Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) and Reasonable Adjustments at Work When You’re Neurodivergent

For many ADHD and Autistic women, work can feel like one long performance.

You’re constantly trying to stay focused, regulate emotions, meet deadlines, manage meetings, hold back impulsive ideas, and keep your face neutral when someone micromanages you for the third time that day.

From the outside, it looks like you’re coping. Inside, you might be running on fumes.

It’s not because you’re not capable. It’s because you’re carrying invisible load after invisible load, all while trying to meet expectations that were never built with your brain in mind.

This is where workplace support becomes more than just a nice idea. It becomes essential.

You are allowed to work differently

You don’t need to be in crisis to ask for support. You don’t need to prove that things are falling apart to deserve adjustments. In fact, the earlier you advocate for yourself, the more sustainable your work becomes.

Reasonable adjustments are simply practical supports that reduce barriers. They can be small. They can be flexible. And they can make a huge difference to how you function day to day.

Some examples of what this might look like:

Flexible hours that work with your energy patterns
Written instructions or task breakdowns instead of verbal briefings
Noise-cancelling headphones or a quieter workspace
Time blocking support or scheduling tools
Access to coaching or body doubling to manage executive functioning
Reduced context switching or batching meetings to support focus

These aren’t about lowering the bar. They’re about giving your brain the conditions it needs to thrive.

You don’t have to disclose everything

You are not required to share your diagnosis to ask for adjustments. If disclosing feels unsafe or uncomfortable, you can still request changes based on the impact you’re experiencing.

This might sound like:

“I’ve noticed I work best with written summaries of meetings so I can stay on track.”
“To manage my energy throughout the week, I’d benefit from more consistent scheduling.”
“I’ve been trialling some strategies that help with focus, and I’d like to explore a few small changes to my workload structure.”

You don’t need to over-explain or apologise. Your request is valid.

It’s okay if it still feels hard to ask

So many of us have internalised the idea that asking for help means we’ve failed. We’ve had past experiences where we were misunderstood, dismissed, or told we were being difficult. For late-diagnosed women especially, there can be a deep fear that asking for support will undo all the work we’ve done to be seen as competent.

This fear is valid. It comes from real experiences.

But you are not wrong for needing help. You are not weak for wanting to protect your nervous system. And you don’t have to choose between doing good work and looking after your wellbeing.

Start where it feels safe. Trial one small adjustment. Invite your employer into the conversation when you’re ready. Bring someone in to support you if needed. You’re allowed to move at your own pace.

Funded support might be available to you

If you’re in Australia and working (or running your own business), you may be eligible for up to $1,642 in government-funded ADHD or Autism-specific coaching through the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF).

This fund is designed to help reduce workplace barriers by covering things like:

Executive functioning coaching
Assistive technology
Workplace modifications or environmental changes
Disability awareness training for your employer

You don’t need to be on the NDIS. You don’t need to navigate it alone.

I’ve supported many women through this journey, and the difference it makes is real. Less burnout. More clarity. A sense that you’re finally allowed to work with your brain instead of fighting against it.

BOOK A CLARITY CALL or leave a question on the contact form HERE