Neurodivergent Accomodations

An accommodation is something that is provided to satisfy a need or for convenience, such as food, lodging, services, or traveling space. In the world of neurodivergence accommodations are practices, structures or supports in the workplace or home that help a person exist more harmoniously within the environment.

Someone with sound sensitivity may benefit from the accommodation of wearing noise-canceling headphones.

Someone with neurological differences may benefit from having instructions written down rather than spoken. Or to be able to do certain work tasks in quieter places with fewer distractions.

In the home accommodations may look like having different styles and intensities of lights for people that are overwhelmed visually. Perhaps someone struggles to eat around a lot of sensory input so they have their meals in their room. Not to isolate but to support getting nutrition in their body so they can socialize later.

There are as many different accommodations as there are neurodivergent needs. Our society has been structured such that asking for or needing something to be different is perceived as being “needy” or “entitled.” An effective approach to accommodations requires a shift to recognizing that people fundamentally WANT to get along with their environment and contribute and participate. It's a fun puzzle to look at the ways a person’s environment is challenging and see how things can be shifted a bit to meet valid needs.

As I’ve said to many clients, you’re needy because you have needs.

A vital part of therapy for neurodivergent people involves identifying needs and developing ways to accommodate them. It’s rarely a “one and done.” Often we’re examining struggles and developing ideas that evolve with experimentation and alteration.

The results are satisfying, though. Once the right practices are in place many people find that they have more mental, emotional and physical energy to give because their internal resources aren’t being tapped by coping through hardship.

Are you wondering if your life would be improved by having accommodations? In the home? In your work? Sometimes small changes make a big difference in overall energy levels.