How do you keep up at work?

Hi all. Amongst other problems, I have ADD (no problems with hyperactivity).

I've been unemployed for a year now. I know that the ADD affected my work and was part of why I was fired. I just couldn't keep up with the documentation. I anticipate that, and spend extra time doing it. But, even with medication, my time management skills suck.

More recently I lost a canvassing job, and time management was a factor there as well.

I've wondered about requesting reasonable accommodation through the Americans with Disabilities Act. Have any of you done this? What has been your experience? My career choice requires lots of paperwork. Anybody have tricks they use that work.

any thoughts?

Hi Sara, 3 years ago I got a job that included lots of paperwork. I also have poor time-management skills when it comes to paperwork because it's not that interesting to me. I came close to quitting or losing my job about a year ago when I developed severe depression. I haven't asked for accommodations from the ADA, but 2 of my kids are in college with ADD and get accommodations by longer time with tests, test-taking separately in the office with a proctor in order to reduce the distractions, etc.

I've started to develop a system. I've tried to get organized (a very hard job for me). Instead of starting 5 or 6 different things, I mentally tell myself to get 1 thing done. And when I feel overwhelmed, I take a break for a few minutes and read a book or something else I find interesting so I can focus again. Then I start again.

Good luck to you - slow

I just got diagnosed less than a week ago and I have been on stress leave from work for 2 weeks because of other issues, I thought. In fact I am on what is called "final notice" because of being tardy so much in the 7 months. I kept blaming it on my 5 yr old - my MHNP last week asked me, "be honest who was more to blame for being late?" I told her --"me but no way I was going to tell my manager." I am out for at least 2 more weeks -- I will be requesting ADA accommodations at work -- and be requesting that my tardies be removed. In addition, I am a grad student and am on academic probation --I just started the process of requesting accommodations there too. What have I learned? When I return back to working in the social services field, I will wait until I have difficulty -- then if I do - you bet-- I am asking for accommodations---

I hope you'll let me know how it goes with requesting accommodations. Had I mentioned before that I am also in the social services field. I did receive accommodations as a grad student. I'm not sure it really helped, but it was nice to know that I had that extra support. I did wish I had made the request earlier in the program, but, live and learn. C'est ma vie, lol.

Skills have to be learned and practiced for everyone. It can be harder if one has ADD but not impossible:

http://www.additudemag.com/topic/adu...ime-money.html

Hi everyone,
I am new here and this is my first post.
I find the best way to deal with paperwork is to develop a routine. This routine includes the time and place I set aside to deal with paperwork. I usually have a reward for myself planned out for when I am finished also. It also helps me to have something with caffeine before I start! I am doing well at work but school is a bit harder for me.
I am currently in college. I started out taking one class at a time- I did this because I knew if I overwhelmed myself I would not finish. I am now up to three classes and it is very hard for me to prioritize and plan homework. sometimes it will take me half the day just reviewing everything I have to do without actually doing anything.
It's a process...

Hi luna22 and welcome to PC! I enjoyed your post above and think your suggestions are very good. I hope you enjoy the time you spend here and find support and understanding as well. Take care!! slow

Very good suggestions so far! Although I have not been formally diagnosed, I believe I too have ADD and it has affected my work as well (documentation is one of the hardest parts for me too because I am least interested in this part and it can be lengthy....I am an occupational therapist, so I too have quite a bit of this at the end of the day). Aside from taking breaks and drinking coffee, I also found that my mind is less exhausted at the beginning of the day, so if I am too mentally drained by the end of the day, I go home, and return to work early the next day to give myself time to catch up.

Also, when I start new jobs (which is often), I always try to brief my boss about my condition, and explain that when she is talking with me, I absorb more if information is in short bursts (I tend to get go somewhere else mentally when a person speaks for long periods and fill in my "uh huhs" and "ok's" as needed......only problem is, after I walk away, I realize I missed half of the conversation).

