Fired During Accommodations Application: Reflections from A Black Autistic Worker

One of my greatest dreams is financial security. Not just so I can live my life well, but so I can dream about living. Period. Also, financial security almost guarantees health insurance; my medication costs $300-1,000 per month without insurance.

When I couldn’t be claimed on my parents’ plan anymore (which is in itself a privilege), all I could think whenever I clocked in at any job was, “I get to stay in therapy. I get to take my meds. I get to keep breathing.”

Four years ago, I quit my customer service job because masks weren’t enforced. Thankfully, I found an apprenticeship that would start within two months and allow me to get my Associate’s degree and work virtually. 

I spoke at a global panel on invisible disabilities about four months into the second year of my apprenticeship. Colleagues reached out to me afterwards asking for resources and looking for support. I felt like I’d finally figured out a place where I could fit in at this company. 

Three months before my scheduled graduation from the program to full-time employee, I came across a work email that mentioned an institution known for child abuse. I had a PTSD flashback and requested the rest of the day off. I’d never done this before—tell someone the truth in a way that could help me. But this time I asked for help. In hindsight, I feel like I made a terrible mistake. 

Less than a week later, I was put on probation. Then I got COVID. I struggled with tasks that I’d already needed help with in the past; COVID brain fog and exhaustion made it worse. I explained to my bosses that I needed more time, more help. They encouraged me to take care and get better. My career counselor, God bless her, helped me update my accommodations request (closed captioning, extra time to respond) and apply for FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act).

In 2023, across all levels of education and age groups, people with disabilities were much less likely to be employed than their counterparts without disabilities. As an organization that played up its commitment to diversity and inclusion, I’d hoped that there’d be more understanding as I attempted to find my place at work.

But, as shown in many companies, “diversity and inclusion” is more of a box to check off than a commitment to fulfill between employer and employee. This is extremely dangerous as Black disabled people are among the communities recorded to have high unemployment rates. Coupling that with anti-Blackness and misogynoir can make living day-to-day extremely difficult, if not near impossible.

Less than a week after I had gotten off the phone regarding my FMLA application, I was fired. When they pulled me into the Teams meeting to fire me, they didn’t even alert my counselor so that she could support me. It wasn’t the worst they could’ve done. At least they remembered to turn the captions on. 

Refusing to adhere to a person’s accommodations eliminates a person’s autonomy, making it difficult—if not impossible—to show up in a space. I couldn’t show up for work because I was spending energy meant for accomplishing tasks to advocate for my right to exist.

I’ve advocated for myself and others in work situations before and I’m tired. I’m tired of being seen as less than (not just due to disability, but race, gender, and sexuality–which are inextricably linked to and inform my disability). I’m tired of doing the work to be seen whereas others are treated as human without a second thought. I’m tired of my work being punished and I’m tired of being punished when I’m too burnt out to do the work necessary to be seen.

I’m something beyond exhausted and have been for years. And still…it’s not enough. I write, advocate, and show up and the world still tells me and my communities that we aren’t enough. What else can I possibly do?

---

A. Tony Jerome (they/them) is a Black, autistic multi-disciplinary artist. An Aardman Academy Stop Motion I graduate and 2024 Game Devs of Color speaker, you can find their work in The BreakBeat Poets: Volume 2, baffling magazine, and Freezeray Poetry, among others. They’re here to do good and do gay. You can find them at atjscreams on Bluesky and on their website.