Erynn
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
‘I think if organisations really understood what disability inclusion means for them … they would know that it’s actually going to help their business.’
Erynn, early 40s, is autistic and has complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
She told the Royal Commission that growing up she didn’t fit in. Her classmates made fun of her, didn’t invite her to parties or pick her for a team.
‘In high school, I spent every lunchtime by myself.’
In her 20s, Erynn started working for a development company and said she found her niche.
‘The way my autism spectrum manifests is laser-focus, racehorse-speed problem-solving.’
She was very successful and made a lot of money for the company.
A few years ago, while working on a big project, Erynn told her boss she was autistic.
Her boss began to bully and isolate her and made disparaging remarks.
‘He hated the fact that I was on the spectrum. Everything I did is always wrong. “Oh, it’s great, but it’s all wrong because she’s on the spectrum and she doesn’t know what she’s doing. So everything that she’s done to date is wrong and you have to change it all.”’
Erynn had mentioned she was noise and cold sensitive.
Her boss moved her to the noisiest place in the office under an air-conditioning vent.
‘It couldn’t get any noisier. I was surrounded by 16 people, printers, it was a thoroughfare, it was behind reception, people coming and going, really loud doors slamming.’
One day in a meeting, her boss became very angry and Erynn thought he was going to hit her.
‘His hand was that close to connecting with my face.’
Other people in the meeting told her ‘the way he treated [her] was disgraceful’.
Erynn ended up with burnout fatigue and became suicidal.
One night she had a mini stroke and was admitted to hospital.
She returned to work and the bullying continued.
‘I had an outburst after two years of being absolutely brutalised.’
Erynn told the HR manager what was going on and that she didn’t feel safe in the workplace. ‘He’s been bullying me. Everyone knows he’s been bullying me,’ she told them.
An hour later they ‘marched [her] out the door’.
The company told Erynn it was because of her outburst. ‘It beggars belief,’ she said.
Erin has not been able to work since.
‘I cannot physically be in an office building. It has traumatised me so much I lost my ability to function. I can’t open a laptop.’
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.