Another problem I have encountered with work, is I tend to burn out easier than most. When I first start a job, everything is great because everything is new, challenging, and there is much to be learned. However, once I get past the "new" stage, I tend to get bored easier on the job and things such as documentation slip behind. Although most people may not have this option, I have adapted to this problem by performing short term jobs with fewer commitments (travel, local contracts, multiple PRN positions). By the time I get bored at my place of employment, it's time to go!

I do agree with the others in saying it would probably be wise to request reasonable accommodations to help improve job performance. On top of that, if you do continue to experience job loss, you have proper documentation on file and have followed the necessary steps on your end to ensure your rights in accordance with ADA laws are maintained, and have more ability to act accordingly if your rights are violated.

I have heard several people mentioning asking for accomodations at work for their ADD. I was wondering if they meant before they get a job or after? I would think that asking for accomodations for ADD before getting a job would be career suicide. Asking after you get the job might cause some resentment for not disclosing the information. I am still in school and I do not plan on asking for any special accomodations, hopefully my chosen career will be a good match for my ADD symptoms. I could never do a job where I would be stuck doing hours of paperwork.

This is my first post at PC. I am diagnosed with ADD and bipolar-2 disorder. Recently, I've been offered a substantial raise to take on an organzationally challenging job as a Program Manager for a number of household hazardous waste sites. I'm a bit terrified of what I'll be up against. I don't feel safe telling my managers that I have these diagnoses but I am being proactive in my approach to this totally new experience. I will be going in after my shift to train while my replacement is being found and trained. I'm doing this so that my first day in this alien position won't feel like the longest day of my life. This process of finding a replacement (actually, two people are needed to cover what I've been doing) will take some time, so I'll have a bit of a head start. I'm wondering if recording what I'm being taught might help, along with furiously taking notes. Good luck with your new position, sara76 and thank you all for your insights. Aloha

Thank you everybody. Lots of good advice and support. It's helpful.

Storyville, I definitely think it will help to furiously take notes. I know that it helps me to keep my mind on task. It's a challenge to refer back to it for me though unless i have some sort of tabs or something for coding, at least with dates or something.

I'm sorry to hear about your job. As a matter of fact I have looked into

applying for disability. Here's what I found out:

1) ADD/ADHD qualifies as a disability in the ADA (Americans with disabilities

act), but you need more than a diagnosis. You need to provide evidence,

such as witness testimonies and letters from psych professionals to show

that the extent of your disability has a significant impact on your ability to

function normally.

2) It can take up to two years to receive disability benefits. It is also

advisable to hire a lawyer - so try to weigh out the cost and benefit of this

decision before you commit to it. If it is hard for you to get focused

enough to systematically solve this problem, ask family or trusted friends

who don't have ADD to come help you brainstorm and do paperwork. I find

that good friends are a very useful ADD coping strategy. Just don't resist

or fight your family/friend's suggestions, and put them off... at least in

men, ADD/ADHD can make us more argumentative. I spent my entire

childhood changing this habit, just through sheer force of will. I will tell

you though that now that I don't blow up at people anymore, I am much

happier for it, and the change in behavior is no longer as hard as it used to

be. Plus you keep your friends and they are always be useful resource.

3) Consider applying for medicaid. The process is quicker, and at least

you'll have some health insurance so that you can continue seeing your

psych and getting your meds. Once again, if the task becomes

overwhelming, ask someone to come and help you through it. It won't

take long if you work together.

Well I hope everything works out for you. I recently went through the same thing. I was a graduate student in neuroscience for 7 years. I had great ideas but just couldn't keep myself organized enough to make progress quick enough. Eventually I had to leave school. My uncle gave me a job at his company and I almost got fired for being disorganized and forgetful. The worst part is, no one seems to understand what it's like to be ADD. They always say, "you just aren't trying hard enough. you aren't interested enough. But we have to keep our spirit up. Just remember, you're not the only one facing these things and there are people like you out there finding ways to cope too