Why are accommodations for autistic people often seen as unfair?

[YourPoisedFinch]

In my last job, I received some accommodations and explained them to colleagues when they asked why I was coming in late. Instead of understanding, they accused me of fraud and faking my condition to get special treatment. This isn’t just my experience—many people with mental health conditions and other invisible disabilities face similar challenges. They’re either not believed and resented for receiving accommodations or believed but then negatively stereotyped.

Are you paid less/do you work later on account of being late every day?

People perceive the adjustments as unfair, they don't know about equity.

Otoh if you're being paid the same and working less, it literally is unfair.

It’s because autism is a hidden disability. If people can’t see it, they assume it’s not there. They also assume that the rules apply to everyone equally.

I think it’s going to take a generation to change people’s attitudes towards neurodivergent conditions; lots of people are still at the ‘can’t see it therefore it doesn’t exist’ stage of [lack of] understanding.

Because your disability is one that can’t be ‘seen’. If you needed a walking cane not one person would complain about accommodations.

I think you have to try and see your work colleagues point of view as well. For example if you are allowed to come in late as you struggle with crowded trains but another colleague isn’t allowed to come in late but they struggle with childcare in the mornings then that feels unfair.

It may feel unfair but it isn't - having children is a choice, having a disability is not.

I’m not saying it is, but your colleague may still feel hard done by and this will be why people think it’s unfair. I’m not saying it’s right but it’s human nature

As pp said it depends if you’re paid the same as people who work longer hours.

I think most those who aren't autistic have absolutely no idea how hard it can be to do apparently 'normal' things, especially if you're good at masking. Parents/siblings of autistic children will have a somewhat better idea than the average person.

It's not unfair though. One is caused by a genuine disability and one isn't. People mostly choose to have kids, nobody chooses to be autistic.

The replies on this thread reflect the assumptions and ignorance in the workplace very well.

I think you're missing the point.
The decision to make the adjustments isn't a favour. It's a legal right.
The employer has decided this is a reasonable adjustment and has put in place what this employee needs to do their job.
It's not at all relevant if someone else is employed with a slightly different start time.

What other accommodations?

It also depends on how flexible the company is with other staff. For example if someone offered to come in 10 minutes early so they could leave 10 minutes early to get a bus that only stops once per hour, would they allow it ?

Are you working the same number of hours as everyone else in your role? As in arriving later but staying later? If you're working less hours but earn the same wage then that's not fair.

That's not an adjustment for a disability though is it?

Because we mask so well, they see it as perks, not needs and support. It's ignorance. They need to focus on their own work, not Alice being allowed to arrive 15 minutes later to avoid crowds.

Alice, who inevitably will more than make up the time by the amount of work she's able to do due to the accommodations in place.

Wanting to leave early to get a bus isn't the same as an accommodation due to a disability.

Two out of three of my employees have significant accommodations made in our work environment. It was my job to work this out in a way that didn't impact my employee without accommodations.

So everyone does their fair share of the work, without one person being expected to do an unfavourable portion. Everyone gets to have whatever time off they need paid and not from holiday for appointments or their kids school stuff etc.

Some employers make accommodations because they have to that significantly affect their other employees, this shouldn't be happening.

It's also 'not fair' that some folk are disabled and some are not. Accommodations for disabled folk are so important.

Privilege and fragility. People are selfish and jealous of anyone they perceive as getting something they aren't getting.

Same reason men smashed up the first women's public toilets, and white people rioted to stop black children attending their schools. Any progress towards equality and fairness has to plough through resistance from small-minded bigots who are afraid their slice of the pie will be reduced by others being afforded a fair chance.

The op asked why they “seen as unfair” This is the sort of reason why. I’m not saying it’s right I’m just saying it’s how people can feel.

Instead of childcare it could be caring for an elderly parent or transport difficulties.

I have dyspraxia. I work in a shop. My colleagues thankfully understand and help me with things I find difficult

It's maybe how a privileged person would perceive fairness.