Phone calls and instant panic!

🖤 Accessibility isn’t just about ramps and lifts, it’s also about communication.

I wanted to to touch on this as I have a feeling that this will affect others out there and wanted to share my support.

I recently received a form that asked for my phone number to schedule an interview with no option to request adaptations or offer an alternative method of contact.

For many, a phone call is no big deal.
But for me , a neurodivergent woman with autism, ADHD, and Tourette’s  ( amongst other diagnosis) it’s something I actively dread.

Phone calls often leave me overwhelmed. I process information more slowly, so by the time I’ve understood what’s been said and started to respond, the person on the other end is already speaking again. That overlap causes even more stress, more lag in my thinking, and more shutdown.

Sometimes, when I’m really overwhelmed, I literally cannot speak, the words are in my head, but they won’t come out. This is often called situational mutism. It’s not rudeness or avoidance. It’s not a choice. It’s my brain trying to protect itself.

I’m sharing this not to point fingers, but to offer insight.
Because these experiences are common, and yet still so rarely considered.

💬 Just a simple question  “Do you need any adaptations?” could make all the difference.

I communicate better by email. I can process things at my own pace, without the pressure of instant responses or masking discomfort.

Inclusive practices don’t need to be complicated.
But they do need to be considered.