Help! my boss doesn't beleve in ADD

[Anonymous]

Hi im a 24year old male from the small island state of Australia, Tasmania

ADD is very unknown here, and only one person in Tas has the power to put people on medication and he won’t.

But aside from that hugr problem my boss has just told me that he dosent beleve in ADD.

i have been working at this place for just over 12 months now and am on an apprentiship that lasts about 4years

i have been pulled aside and told i need to lift my game, then he told me of the problems that they have with me

classic ADD stuff you know, and in the same breth told me that he does not beleve that i am any differnt from any one else

and that every one is the same.

just thinking of this makes me verry emotional, beond the point of being able to make cence of it. I just don’t know what to do.

any advice would be appreciated.

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[Anonymous]

Hey,

Perhaps a trip interstate to see a different psych who will prescribe meds might be in order?

If you feel confident doing it, asking your boss when he got his medical degree, followed by his specialisation in psychiatry and then further specialisation in the psychiatry of ADHD might do the trick. If he doesn’t have all of these, then you can easily say that he has no place making any comment even vaguely along the lines of ADHD not existing, as he is not qualified to.

I can’t think of anything else at this stage, beyond going to someone who is higher placed than your boss (if there is any such person in your organisation).

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[Anonymous]

I am saving up to go interstate at the moment, but my boss wants to help me thats the strange thing about this problem.

the idea of ADD is ailen to him and i dont think he would come to the table and even try to understand.

My boss is co Owner of the bissnes and just having a job with my reading and wrighting truble ia a big deal.

that why im not sure what els i can do.

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[ADDled]

Hi, David

For people like us with ADD in the workplace, you have to learn to advocate for yourself in these situations. Public awareness and acceptance is starting to change, although slowly. If you check online, you will find a lot of business e-zines (electronic magazines) have articles about the impact of ADD in the workplace and provide useful information to employers on how to help people with ADD succeed. That may be another source of information you can print and provide to your boss.

The good thing is that your boss is looking to help you. Maybe direct him to this site. Or, print some of the general information available here at this website.

I’d say you may need to check whatever federal or provincial (do you use the term provinces or states in Oz?) legislation to protect worker’s rights and does it include specific language for people with mental disabilities? In Canada, especially in Ontario, ADD is considered a mental disability and you have rights under legislation. This would be a good thing to know, but filing a complaint using them, or under human rights tribunals or committees should be the last resort. Always try to find accommodation for your ADD working with your boss rather than clobbering him with government investigations. Just be armed with that information and gently inform your boss that under legislation that ADD is recognized as a mental disability, if that is indeed the case.

Are you a member of a union? Perhaps they can help you deal with your boss.

Yes, it’s tough to deal with all this yourself. But because, as ADDers, when we choose to do something we can work harder and longer than most anyone else and this may be the case for you also. The other thing is that by researching all this you will feel a little better about yourself. If reading and writing are difficult for you, do you have anyone in your immediate family or friends that can help you with all this? Or, family service agencies may have counselors that can help and advise you.

Hope this helps…and good luck.

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[Anonymous]

“the idea of ADD is ailen to him and i dont think he would come to the table and even try to understand.”

This is why you point out his complete lack of qualification on the subject. He doesnt’ have to understand, he just has to stop acting like he knows anything and accept :-p

But I agree with the above that you should contact your union. If you’re not a member of one, you really should be because they have the resources to help you out of a tough situation.

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[Anonymous]

Thanks for all your help i will research on these things, thanks again

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[Rick Green – Founder of TotallyADD]

David, I can completely understand how upset and emotional you get.

The fact is, your boss doesn’t know better.

Hey, at one point almost everyone on this website didn’t believe in ADHD, and certainly didn’t think they might fall intot he spectrum.

You could, if you can calm down, ask your boss if he believes in Diabetes. Then ask if he believes in Schizophrenia. Then ask if he believes in Depression. Then ask if he believes in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Then ask if he believes in Dyslexia.

Ask him if he believes in Cancer, Strep Throat and Alzheimers. (All of which are listed in the standard Doctor’s manual, the DSM-4.

