Are you struggling to get appropriate accommodations for your ADHD?
Getting advice from a legal representative or advocate may be your best course of action, but before you hire a lawyer, we invite you to consult the list of legal resources below that will help you find the right assistance or legal representation.
Don’t forget ADDA’s ADHD @ Work Web site: ADDA has an entire website dedicated to providing you with the best information available on ADHD and the workplace. Make https://adhdatwork.add.org/ your first stop if you are struggling with accommodations in the workplace!
Promoting neurodiversity and fighting discrimination in the workplace is increasingly in the public eye, so there are increasing avenues you can take to ensure appropriate accommodations regardless of where you work or study. Employment discrimination laws are an important aspect of the modern workplace but these laws are also extremely complex in places, which is why many people need help resolving an issue when they have a dispute or even a question that needs answering.
Here are some great options to get you started:
The Injury Claim Coach: The Injury Claim Coach offers an Employment Discrimination Guide as well as a live Q&A feature where people get the opportunity to talk with a retired judge who can offer a professional opinion on a particular question.
Council of Parents Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA): COPAA specializes in protecting the legal and civil rights of students with disabilities. If you’re struggling with post-secondary education high stakes testing and accommodations, they also have a comprehensive directory or legal representatives that can assist you with your specific situation.
Association for Higher Education and Disabilities (AHEAD): AHEAD has been providing excellent resources since 1977 to ensure that adequate accommodations are provided to students with disabilities from childhood through to post-secondary studies. They also have a testing accommodation committee.
The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): NDRN is the largest provider of legal advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States and include members such as Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP).
Special Needs Alliance (SNA): SNA is a national organization made up of attorneys that are committed to helping individuals with disabilities, their families and the professionals who serve them.
American Bar Association (ABA): The ABA provides a comprehensive database of State and Local Bar Associations that allows you to locate your local bar association and find the right disability attorney for you.
Legal Services Corporation (LSC): LSC is an independent, non-profit corporation established by Congress to aid low-income Americans and American Families. Their mission is to ensure that everyone has rightful access to legal aid.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): If an employer fails to cooperate or denies accommodation, you can file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Job Accommodation Network (JAN): If you are going through a difficult time at work, you do not need to struggle alone. The JAN organization can help you navigate and understand your rights and accommodations you can ask for.
Accommodations at Work: What it if you need accommodations to help you do your job but you’re not ready to risk disclosing your ADHD? We recommend this article by Linda Walker, an expert in workplace issues and ADHD (and former Chair of the ADDA Workplace Committee). She offers a guide, and even a script to use, to ask for accommodations without revealing your ADHD.