I'm Kate Broeking and I have over a decade of experience in the disability employment field, mainly with corporate Accommodation teams in the tech industry. I specialize in supporting employees with mental health conditions (depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc.) and neurodivergence (ADHD, autism, dyslexia etc.).
Depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism, bi-polar disorder, dyslexia, and many other common diagnoses are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and you're entitled to accommodations if they impact your ability to work. I've seen employees end up in bad spots because they weren't informed of their options. A common example is when people quit their job for mental health reasons when they could consider taking a medical leave or getting accommodations instead.
I created Work Wellness Coaching programs to provide 1:1 coaching to employees who want help managing some of the unique challenges that come from working in high-pressure corporate environments while managing this type of diagnosis – and it's now offered at some of the largest companies in the world.
I left the corporate world for my own mental health and well-being, and now I have my own company, VocaWell, where I give people information and coaching focused entirely on their individual needs and priorities.
Navigating things like accommodations and benefits can be frustrating, overwhelming, and scary. While I still work in this field, I give out as much free information on these topics as I can because there aren't a lot of readily accessible resources.
People often tell me they're worried about stigma, discrimination, and that prevents them from advocating for themselves. This is a relatable fear, and it's still important to be aware of your options whether you decide disclosure is the right path for you or not.
AMA about accommodations, job coaching, disclosing disability status at work, talking to your manager about these things, and strategies to advocate for yourself.