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Are you an autistic teacher?

out_of_step
over 5 years ago

I would like to know if there are any autistic teachers here.

I would like to know...

How has autism had an impact on your teaching (in and out of the classroom ....positive and negative)

How has the job affected your autistic life? Im thinking here specifically in terms of the non-classroom elements of the job. For example how does the paperwork and planning affect you at home and your routines? How do you cope with the stresses of the job and a changing environment? How does it impact on your worklife balance as an autistic person? Do you have many meltdowns shutdowns or burnout episodes? Do you have any sensory problems at work such as information or social overload? How do you cope with these?

Why did you decide to take up the profession and did you know you were autistic before you started teaching?

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I am self-diagnosed and can relate to many aspects of autism throughout my life. Since self realisation i am able to use coping strategies  Im an adult tutor and currently this is the only teaching job ive had so i cant compare with other teaching roles. I would be interested to know how much of my job is general stress and how much could be down to being potentially autistic which compounds any stress. But i also would like to know your positive stories and experience! 

Parents
  • over 5 years ago

    Hi I'm a primary school teacher,  have been teaching for more than 20 years and was diagnosed last year.  Other than my kids, the job has been my life and even though I can see positives and negatives there are far more positives.  Firstly I never wanted to do anything else and can't think of anything I would have enjoyed and still enjoy.  There is routine and structures and teaching is an opportunity to explain things over and over again, the same but a little different each time.  I know I can do my job well, can see results clearly and children are much easier to talk to than adults.  The stressful parts of the job are all around other staff.  Very few staff know about my diagnosis and I don't intend to share it, mainly due to the large number of uninformed comments about autistic people I have overheard.  I cope with that by rarely going into the staffroom and never attending any staff events and trying to stay away from negative conversations.  I have had many many meltdowns and panic attacks quietly in my room and there have been times when I have felt burnt out but the actual teaching is the part I enjoy and I just have to remember that. Teaching is a changing environment but  if you are in it to give kids the best life chances you can, that never changes.  I can see the lack of  workalike balance and stress is bad for my health but that would probably be the same anywhere, I can't imagine any job is without stress and every 6 weeks there is time to recharge.  

    I'm not sure how being autistic has had an impact on my teaching, as I had been teaching for 20 years before being diagnosed.  Since my diagnosis I have been more accepting of myself and realising why things have been difficult which has made things easier for me.  I realise I have been performing and not really sure who I am all that time but teaching is a performance and now I have my diagnosis I am finding I can figure out who I am bit by bit.

Reply
  • over 5 years ago

    Hi I'm a primary school teacher,  have been teaching for more than 20 years and was diagnosed last year.  Other than my kids, the job has been my life and even though I can see positives and negatives there are far more positives.  Firstly I never wanted to do anything else and can't think of anything I would have enjoyed and still enjoy.  There is routine and structures and teaching is an opportunity to explain things over and over again, the same but a little different each time.  I know I can do my job well, can see results clearly and children are much easier to talk to than adults.  The stressful parts of the job are all around other staff.  Very few staff know about my diagnosis and I don't intend to share it, mainly due to the large number of uninformed comments about autistic people I have overheard.  I cope with that by rarely going into the staffroom and never attending any staff events and trying to stay away from negative conversations.  I have had many many meltdowns and panic attacks quietly in my room and there have been times when I have felt burnt out but the actual teaching is the part I enjoy and I just have to remember that. Teaching is a changing environment but  if you are in it to give kids the best life chances you can, that never changes.  I can see the lack of  workalike balance and stress is bad for my health but that would probably be the same anywhere, I can't imagine any job is without stress and every 6 weeks there is time to recharge.  

    I'm not sure how being autistic has had an impact on my teaching, as I had been teaching for 20 years before being diagnosed.  Since my diagnosis I have been more accepting of myself and realising why things have been difficult which has made things easier for me.  I realise I have been performing and not really sure who I am all that time but teaching is a performance and now I have my diagnosis I am finding I can figure out who I am bit by bit.

Children
  • over 3 years ago in reply to Komaneko

    Hi, I have been reading your thread with interest as I am an autistic teacher who is now doing a masters in education, my subject focusing on whether we value our autists in education. I was hoping that you might be interested in taking part and answering some questions or possibly being interviewed using zoom?  Thanks. 

  • over 5 years ago in reply to Komaneko

    Thsnkyou

    Like most teachers i agree its the clasrrom time which is most enjoyable. The actual teaching part outweighs the other stuff. As im getting older i do think i would encounter stress in any other jobs too. At least in teaching i get something back from my students and can see their progress and confidence grow. Yes its different everyday but there is some structure to my day which is always down to my own organisation skills....i like this autonomy and also the opprtunity to be creative in my lessons. I dont think i would get this "package" in another job.

  • over 5 years ago in reply to Komaneko
    Komaneko said:
    I realise I have been performing and not really sure who I am all that time but teaching is a performance and now I have my diagnosis I am finding I can figure out who I am bit by bit.

    yep, I can relate to that!