Empower and Support: A Black Autistic Woman's Journey

Hi there! My name is Brittany and between the ages of 32 and 33, I was diagnosed with ADHD, the Combined type, and Autism after being diagnosed repeatedly with Depression and Anxiety Disorders for nearly a decade.

Last year, I took a medical leave of absence from my former employer and what was originally supposed to be a month or two unexpectedly turned into a five month absence. A week after returning to work, I learned via email that my job was impacted and that my team was being laid off right in the midst of the holiday season. To make matters worse, I received very little support from short-term disability benefits during my absence and was ultimately denied long-term disability benefits.

During my leave of absence, I faced many financial obstacles. My car was repossessed, I was unable to keep up with monthly expenses (i.e. credit card payments, federal student loan payments, car insurance, copays and coinsurance payments, prescriptions, etc.) With assistance, I was able to get my car back; however, my mental wellness continued to take a turn for the worst. I experienced night terrors, debilitating anxiety, major depressive episodes and faced challenges within my interpersonal relationships.

After being laid off, I received a severance and was able to catch up on past due bills, but other responsibilities such as toiletries, food, rent, and of course, the bare necessities for my emotional support animal, Banksy Rei, quickly ate away at those funds.

Today, I still face many financial challenges, so I'm fundraising to keep up with my car-related expenses, housing expenses and medical expenses so that I can take care of myself while I continue to seek employment.

I've had trouble with asking for help in the past, so I'm trying a new approach by asking for help in advance. I'm more than willing to share a list of expenses if requested.

My late diagnoses are not the sole reason I'm in this current position, but they did not help prevent where I am today. What I mean by this is, according to the National Autistic Society, about 85% of Autistic adults have full-time employment and depending on several factors, Autistic adults have a harder time finding and keep regular employment. I, myself, understand this all too well as I keep coming across internship recommendations or jobs that pay 50% less or more of what I was making in my previous role as a Technical Support Specialist.

If you'd like to learn more about Neurodivergence and how it impacts finances and the workplace, I urge you to read the following articles:

My hope is to not only get one step closer towards financial stability, but to also educate folks about Neurodiversity, continue to advocate for Neurodiversity and accommodations in the workplace, and most importantly, to push for more research regarding mental wellness and neurodiversity within Black communities, especially for Black girls and women.

Thank you for your time and learning more about my personal struggles with employment and finances. In addition to donations, I'm asking that you educate yourself and others around you about differently-wired brains. I will post updates regarding my journey and prayerfully not only raise enough to help myself, but to help others once I gain employment.