Published on 12, July, 2020
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!
I am a teacher working through my first term assignment. It has been a long journey, ever since I was in the education program, when I was finally diagnosed. What has become painfully clear is how poorly the condition is understood in the professional environment, where teachers tend to be very judgemental and critical of one another's appearance and mannerisms. Certain traits and eccentricities are accepted, while autistic traits hit the rumour mill pretty fast. There are many aspects of the job that I do well at, and most of the constructed social environments are totally fine with me. But those annoying chance encounters in the wild, 'how are you, how was your holiday?" moments totally throw me off. I've come to the realization that I have to do my job as best as I can and not worry about the things that teachers, whom you would think would actually be the more tolerant types of people, are saying about me behind my back. Speaking frankly, I think that autistic children are accepted, but many professionals revert to bigotry when they encounter an adult who is just as capable as themselves, but neurodiverse.
There is a tendency in our society to blame the victim rather than face the awkward truth that someone has been discriminated against. This is precisely what I think is happening with adults who have this difference in their personalities. People have a tendency to view 'people with poor social skills' as a problem, who are to blame for their own difficulties. But these victims are not the ones who are socially excluding others, or ridiculing colleagues behind their backs. While these traits might suggest a degree of social agility, I have to say, they are not virtuous or desirable. So, what I mean to say is, our community stands to gain more virtue by being more accepting of people with autism, and acquiring more understanding of adults with the condition, than they would lose by risking social interaction with someone who is a bit different.
Hm. There's a thought. Is not fear of interacting with people who are different a different kind of social deficit?