ESA for Autism and ADHD: Mental/Cognitive Activities Guide

Autism and ADHD are conditions that primarily affect the mental and cognitive WCA activities (11-17), though they can also impact physical activities. Many people with autism or ADHD are told they "do not look disabled" or "seem fine" - but the WCA is about functional limitations, not appearances.

Key activities for autism and ADHD

Activity 14: Coping with change (up to 15 points)

This is often the highest-scoring activity for autistic people. Autism commonly involves a strong need for routine and severe distress when routines change. If you cannot cope with any change, 15 points. Minor planned changes, 9 points. Minor unplanned changes, 6 points. In a workplace, changes happen constantly - schedules shift, tasks change, unexpected situations arise. If these cause meltdowns, shutdowns, or severe anxiety, describe this in detail.

Activity 16: Social engagement (up to 15 points)

Difficulty with social interaction is a core feature of autism. If social contact is always precluded, 15 points. With strangers, 9 points. Every workplace requires social interaction with colleagues, managers, and potentially the public. Describe specific difficulties: not understanding social cues, finding eye contact distressing, becoming overwhelmed by social demands.

Activity 13: Initiating and completing personal action (up to 15 points)

Executive function difficulties affect both autism and ADHD. Problems with planning, organisation, prioritising, and switching between tasks. ADHD specifically causes inability to maintain attention, impulsive decision-making, and difficulty completing tasks. If you cannot reliably complete two or more sequential tasks, 15 points.

Activity 12: Awareness of hazards (up to 15 points)

Sensory processing differences in autism can reduce awareness of everyday dangers. Being so focused on a task that you do not notice hazards around you. ADHD inattention can similarly cause you to miss dangers. If you need supervision to maintain safety, you score 6-15 points depending on frequency.

Activity 11: Learning tasks (up to 9 points)

Learning difficulties associated with autism or ADHD can make learning new workplace tasks much harder than expected. If you cannot learn beyond a simple task, 9 points.

Activity 17: Behaviour (up to 15 points)

Autistic meltdowns and ADHD-related impulsive outbursts can both count here. If you have uncontrollable episodes of behaviour that would be unreasonable in a workplace - whether daily (15 pts), frequently (15 pts), or occasionally (9 pts) - this applies.

Physical activities affected by autism and ADHD

Sensory sensitivities can affect activity 8 (navigation), particularly in unfamiliar or overwhelming environments. Sensory overload from noise, lighting, or crowds can make workplace environments intolerable. Co-occurring conditions like hypermobility (common with autism) may also affect physical activities.

Medication for ADHD

Stimulant medications (methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine) can cause appetite suppression, anxiety, insomnia, and cardiovascular effects. Non-stimulants like atomoxetine cause drowsiness and nausea. All side effects count towards your WCA score.