AIBU to think dismissal during probation was unfair given autism adjustments?

I’m looking for honest views because I’m not sure whether I’m being unreasonable or whether this was genuinely unfair.

I was recently dismissed from a graduate/analyst role after my probation was extended. I am autistic, and my employer knew this. I had raised the need for clear written instructions, defined objectives, examples of similar work, timelines, and timely/direct feedback. Some support was put in place, including coaching, but I don’t feel the actual adjustments were properly embedded or reviewed before the decision was made.

The difficult part is that the concerns raised about me seemed mainly to focus on communication style, professional behaviour, asking for clarification, Teams messages, and quality assurance under pressure — rather than on whether I could actually do the analytical work. Some recent written feedback said my analytical skills were good, that my work did not contain relevant errors, that I was taking ownership, and that I sought support appropriately. Another person said I had picked up on a complex project well.

The project I was criticised on was not straightforward. I was a first-year graduate with no prior experience in that sector, and I was assigned open-ended/data-heavy modelling work with a lot of ambiguity and short deadlines. Some outputs were expected within hours or by the next day, so there was not much time for structured review. I also didn’t always get timely feedback while I could still act on it. Some feedback came months after the work had ended.
My probation extension was meant to allow support and coaching to take effect, but I was dismissed before the extension period had fully ended. I had submitted evidence of improvement the day before the decision, but I don’t feel it was properly discussed or considered.
The coaching report apparently said the benefit of coaching should be assessed after a longer period, because performance can dip while new strategies embed.

I’m appealing because I think they didn’t properly separate disability-related communication issues from actual capability, didn’t give recent improvement enough weight, and didn’t consider alternatives such as letting the extension run, providing clearer QA/communication frameworks, assigning more standard analyst work, or redeploying me to a more suitable team.

I’m not saying I was perfect. I know there were areas to improve. But I feel like I was assessed against unclear expectations, on complex work, without the timely feedback and structure that had already been identified as necessary for me.

AIBU to think this was unfair and potentially linked to disability discrimination/failure to make reasonable adjustments? Or is this just how probation works, and I should accept it and move on?

Did they provide written confirmation all of your requested accommodations would be met exactly as you asked for them?

Gently OP, some of them don't seem reasonable for a professional role. Graduates should be able to apply critical thinking to project objectives, evaluate and influence timelines, and complete projects where examples aren't available.

I would see direct and timely feedback as reasonable, ideally through a regular 1:1 structure. However quick feedback is not always possible for tasks that have a short turnaround time, and that needs to be taken in to account in your ways of working.

OP was not dismissed from an accountancy big 4 - they were dismissed from a consultancy big 4. BIG difference!!! Different jobs!!! Different skill set entirely!!!

I would think it's vanishingly unlikely for anyone to pass an extended probation period as extending probation isn't a sincere means of giving an employee a chance, it's a way of managing them out. My advice to anyone who has a probation period extended would be to look for a new job urgently. I take a really dim view of probation extensions - very cowardly move.

I'm sorry you have had a difficult time.

I don't think autistic people are hated. What I do think is that some jobs really require or value skills that autistic people find difficult. Communication skills, ability to change plan quickly and think on your feet, ability to anticipate problems or read a room. Other jobs, such as academia, really value skills that autistic people (generalising here) are more likely to have, like attention to detail and ability to focus.

I think part of the issue is that some of the jobs that we value more in society and thus give more status and pay to, need the first set of skills. And neurodiverse people want them for those benefits understandably, and go for those jobs, when they are in reality not a very good fit. And it can be hard for people to accept lower status and pay in a job that better matches their skills, especially if they were high achieving in school, which is a much more structured and forgiving environment.

Go to the civil service. They’ll make every single adjustment in place for you, however unreasonable. They’ll probably hire an extra person to ensure all adjustments are in place. And they ever get rid of anyone. Nap in the afternoon? No problem. Can only do 5 hours a day, 3 days a week but still want full pay? Of course. Want to be fully remote? You got it!

