Carrying a tray - my ultimate nightmare!
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Carrying a tray - my ultimate nightmare!
I haven't had a diagnosis of dyspraxia however having done some research and taken a couple of the online tests, I think a trip to the gp and a discussion is on the cards. This all came about because I work in a bar (clumsy person with no spatial awareness and glass - the joy!) but I've kind of schooled myself over the years and developed certain coping mechanisms to get around and hide how clumsy I am. Mostly I laugh it off or pretend nothing happened. Recently we've had a few things re-enforced and one of them is collecting glasses using a tray. I am terrified, not only do I have to lean over people and collect the glasses while keeping the tray upright (i find this near impossible when i don't look at the tray - but then if i don't look at the glasses i am collecting i'll knock them flying!) but if by some miracle I manage this I then have to negotiate getting them back through the bar and putting the tray down. So far I try and race round and collect the odd glass here and there when no one's about so i don't get caught but the sticky point is i'm a supervisor and should be leading by example - and i feel i'm not but as i don't have a diagnosis or anything feel really stupid just saying ' oh i'm clumsy, so i can't carry a tray of glasses' so on the other hand i'm scared of dropping the entire lot and worse still onto someone! I'm going to speak to the gp and explain my history and the symptoms i have and go from there - has anyone had experiences telling employers things like this? Good or bad? Thanks
Re: Carrying a tray - my ultimate nightmare!
This task would be nightmarish for a great many of us I suspect. I still remember losing a tray of drinks I'd just bought when trying to carry them down some steps on a tray and it must be getting on for 20 years ago! The thought of repeating that doesn't help inspire my confidence.
If it's not safe or practical or safe for you to do it this way I think you should politely and respectfully advise management of your concerns. I know I too sometimes over-focus on trying to do things as directed but with a co-ordination difference (or difficulty) people need a degree of flexibility to do things in a way that works for them. I think you should politely point out that you yourself would have difficulty with this and that other staff might too. Whilst you appreciate the desire for it to be done in this way it may not be easy or workable for everyone however much they practice.
As a supervisor, is it a task you could agree to delegate in the majority of circumstances? If I had to perform this operation, I'd have to put the tray on a table to load it and would not dare try and hold it aloft with one hand whilst trying to load it with my other hand as it would be a recipe for disaster and wastage. The busier and more crowded the room the more difficult it would be and even on a quiet day with theoretically ideal conditions I'm sure I could still manage to trip over my own feet!
All the best
If it's not safe or practical or safe for you to do it this way I think you should politely and respectfully advise management of your concerns. I know I too sometimes over-focus on trying to do things as directed but with a co-ordination difference (or difficulty) people need a degree of flexibility to do things in a way that works for them. I think you should politely point out that you yourself would have difficulty with this and that other staff might too. Whilst you appreciate the desire for it to be done in this way it may not be easy or workable for everyone however much they practice.
As a supervisor, is it a task you could agree to delegate in the majority of circumstances? If I had to perform this operation, I'd have to put the tray on a table to load it and would not dare try and hold it aloft with one hand whilst trying to load it with my other hand as it would be a recipe for disaster and wastage. The busier and more crowded the room the more difficult it would be and even on a quiet day with theoretically ideal conditions I'm sure I could still manage to trip over my own feet!
All the best
Tom
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Moderator/Administrator
With a foot full of bullets I tried to run faster but I just hobbled on to the next disaster.
(from Peter and the Test Tube Babies, Foot Full of Bullets)
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Re: Carrying a tray - my ultimate nightmare!
Hi Nat, have seen this post and your horse riding post, from what you say it sounds like your body position sense (like many people with dyspraxia) doesn't work properly. Surprisingly most people know where Their arms and legs are without looking, but those of us with dyspraxia find this info doesn't get to our brains properly if you can get an assessment with an OT trained in Sensory integration they may be able to help. Take a Kolkata the Ssensory integration network website for more info.