Resource
Asking for adjustments at work, in writing
A short email template that gets a clear answer, with the wording that tends to work.
Asking out loud is hard, and spoken requests get forgotten. A written request is easier to make, easier to say yes to, and leaves a record. Here is a template that has worked for people we support.
Subject: A couple of adjustments that would help me do my job well
Hello [name],
I am autistic. Two small changes would make a real difference to how well I work:
- [Adjustment one, specific. For example: written instructions for new tasks, rather than verbal ones.]
- [Adjustment two, specific. For example: a heads-up the day before a meeting is moved.]
Neither costs anything, and I am happy to talk through how they would work. Could we agree them by [date]?
Thank you, [Your name]
Why this wording works:
- It names the reason once, without a medical history.
- It asks for two things, not ten. Start with the two that matter most.
- Each change is concrete enough to say yes to without a meeting.
- It sets a date, which turns a request into a task.
Keep a copy. If nothing happens by the date, forward the same email with one line: "Checking in on this." Most of the time, that is all it takes.
If you would like help choosing which two adjustments to ask for, that is exactly the kind of thing a session is for.