Nope. Not any job in finance.
Op cannot work in a team with all reasonable adjustments.

If you knew the level of effort an autistic person has to expend every day just to simply operate you would be able to work that out yourself. Just because they don’t spend energy on things you think they should doesn’t make them lazy. Imagine the effort it takes to do anything in a nonsense world where everyone speaks a different language

And instead of wasting your time on MN, apply for some jobs you can do.

The world doesn’t revolve around you you know.

OP, am I right in thinking you're "grad-age" (i.e. about 22?) Being in your early 20s and new to the workplace is so bloody difficult, and it's even harder to end up in a sector and company that works for you first time around. My advice is don't be afraid to change sectors, more than once if you need to. You did well to get on a grad scheme so you just need to learn what you can from this experience and try something new.

Doesn’t that involve having to communicate well with users? And does the OP have any IT knowledge?

So your probation period was already extended and you still didn't pass it? Is it possible OP that this just wasn't the role/job for you?

Can you help and suggest suitable jobs

Something in IT Support maybe, where the work tends to be following procedures to a large extent. It seems that the OP struggles to take initiative.

Can you help and suggest suitable jobs

People generally don't like working with people who add to their workload whether due to ND or not.

People don't tend to apply for jobs they can't do. Why should the OP apply for a job that requires a skill set she doesn't have? She can't work to a deadline, she can't follow instructions (see video call example) and her communication skills are poor.

Are you in a union?
I think you have a good case.

So how does being autistic immune someome from being lazy?

I’m looking for honest views because I’m not sure whether I’m being unreasonable or whether this was genuinely unfair.

I was recently dismissed from a graduate/analyst role after my probation was extended. I am autistic, and my employer knew this. I had raised the need for clear written instructions, defined objectives, examples of similar work, timelines, and timely/direct feedback. Some support was put in place, including coaching, but I don’t feel the actual adjustments were properly embedded or reviewed before the decision was made.

The difficult part is that the concerns raised about me seemed mainly to focus on communication style, professional behaviour, asking for clarification, Teams messages, and quality assurance under pressure — rather than on whether I could actually do the analytical work. Some recent written feedback said my analytical skills were good, that my work did not contain relevant errors, that I was taking ownership, and that I sought support appropriately. Another person said I had picked up on a complex project well.

The project I was criticised on was not straightforward. I was a first-year graduate with no prior experience in that sector, and I was assigned open-ended/data-heavy modelling work with a lot of ambiguity and short deadlines. Some outputs were expected within hours or by the next day, so there was not much time for structured review. I also didn’t always get timely feedback while I could still act on it. Some feedback came months after the work had ended.
My probation extension was meant to allow support and coaching to take effect, but I was dismissed before the extension period had fully ended. I had submitted evidence of improvement the day before the decision, but I don’t feel it was properly discussed or considered.
The coaching report apparently said the benefit of coaching should be assessed after a longer period, because performance can dip while new strategies embed.

I’m appealing because I think they didn’t properly separate disability-related communication issues from actual capability, didn’t give recent improvement enough weight, and didn’t consider alternatives such as letting the extension run, providing clearer QA/communication frameworks, assigning more standard analyst work, or redeploying me to a more suitable team.

I’m not saying I was perfect. I know there were areas to improve. But I feel like I was assessed against unclear expectations, on complex work, without the timely feedback and structure that had already been identified as necessary for me.

AIBU to think this was unfair and potentially linked to disability discrimination/failure to make reasonable adjustments? Or is this just how probation works, and I should accept it and move on?

Unfortunately much of what you say is true. There was a thread earlier about someone’s child being thrown out their uni house because they were autistic and people didn’t want to live with them.

ND people have many skills, but with increasingly rigid work practices ND people are finding work increasingly difficult. Like you say, what do people want, they don’t want to work with ND people and they don’t want us claiming benefits. What are we to do?

im always saddened when I see on MN people judging ND people. It can make you feel worthless. Then I think fuck then they’re nasty cunts and actually I’m a hell of a lot better than them, their views on me are worthless.