling persisted for months.
The sensory overload and executive function demand from constant transitions caused me to have multiple meltdowns and I'd spend the rest of the day not eating or talking to anyone. No energy to appear "normal" either, just purely existing on low fumes.
Over time I clearly played the role as the "low-profile" and "unhappy" coworker helps me avoid unwanted attention and favoritism. This didn't work as much and some managers even got upset at my attempts for doing less, which they don't understand their mistreatment and high expectations of mine is the preicse reason I'm doing it in the first place? What else am I supposed to do here? Risk being in burnout even longer?
What happened when I tried / what I saw happen
I've watched what happens to coworkers who DO request accommodations. They often ask to be placed in easier areas with less rate and micromanagement pressure. The manager agrees most of the time, especially if they're seen as "low-priority" or less willing to work hard.
This is completely unfair—I've asked for this exact thing in the past with my previous manager, only to be sternly told to stay where I currently am and to meet my rate requirements. The only time I'm moved is if a certain area needs an extra pair of hands. Very selfish and inconsiderate. I don't take this personally with them as I'm simply trying to focus on myself and get the rest of the day done and over with, but I avoid making friends or building relationships with an enviornment that seemingly was taking advantage of me.
What I got written up for
Most of my write-ups were for stuff that's completely allowed in the warehouse center, like taking short breaks and wearing light-sensitivity glasses (which I currently do).
At my previous warehouse location, not just once, but twice, I was written up for kneeling down on the floor simply to catch my breath and not overexert my hands and fingers. (I handle 30-50 lbs of packages constantly throughout my 10 hour shift)
Meanwhile, my coworkers around me are passing chargers to friends, using airpods at work, and talking on their phones with absolutely no repercussions.
It clearly felt like unequal enforcement. The rules weren’t applied evenly to me. I was being punished for accommodations I needed while while other coworkers broke actual rules without consequence.
What HR did
I talked directly to HR about my managers writing me up for kneeling and wearing my "sunglasses" to work (despite them clearly being blue-light blocking glasses). They dismissed it shortly after my response, claiming that since it was just a documented coaching—the first step before a write-up—it doesn't really matter all that much. Clearly it does, and it's being downplayed as "not that bad".
Completely ignoring the clear bias and unfair treatment they gave me while coworkers come into work every single day not wearing protective equipment and talking on the phone directly at their work stations. All without a single write up or warning. They are cameras across the building too so this could clearly be proven. But hence, since the situation was taking through "low-priority" lenses, this never ended up happening.
What I did instead
So I transferred warehouse buildings instead. I can still wear headphones + earplugs. Still not fully ideal from a noise-sensitivity standpoint but it's better than nothing. I don't talk to anyone about it or build genuine connections. No smiling. No comforting small talk. Just getting through the day. Nothing else or anyone is on my mind.
Why I'm building Spoons
I'm Omari, a 23-year-old autistic adult who's been managing chronic burnout for 5+ years while working warehouse shifts.
I built Spoons such as scenarios like this to track my energy to be aware that I'm not overexerting myself, especially socially. By minimizing only having conversations that not only drain the less amount of energy, but also ones that are genuine and not "productivity-focused", I can save significant amounts of cognitive resources by having even a modest amount of awareness on how I feel and how I should navigate around things.
Especially since one forced conversation + one sudden station switch can cost me the rest of my shift. (Burnout on top of unpredictable demands = Very low reserves for anything else.)
Launching April 2026. getspoons.app - One email when it's ready. No spam.
— Omari
Note: I'm sharing my personal experience as an autistic adult, not medical advice. If you're experiencing severe burnout or crisis, please consult a healthcare provider familiar with autism.