Then ask him which of the 18 symptoms of ADHD that are listed in the DSM-IV are the ones he thinks are not or doesn’t believe in.

Explain to him that the Diagnosis has been around for over a century, albeit with different names.

There are thousands of studies done on this disorder.

Research is starting to identify the suspect genes. And PET scans show that the ADHD brain is firing differently.

And if you can, get him to watch some of the videos on the website. Or even better, the documentary.

And let us know how it goes,

Rick

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[Rick Green – Founder of TotallyADD]

Also, I’ve done a couple of Blogs on dealing with skeptics and those who would spread misinformation. The problem is, I tend to get emotional too, and totally ticked off at people. It’s so frustrating to still be having these arguments, isn’t it?

R

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[Anonymous]

Thanks Rick

Is indescribable, for me at least the differance talking to people how understand what life for me is like.

I hope that once i have my qualifcation i can move to somewhere, where I can be around people that

understand. do you find that to make alot of differance?

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[Anonymous]

“It’s so frustrating to still be having these arguments, isn’t it?” Yes!

Sorry David, but there probably isn’t any location and I haven’t found any employment setting where “people understand”. Some employers may try to help you, but their success and the success of their business or organization is their chief concern. (Understandably). So for me, the best response I have gotten was; “sorry, I wish I could help you, but if you can’t do what we need you to do as well as someone else, we will just have to get someone else.”

I live in the US and have had the kind of problems you described in every job. After being diagnosed about ten years ago, I studied ADHD and found that passion can make all the difference. I have a passion for helping others, so I went to graduate school to work as a Rehabilitation Counselor. That’s some one who helps people with disabilities find work that suits them and uses their strengths. There is a piece of legislation here called the Americans with Disability Act that says it’s illegal for employers to discriminate against people with disabilities if they can do the job “with reasonable accommodations.” ADHD qualifies as a disability for this. So, I figured; “Wow, I can help people like me and other people with strengths that are being overshadowed by their weaknesses at work. Surely this is the place for me! If anyone understands what I am up against, the people at a state Vocational Rehabilitation office will!” Wrong. There was the same ignorant attitude there as anywhere else I have tried to work. Actually, it was worse that some. That’s why this forum and website and “Mr. Rick” and his friends are such a Godsend! At least Here, People Understand! That helps.

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[Anonymous]

Rick, The DSM-IV is only about Mental Health issues, not cancer or strep throat. (Lol) I am sure you know that, you just got fired up! I’m with you!

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[Anonymous]

And Rick, Thank you, thank you, a million times thank you for your work here! This sight is Fabulous!

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[Anonymous]

DebbyE,

I have gone throught DVR (=developmet Vaocatoinal Rebilatation) in Washington. For many jobs in cabinet shops, Working with the special needs of all ages, through DDD. I was A DDD child. Was even told to not fast dance with clients at a gladdance, for they could not tell the diffrance between me and them. This was from a co-worker. I feel I relate to them better becase of my disabilatires, at their level more.

Know with all the money cuts not many pepole want to this job. the state pay stinks at this level and the medical is not that great. My husband has worked for the same 4 guys for ten years. He knows their bodey signs and what they mean. This comany has help with state fond money. He has not had a raise for about 5 years. To put me on his medical that is about 400.00$ less in a month pay days. We can not do it, he makes just over 11.00$ an hr., He has all the taxes that everyone lose plus he pays for some or all of his medical and dental.

My problem has been once DVR is not their to help they let me go. Now I am back where I started from with many jobs.

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[Anonymous]

David,

I had a boss that worked for, when he need help with odd jobs around the house and yard. Did not find out untill years later that he did not fire me to a favor to my mom. ( witch this is her exhusband). I finaly told him we can not comuatacat well enough to work for him. the money was nice when it was their. When you find out that 2 weeds in the flower bed is not a good enough job and so on. In my case I was self emploed. Tryed to help him under stand me and the way I am. It was talking to a wall. So I lost even tring.

I may be working for my brother and his wife. AS a homecare provider. That the state will pay me. One one door is closed one is oppened.

I wish the best for you at your job. Things do get better. sometimes it is cloudy for to long. Specialy when you are in the ADD Family.

LeAnna

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