Simran Zander

My experience with Simran was very invalidating, dehumanizing, and frustrating, exacerbating my already difficult situation. I asked her to help me with FMLA paperwork during a period of severe autistic burnout and she quickly refused without consulting the licensed psychologist who diagnosed me and recommended it, and without asking me a single question about what I was going through. I wouldn't have disclosed my disability to my employer in order to get FMLA paperwork if I thought there was any chance that Simran would actually go against the advice of the psychologist who recommended it via formal accommodations letter. The psychologist I was working with specializes in diagnosing autism in adults and providing accommodation recommendations on a case-by-case basis. Unfortunately, she doesn't provide support to patients beyond the assessment process, so I had to turn to Simran, my primary care provider at the time, for help. My employer was very receptive to the request and was… eager to help, but Simran was not. Her reasoning was that autistic people thrive on strict routines and time off from work can lead to agoraphobia. It's alarming that she doesn't seem to view autism as a spectrum disorder, with generalizations along the lines of: This is the way that autistic people are and this is what they do need and do not need. This comes across as ignorant, arrogant, and irresponsible. In actuality, when autistic people are not supported when time off from work is needed to recover from burnout, routines fall apart and so does cognitive and executive functioning. This can lead to job loss, homelessness, and suic***. Autistic burnout, especially when coupled with a lack of proper support, contributes greatly to the high suic*** rates among people with ASD. It also contributes to the number of autistic people who can't maintain employment and end up on disability. The possibility of developing agoraphobia under these circumstances, if this is even a legitimate concern, pales in comparison to the potential consequences involved in not helping with protected time off when it is needed to recover. She suggested that I seek counseling, rather than taking time off. In reality, autistic people often need a break from social interaction and sensory input to recover, rather than to continue to force it and seek counseling instead. Counseling may be a useful component in recovery, but if work is what is causing the burnout, a break consisting of consecutive days off is likely needed as an urgent first step. Autistic burnout is not a psychological issue, its caused by a neurodivergent brain working beyond its capacity for too long. "Autistic burnout may be chronic and/or recurrent. Extended periods of autistic burnout can significantly impair an individual's ability to maintain employment, schooling, independent living, and general quality of life. It may also contribute to increased prevalence of comorbid depression, anxiety, and suic*** among autistic people." (Wikipedia) She also said that I asked for too much time off, even though she was the one required to recommend the appropriate amount of time off in the paperwork, not me, I only made a suggestion. Instead of suggesting a different amount of time off, she repeatedly used my suggestion as further justification to refuse help and she wasn't willing to discuss it further. Simran Zander seems both ableist and undereducated when it comes to autism, making it too dangerous for me to remain under her care as an autistic person requiring support at Level 2. Lastly, during this process, she did not come across as a healthcare provider who is caring, compassionate, personable, concerned, or even the slightest bit interested. Instead, she came across as cold and egotistical.