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!
Yes! I am officially diagnosed, and it was teaching that led me to pursue my diagnosis, after having met so many autistic students over the years and seeing myself in them, again and again.
I teach Latin - I joke that with all its rules and patterns and logic, it is a pretty autistic subject! I took it up simply because I loved it as a subject - I was dubious about whether I could teach it, but after 10 years running a large and successful department, it turns out that I can! I've always worked in boys' schools, although I am female... I find boys more straightforward to deal with, and girls' voices can be too shrill for me.
I'm very "out" at school - I think it is so important for my autistic students to have a role model who is proud of their autism, and who is academically and professionally successful.
To be honest, the students are the easy bit... yes, there's a lot of BS and unnecessary paperwork, but the joy of being out is that everyone is very understanding when you tell them that the unnecessary admin is in fact BS and you won't be doing it! I've got rid of some of the nonsense for everyone over the years just by speaking up - I think a lot of NTs are so worried about how to phrase things and how they'll come across that they don't say anything - whereas I have very little filter!
I did have a major issue with being used for cover - once my week is planned, it does not get unplanned, I don't care how many people are off sick - but there is now an agreement in place where I am never asked to do this. I also can't do lunch duty in the main hall as it echoes and the volume is just too much for me - I tried ear defenders but they press on my helix and tragus piercings - so again, I have to have outside duty, but that's not so bad.
I think that, as long as you're honest from the start, firm, and don't let anyone try to get away with treating an "SEN" adult with less consideration than an SEN student, it's a profession that can work.