I got discriminated against.

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Cleaners came to my house as arranged. And then walked out lying to me that they needed to get some equipment. They never came back. I had a meltdown and then called my social worker, screaming and crying and self harming. She called the cleaning company. They said that they refused to clean my house because I was a "risk" and that I was "behaving strangely". THEY WERE TOLD ABOUT MY AUTISM IN ADVANCE. Now they refuse to clean my house.

I'm going to make a formal complaint. I was struggling a bit with speech when they were there (I have a communication disability) and I made zero eye contact. But that is not a "risk" to health and safety! I know about health and safety law!

I had to take a double dose of clonazepam because I had a massive meltdown when I was alone, self harmed, broke something and bit myself until I bled.

And on top of that I have been told I've been referred to cardiology because there is a problem with my heart. It was the remaining organ that hasn't been investigated in my life.

Honestly I am sick of being sick and I'm sick of some people not understanding my autism.

My dad thinks I need to go back to supported housing because of my daily challenging behaviour. I can't afford daily support workers (I have home support three times a week and uni support (uni support government funded but home self funded fron disability benefits) on my two uni days a week).

I'm suicidal right now. I'm struggling to think logically. Help.

I can understand your anger. You probably prepared your home (moving furniture and picking up to make the carpets ready for cleaning). Then they upset your plans by not understanding your instructions and prior disclosure about your disability. I would be angry, too.

But, I am sorry about your reaction and meltdown. Just an idea: Next time you invite workers into your home, prepare a written list of things that you need them to know (kinda like how you told them about your autism, but a little more detailed). Give a copy of the list to them in advance, and have another copy for yourself to show them when they arrive.

Better yet, invite a friend or family member to "visit" at the same time they are working. This will help you explain things better to the workers, and help you be more calm, hopefully. I amn't saying that you couldn't have done better on your own this time, but having notes ready and a friend to help out changes the dynamics in your favor. My 83-year-old mother has me hang around when workers (plumbers, carpet cleaners and others) arrive to do work. I introduce myself and they understand that, if they have any questions about details, I will be there for them and my mother.

Again, I am sorry that your plans went awry. It doesn't appear to me that you provoked this. They apparently just freaked out about something you said or did, and didn't understand its meaning. Their fault, in my opinion. But, considering this a learning experience. With a little outside help (notes and friend), you will probably do much better next time.

Good luck!

Who do you arrange the cleaning with? Your therapist? The NHS? Perhaps they could change cleaning companies?

I'm sorry you're going through this crap.

Aspie Utah - thank you for the advice. It makes a lot of sense.

Kortie - thanks. It was organised privately as I live alone in my dad's house with external support.

I may have to go back to supported housing as I'm not coping alone. I nearly blinded myself today.

Hey I get the feeling that people lie to me, try to deceive me and talk behind my back all the time. Imagine you have a conversation and people start getting hostile and you do not know what you had done.

With your self harming, supported housing may be a good idea. At least while you are feeling this way.
Put it down to a misunderstanding with your cleaners. They're probably not used to lack of eye contact and may have worried about your verbalization as a sign of drug use. People are discriminatory, no question. But its their ignorance and is not your fault.

I self harm due to challenging behaviour issues. I need someone there to stop me getting to that point. So I understand the idea of supported housing.

They were ignorant. I'll try and forget about them, until I make the complaint.