Navigating Challenges Through Advocacy and Adaptation: Contributing to Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Living with ADHD, a learning disability, and the physical limitation of typing with one hand due to a stroke has profoundly shaped my personal and professional experiences. These intersecting challenges present unique obstacles, particularly in workplace environments that often don’t account for neurodiversity, learning,, or physical disabilities. Managing these issues daily requires creativity, adaptability, and, above all, resilience.

Late Diagnosis of ADHD and Its Professional Impact

Receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life helped explain why focus, organization, and time management had always been so difficult. However, the struggles began long before that. Diagnosed with a learning disability at age five, I learned early on how to mask my difficulties—hiding that I was different from my peers. Masking became a survival skill, allowing me to blend in by covering up how hard it was to keep up in school and, later, in professional environments. This carried into adulthood, where my ADHD added another layer of complexity to my need to mask.

For years, I developed the ability to present an outward appearance of being in control while working behind the scenes to catch up, refocus, and absorb new information. It’s a process I’ve refined over 30 years, often retreating to regroup mentally while hiding the struggle from others. Though this skill has helped me navigate fast-paced environments, it can be exhausting, as masking requires constant effort to appear organized and efficient even when I’m working through significant challenges behind the scenes.

The Added Complexity of a Learning Disability

My journey with masking started long before I was diagnosed with ADHD. Since my learning disability diagnosis at age five, I’ve spent most of my life hiding that I was different. From a young age, I learned to mask my challenges to fit into a world that didn’t always understand or accommodate learning differences. This practice continued into my professional life, where masking the time it takes me to process and retain information became second nature.

Masking means working quietly behind the scenes, catching up by spending extra time reviewing, breaking down tasks into manageable pieces, and ensuring I grasp concepts that may take others less time. Though it helps me meet expectations on the surface, the effort to maintain that appearance of ease—when in reality, I’m working much harder—has been an ongoing challenge throughout my career.

The Physical Challenge: Typing with One Hand

Suffering a stroke added a significant physical challenge to my professional life. Typing with one hand has slowed down my ability to perform basic tasks such as writing reports, responding to emails, and interacting with digital tools. Tasks that used to take minutes now require double the time and effort, further compounding the impact of ADHD and my learning disability.

This physical limitation creates logistical barriers in fast-paced work environments where speed is often a key metric for success. Tasks that others complete with ease now require additional accommodations or modifications. The physical exhaustion of typing with one hand is not just about slower output but also about the increased strain on my body and mind as I try to keep up with daily demands.

The Intersecting Challenges: ADHD, Learning Disabilities, and Physical Disabilities

Balancing ADHD, a learning disability, and a physical disability has required a careful blend of strategies and self-advocacy. ADHD makes it hard to manage distractions and stay organized, while my learning disability slows down information processing, and my physical challenge of typing with one hand increases task duration. These factors often create a perfect storm of challenges in environments that prize efficiency and quick results.

For example, while ADHD can lead to forgetfulness or an inability to focus on routine tasks, my learning disability means that new information takes longer to grasp, and my physical limitation further slows down output. Combined, these issues create frustration and fatigue, both mentally and physically, as I try to navigate expectations that often don’t align with my abilities or needs.

Common Workplace Challenges

Some of the most common challenges I face in the workplace include:

1. Task Management and Organization: ADHD makes organizing tasks and prioritizing difficult, often leading to missed deadlines or procrastination. Coupled with a learning disability, it can take longer to process instructions or fully understand the scope of tasks, which adds to the pressure.

2. Slower Information Processing: My learning disability means that absorbing new concepts or software takes more time, and repeating tasks until they become familiar is crucial for retention. This often leads to frustration in fast-paced environments where adaptability is key.

3. Physical Limitations: Typing with one hand makes simple tasks like responding to emails or drafting reports physically exhausting and time-consuming. The physical strain can lead to fatigue, further impacting focus and productivity.

4. Constant Need for Adaptation: Managing both mental and physical disabilities requires continual adaptation. I’ve had to develop coping strategies, such as breaking work into smaller tasks, using assistive technology, and setting realistic timeframes for my output. However, it can be emotionally draining to constantly advocate for accommodations and educate colleagues about my needs.

Adapting to These Challenges

To manage these intersecting challenges, I have learned to advocate for myself and seek the accommodations I need. Typically, I don't require any formal accommodations, but I often ask for written instructions to help with clarity. I also take it upon myself to write several pages of notes and create detailed documentation to ensure I fully retain understanding and knowledge. This method helps me manage the challenges of both ADHD and my learning disability effectively. However, when overstimulated, I often cry as a way of processing and releasing the overwhelming emotions that come with trying to manage multiple demands at once. Online writing tools have been particularly helpful, allowing me to enhance my written communication without being slowed down by my physical limitations. These tools streamline tasks like editing, checking grammar, and formatting, helping me maintain professionalism despite the slower pace of typing with one hand.

Finding Strength in Unexpected Places

While living with ADHD, a learning disability, and the aftermath of a stroke has its challenges, I’ve found strength in activities that bring me balance and focus. Walking 10 miles a day has become a form of both physical and mental therapy for me. It gives me time to clear my mind, stay active, and reflect on my day while reducing the mental fatigue that often comes with ADHD. It’s a way to reset and prepare myself for the challenges ahead.

Cooking has also become a therapeutic outlet, allowing me to engage in a creative process that’s both calming and rewarding. Cooking provides structure and order—something I often struggle with in other areas of life—and allows me to create something tangible and nourishing. It’s a reminder that despite the difficulties, I am capable of mastering tasks and finding joy in them.

These personal coping mechanisms have not only provided balance but also solidified my belief that Human Resources, specifically within People & Culture, is the best career path for me. The ability to help, assist, and educate others aligns perfectly with my own experiences of overcoming challenges. By understanding the struggles that come with disabilities—both seen and unseen—I am better equipped to advocate for others and contribute to creating more inclusive and supportive workplaces.

Moving Forward

Living with ADHD, a learning disability, and a physical disability presents ongoing challenges. Still, it has also deepened my understanding of how important it is to create inclusive, flexible work environments. The key is accommodations and a shift in how we view productivity and success.

By embracing neurodiversity and physical differences, workplaces can become more inclusive, allowing everyone to contribute their unique strengths. Through advocacy, communication, and ongoing adaptation, I navigate these challenges, knowing that my experiences contribute to a broader conversation about diversity, inclusion, and understanding in the professional world.

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