Working with Miranda, teamwork and autism support

Working with Miranda

Friendship at work, autism awareness, and small moments that keep me steady.

I work with my friend Miranda. We move through busy days together, one small moment at a time. Some days I am the helper. Some days she is. Most days we trade places without saying a word. That is what trust looks like for me at work.

How we team up

Miranda knows my patterns. When the store gets loud, she checks on me. When I get lost in a task, she gives me a simple cue. Sometimes it is a soft beep sound to help me shift attention. Sometimes it is a gentle look that says breathe. I do the same for her in my way. I grab parts, I keep things moving, I crack a joke when we both need a reset.

When change hits hard

Updates to the system can throw me off. My breath gets shallow. My body feels tight. When that happens, Miranda crouches so we are eye to eye and says breathe with me. One breath in. One breath out. That reminder helps my brain remember what my body forgets. Then I can return to the steps in front of me.

Why I jump

I startle easily. If someone sneaks up behind me or grabs my sides, I may squeal and jump. This is a real sensory thing for me. My nervous system reacts fast. I am not trying to be dramatic. My body is just loud about surprise. When people understand that, work feels safer.

The silly side of our day

We also play. We tease about who is ahead on sales. We stick our tongues out and laugh. That joy matters. It breaks the pressure and gives me energy for the next task. Work is not only stress. Work can be connection and fun too.

What I am learning

Miranda cannot be with me every minute. She has her own life and people who need her. I still get lonely at times. I am learning to name what I need, to ask for help, and to build more friendships that feel safe. I am also learning to notice my wins. One calm breath. One kind joke. One task finished. I am proud of that.

A note for readers

Simple support that helps.

Give clear steps.

Offer gentle cues.

Ask before touching.

Make space for recovery after stress.

Thank you, Miranda

Thank you for seeing me. Thank you for the beep beep. Thank you for laughing with me when the day feels heavy. I am better at my job and kinder to myself because we are a team.

From my blog, Chronicles of a Quiet Fighter.