The Accommodation Menu: Practical Workplace Support
One of the biggest hurdles to getting support at work is simply not knowing what to ask for. When you are navigating AuDHD, Endometriosis, or a fertility journey, you know that the "standard" way of working isn't sustainable—but "fixing it" feels like a vague, overwhelming task.
At Sage & Focus, we help our clients identify the specific friction points in their day and match them with practical solutions. Accommodations aren't about "working less"; they are about removing the environmental and administrative noise so you can actually do your job.
Here is a menu of accommodations that we often explore with our clients.
For the AuDHD Brain (Focus & Sensory)
Neurodivergent professionals often deal with a "sensory tax"—the extra energy spent filtering out a noisy office or forcing a brain to switch tasks too quickly.
Communication Adjustments: Requesting that all verbal instructions or meeting action items be followed up in writing to assist with working memory.
Environmental Control: Permission to use noise-canceling headphones in the office or a request for natural/dimmable lighting in your workspace.
Body Doubling: Implementing virtual "co-working" sessions where team members work on their own tasks while on a shared, quiet video call to boost accountability.
Task Management: Breaking large, vague projects into smaller, deadline-driven milestones with a manager to manage executive dysfunction.
For Chronic Illness & Endometriosis (Energy & Physical)
When you live with a condition like Endometriosis, your capacity can change from hour to hour. Flexibility is the primary tool for success here.
Flexible Start/End Times: Adjusting your hours based on pain levels or sleep quality without being penalized for "tardiness."
Remote Work Options: The ability to work from home during flare-ups where travel is difficult, but cognitive work is still possible.
Physical Workspace Needs: Ergonomic chairs, standing desks, or even a dedicated "quiet room" in the office where you can rest briefly if needed.
Intermittent Leave: Setting up formal parameters for when you may need to step away for a few hours for medical management without it counting as a full "sick day."
For Fertility Journeys (Medical & Emotional)
Navigating IVF or other fertility treatments is physically grueling and requires a heavy schedule of appointments that rarely align with a 9-to-5.
Schedule Predictability: Requesting "blocked" times where you are unavailable for meetings to accommodate morning clinic appointments.
Camera-Optional Meetings: Permission to keep the camera off during days when the physical toll of hormones or treatment makes "performing" professional presence difficult.
Privacy Protections: Establishing a clear boundary with HR regarding how much (or how little) medical information is shared with a broader team.
How to Choose What You Need
We recommend starting small. You don’t need to overhaul your entire job description at once. Look at your last work week and ask yourself: Where was the most unnecessary friction?
Was it the morning commute while in pain?
Was it the open-plan office noise?
Was it the vague instructions on a new project?
At Sage & Focus, we help you bridge the gap between "I’m struggling" and "Here is the specific tool that will help me succeed."
