r/DSPD • u/Specific-Iron-4242 • 2d ago
Job accomodations
I am so happy I found this thread! Life long DSPDer here who has never been able to hold down a “real” job. I’m back on the job hunt again. I’ve been working as an independent contractor (designer) for years but really want to start managing my daily schedule. After getting an actual diagnosis, I had a doctor tell me that this is a disability. So with that, can I actually start applying for real jobs and request they accommodate my sleep schedule? We all know we’re not showing up at an office at 8am. Curious how to navigate this, I’ve never admitted to having a disability on a job application even though I am diagnosed with AuDHD and DSPD.
Do I get a doctors note? How does this work exactly?
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u/ekcshelby 2d ago
Employers are only obligated to offer reasonable accommodations. Many employers will not consider adjusted working hours as a reasonable accommodation if they don’t align with business hours. It really will depend on the type of work you do and the company’s business itself. One option is to look for jobs a few time zones away or at companies that cross several time zones and request to have your work schedule align with the other time zone.
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u/Specific-Iron-4242 2d ago
My last job allowed me to show up 30 minutes late which was great! I could do 9:30 in my time zone, so that’s not unreasonable, but so many want you to be there at 8 which is ridiculous in my opinion.
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u/Oreoskickass 1d ago
When I was diagnosed, the doctor told me to find a job that worked with my sleep schedule. It’s not like that’s easy.
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u/warrior4202 1d ago
Can you just ask your doctor for a doctor's note or do you need an official diagnosis? How do you get an official diagnosis? Do you need to do a full sleep study for an official diagnosis?
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u/Ok-Smoke-5653 1d ago
I got one from a sleep doctor. My primary doctor was useless and just told me I needed to "fix my sleep." I finally dumped that primary doctor because of that and other reasons, and have just started with another one, though it's too soon to tell whether that one will work out.
However, back when I was working (I'm retired now), I ended up having to hire a lawyer to get accommodations. I've had better luck getting excused from jury duty, which would be absolutely impossible because I sleep 9am-5pm. I don't think they want jurors nodding off or getting sick from lack of sleep during a trial. (By "sick" I mean getting a migraine, which is a common effect of loss of sleep, and can lead to throwing up - not great for courtroom decorum!).
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u/insufficient_nvram 20h ago
I’m AuDHD too. I also freelance design. Your best bet is keep your mouth shut about everything and WFH not in your time zone. I’m EDT but mainly work PDT hours.
I say keep your mouth shut because no one is rushing to hire the disabled right now with DEI gone there is no more tax incentives.
These are dark times, friend.
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u/aeholm 2d ago
i got a doctor’s note and was able to get a later start time at my old job. at my current, i asked for the flexibility upfront and was given it and confirmed that before i accepted the job. (it’s remote and i am in central time while many coworkers are west coast, so that helps)