PhD studies: difficulties, opportunities, facilitation

[Apleba]

I am doing a PhD. I could describe it as receiving challenges of a student and of an employee at the same time. So, I think not only PhDs, but also employees and students could help me out with my question - do you use any facilitation to make your professional life easier (gadgets, assistive technologies, agreements with your employer/adviser...)? My biggest professional challenges are 'translating' my thoughts into language, understanding more abstract ideas (especially non-written), speaking on the spot, making professional connections, and concentrating (unless I'm 'in the zone').

 

[Kalinychta]

Many of us are afraid to tell our employers that we’re autistic. I am. I know @Autistamatic has said that he was able to make arrangements with his employer, so perhaps he wouldn’t mind answering your question.

 

[NothingToSeeHere]

I'm doing a part time PhD, part time research assistant.

I am in a smaller office than other PhDs to avoid noise and chaos and have a desk next to the window for natural light. I work from home whenever I want/ am doing work that permits. I meet with my supervisor once a week (more often than most) as this helps me stick to deadlines and keep on top of everything. I communicate far better in writing than speech so if I have anything complicated to talk about I will email her with the details in advance so that I won't miss anything, and I always have a note book and talk thorough notes of our conversations. I don't have any assistive technologies.

I absolutely suck at 'networking' and find conferences very stressful. Not much to do about that but I take it easy at conferences and don't force myself to socialise during every break or networking event. The main academic organisation in my field, which runs the biggest conference of the year, has a peer network and mentoring programme for people with disabilities and illness, there may be something similar in your field?

 

[Apleba]

The main academic organisation in my field, which runs the biggest conference of the year, has a peer network and mentoring programme for people with disabilities and illness, there may be something similar in your field?

Thank you for your comment! I am not aware of any organization for people with illness at my university, however, there is an option to ask for facilitation. I clearly feel that I am struggling with certain things, but I am not able to clearly state which facilitation/help I would need. In a way, I am, as Kalinychta said, afraid to tell that I'm autistic. On the other hand, maybe there are options that I am currently not aware of, that could help me in my daily tasks and make me more efficient.

P.S. I am super awkward at the conferences and other events, even though I initially like going to them. I just want to scream 'Please understand me, I simply can't handle all this social encounter!', but instead I just stand in the corner.

P.P.S. I am deadly terrified of the public defense. It has everything I am terrible at.

 

[NothingToSeeHere]

Thank you for your comment! I am not aware of any organization for people with illness at my university, however, there is an option to ask for facilitation. I clearly feel that I am struggling with certain things, but I am not able to clearly state which facilitation/help I would need. In a way, I am, as Kalinychta said, afraid to tell that I'm autistic. On the other hand, maybe there are options that I am currently not aware of, that could help me in my daily tasks and make me more efficient.

I was referring to the British Ecological Society, an international organisation which provides grants, runs several peer reviewed journals, conferences, special interest groups, and various mentoring networks such as womens mentoring and the disability network I mentioned. I have no idea if other fields have similar organisations.

Specific to university, I have had assistance through disability services at my previous unis, for dyslexia throughout and for autism when I was doing my MSc, which basically was that I was provided with a 'mentor' (a psychologist returned to uni to do PGR) who I met up with regularly to chat with and who assisted me with any issues such as contacting lecturers about course related problems. For dyslexia I used a speach to text programme for a while, is that the sort of thing you are thinking of by "assistive tech"? I found it very useful for the 1st couple of years of my undergrad but eventually the concepts I was writing about became too complex for me to express them in speech. I decided I didn't need anything at my current uni as before starting my PhD I had already worked here for a few years and new the ropes.

I would suggest contact your unis disability services or equivalent for a confidential chat about how they can support you. You don't have to let you lectures/supervisors now about it if you are not comfortable (although having my supervisor know about my autism I find is very relieving, like having a weight off my shoulders).

P.P.S. I am deadly terrified of the public defense. It has everything I am terrible at.

Tell me about it. I guess at least it is the sort of thing that 95% of people are also completely terrified by.

 

[tducey]

My having a disability is something I think is good for my employers to know. I find they're ok with my having Autism.