 |
Success at work
The key to a successful career path
is finding the right match. A professional career
counselor can help guide your choices. Ask yourself
the questions below. They will help you
decide what type of work would best suit your
interests, talents, and experience.
- What do I like to do?
- What interests me?
- What am I good at?
- What do I not enjoy doing?
- Do I prefer being outdoors or indoors?
- Do I prefer to be active all day?
- What conditions do I best work under?
- Would I rather work for myself or
someone else?
You may want to avoid certain kinds of work. For
instance, work that requires a lot of record keeping,
supervising others, high stress, or rapid performance
may not be right for people with ADHD. But
there are other careers in which people with
ADHD often flourish. These include the media,
arts, trades, sales, the military, law enforcement, and
fire safety. If you have ADHD, you may not
work well under tight supervision. But it may be good to work somewhere with a lot of structure.
Having ADHD may be an advantage in small
business. One study found that of those who had the
disorder in childhood, 18% owned a small business,
compared with 5% of people who did not have the
disorder. This suggests that some of the traits of
ADHD can be helpful in business, such as an
intense interest in a particular pursuit. Whether you
decide to own your own business, have one full-time
or several part-time jobs, or pursue a college degree,
your choices ultimately need to reflect your interests,
talents, and goals.
Your rights at work
Adults with ADHD are considered to have a disability if the disorder limits a major life activity, such as learning or work. They are entitled to certain legal rights. The right to be free from discrimination in the workplace is guaranteed by 2 federal laws: the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (RA). To qualify for protection under these laws, you must prove:
- that you have a disability
- that you are otherwise qualified—with or without a reasonable "accommodation," or special work environment—for the job, promotion, employment benefit, or privilege being sought
- that have been denied one of these because of your disability
If you wish to pursue this protection, you must submit documentation of your disability. This can include a professional diagnosis, evaluation of the impact of ADHD on your functioning, and recommended accommodations. You will need to get an evaluation from medical, educational, psychological, and/or career-counseling professionals. They can assist in many ways. They can even help secure your legal rights. Naturally, you'll need to do your homework. Read books on ADHD/ADD and disabilities. Contact disability support groups.
If you are seeking work environment accommodations, you'll need to come up with a strategy that will aid your performance. Make these strategies with the help of your employer. Some ideas include the use of a tape recorder to record meetings, a day planner for tracking daily appointments, a computer and special software
(for example, spell check and grammar check), and a talking calculator. Some employers will provide these aids readily.
Print this list of tips
for increased productivity in the workplace.
|
Teens: Living with ADHD