Navigating the workplace as a Late-Diagnosed AuDHD Engineer with Dyslexia 

My Journey to Self-Acceptance 

All my life, I felt different and felt I struggled in ways that others didn’t. It wasn't until I learned about my ADHD, autism, and dyslexia that things started falling into place. A few years into my university degree, I was diagnosed with dyslexia. While it wasn’t entirely unexpected, I couldn’t help but feel that an earlier diagnosis would have made a significant difference throughout my life. During my dyslexia screening, something else stood out - I was also identified as having ADHD.

Back then, I had only a vague understanding of ADHD, but the more I explored, the more it explained my experiences, and everything started to click. The things I once saw as personal flaws - struggling with focus, short term memory, time management, and procrastination - weren’t character flaws but ADHD traits. Fortunately, my university provided reasonable adjustments, which covered most of the support I needed at the time. So, I set ADHD aside and focused on landing internships, graduating, and finding a graduate job.

Fast forward a few years – I had graduated and finally received an official ADHD diagnosis. It was a huge relief to finally have medical acknowledgment, and to stop blaming myself for things I had always struggled with. While I quickly confided in close friends and immediate family, I hesitated to speak about it openly. Was it fear of judgment? Of being labeled? Maybe. I didn’t want my diagnosis to define me, and there was stigma surrounding neurodivergence.

By the time I received my official diagnosis, I had already secured a place on my graduate scheme at SSEN but hadn’t yet started the job. My workplace only knew about my dyslexia, and I wasn’t sure when to disclose my ADHD. I decided to reach out to the HR department, and they reassured me that it was my choice whether and when to disclose it.

As I entered the workplace, I quickly realised that having the right environment was just as important as understanding my diagnosis. Without the right adjustments, I wasn’t just facing personal struggles - I was navigating systemic barriers that made it harder to perform at my best. Throughout the graduate scheme, I debated telling my managers but kept putting it off, partly due to frequently changing teams. At the end of my graduate scheme, I finally reached my line manager to explain the challenges I face, ensuring that I had the right support in place moving forward.

But there was more to the picture that only became apparent very recently - autism. In recent years, autistic friends had asked me if I had considered being tested for autism. My immediate reaction? “No, It’s ADHD I have - that explains everything, right?”

For a long time, I thought ADHD fully explained my challenges. However, there was more to it than met the eye. Unlike ADHD, autism is more internal, making it much harder to spot. Whilst ADHDers often bond over shared experiences, autism varies significantly from person to person. This explained why I had never fully related to other autistic people I had met – autism manifests uniquely in each individual.

And this time, I didn’t delay in informing work. I reached out almost straight away and requested another meeting with occupational health.

The Importance of the Right Environment & Adjustments

My conditions shape how I think, process information, and engage with the world. Being neurodivergent comes with challenges that I navigate daily, with sensory overload being one of the most significant difficulties. Having a comfortable working environment, both physically and mentally, where I can manage my sensory experience is crucial for sustaining focus and reducing overwhelm.

Clarity and transparency are essential for fostering an inclusive and productive environment for me. Encouraging open communication ensures that I feel confident seeking clarification without fear of judgment, reducing misunderstandings and improving efficiency. Allowing reasonable extensions when feasible acknowledges my working style, supports my processing speed, and ultimately enhances the quality of my work. 

Follow-up notes after meetings allow me to revisit key points, reducing the risk of miscommunication and ensuring clarity on action items. Scheduling breaks between meetings prevents cognitive overload, allowing me to process discussions effectively and stay engaged. Breaking tasks into smaller steps with regular check-ins supports my progress and helps me absorb and retain information. Providing structured deadlines with flexibility helps me regulate my focus and prevents burnout from hyperfocus or frustration from inattention.

Embracing my conditions and tapping into my strengths

Initially, finding out I have autism was a bit surprising. But the more I started learning about autism and the autistic spectrum, the more I started understanding and accepting myself. I am finally starting to recognise my unique strengths and the value I offer to the world. 

At times, my ADHD feels like a roadblock, clashing with my autistic need for structure and predictability. The impulsivity and distractibility of ADHD can clash with my preference for routine, making it difficult to find balance.

But ADHD isn’t all bad – it has strengths that I haven’t fully embraced yet. Autism gives me structure, logic, and the ability to focus intensely on subjects I’m passionate about, while ADHD gives me creativity, energy, and the ability to think on my feet. If I learn to harness them correctly, they can complement each other.

I am learning to believe that my autism and ADHD are not fighting against each other. They are two essential parts of who I am, working together to make me whole and powerful. Once I develop strategies to manage the challenges, I’ll be able to fully tap into my unique skillset. I’ll be able to balance my ability to hyperfocus on what truly interests me with adaptive thinking, logical analysis with creative problem-solving, and a need for structure with moments of spontaneity.

My ability to succeed, contribute meaningfully and bring true value depends on having the right environment and reasonable adjustments in place.  Without these, my potential is limited - not because of a lack of ability, but because the environment does not support my strengths. My challenges create barriers but don’t define my ability. They mean I need the right strategies to work at my best.

With the right accommodations in place, I can fully harness my strengths, excel in my work, and truly thrive. Neurodivergence is not a limitation - it’s a distinct way of experiencing the world that, when supported, unlocks incredible potential, and becomes a powerhouse.

Final Thoughts: The Power of Knowing Myself

Diagnosis has been life-changing for me. It has allowed me to not only understand myself better but also stop blaming myself for my struggles, and advocate for what I need. I’m now working towards shifting the narrative to empowerment.

I no longer see my struggles as personal flaws but as part of my neurodivergence. I’m not “lazy” or “difficult” - I process the world differently, and that’s okay. I am starting to push back against unfair comments and misunderstanding from others. I now have the language, the knowledge, and the confidence to advocate for myself. Instead of being weighed down by challenges, I am leaning into my unique strengths, like deep analysis, pattern recognition, hyperfocus, strategic thinking, and creativity. By standing up for myself, I’m also standing up for others who have been misunderstood, dismissed, or blamed in the same way. 

For me, it’s not about seeking validation - it’s about having the right tools, support, and language to advocate for fairness, respect, and the accommodations I need to thrive.

This is why self-knowledge is so powerful. I’m not just accepting my neurodivergence, I’m using it to shape a stronger, more empowered future for myself and others.