After 40 years in the workplace, Sandra Thom-Jones, an autistic professional, realised it was acceptable to request accommodations. She had struggled since her first job at age 15 with sensory challenges such as bright lights, air conditioning, and background noise, but assumed these were unavoidable.
Her autism diagnosis at age 50, prompted by recognising similar struggles in her autistic children, made her understand that colleagues did not experience the workplace the same way. However, she accepted that tolerating a harmful environment was necessary to work.
Working from home during Melbourne's COVID-19 lockdowns was transformative. For the first time in 17 years in a leadership role, she was not exhausted, had energy for family activities, and was more productive. She realised the challenges were not the work itself but sensory issues, constant social interaction, and masking her natural behaviour.
After nearly 40 years, she requested accommodations, including dimmer switches, disconnecting an air-conditioning vent, a folding screen, a comfortable chair, and fidget toys. She was fortunate to have flexibility and a senior position, but notes not everyone is in that situation.
