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Autistic teachers- can you advise please?

NAS70583

Hi, it’s my first time posting here, and if possible I’d appreciate some advice. I’m a secondary school teacher in the UK and have worked in the same inner city school for 22 years. I’m being assessed for ASC in two weeks. Over the years, I’ve been by and large successful after developing my own coping strategies, double and treble checking every lesson before delivery. I get along with everyone  although I prefer to work alone in terms of planning and have my own work space and space to eat lunch.

My school are supportive, and after really struggling with change (and continued anxiety due to chance) during lockdown, agreed to my request for morning meetings with my coach (everyone has a work coach). School have made many reasonable adjustments to support me and have agreed to support the assessment process. (It’s being funded via BUPA who my employer pay for). I decided to go down the formal assessment route after colleagues asked if I was autistic, and why I struggled the way I do. I need to have those answers for definite for my own peace of mind. 

My coach has written a letter to the assessment team detailing the difficulties I have, and has been a fantastic support since I asked for help. Nothing has been too much trouble if I’ve  asked. I have stated that although I wish to share my diagnosis with the Head and my coach in order to ensure support continues, I don’t wish to share with other staff members. They accept me and my differences anyway so I don’t feel the need to share a diagnosis. My coach has assured me it won’t impact on anything negatively work wise and they will continue to support me in the same way. Currently, I meet my coach each morning, run through the day/ any changes, have a quiet working and lunch space, ask for time out if needed, have exemption from busy whole staff meetings etc, can text/ ring my coach at any time (including on her day off).....they have worked with what I have needed. In return they have a dedicated employee who would do anything for them. 

Are there any teachers who have found having a formal diagnosis has been a positive step?

How has it helped you?

what other adjustments have you found beneficial?

Have you shared your diagnosis with a select few/ more widely at work? 

If you could give me one/ two pieces of advice what would they be? 

Thanks for reading his far! 

Parents

  • I think u are in a very positive environment and being supported by some very nice and truly remarkable people. So I recommend you go for an ASC assessment to see want they say.

    The diagnosis helps you to re-establish yourself and you can build from there on your weaker areas. There are some autistic teachers on here and they seem to do fine. I hope some catch this thread. 

    Bottom line here is your coach is so willing to help you  and work with you through your assessment which is really awesome. So please go for the ASC assessment and become a really good teacher of say sciences for really gifted children who need someone exceptional people to teach them.

    u.re doing the right thing and u're in the right place at the right time.

    you are managing now so you can manage even better in the future.

Reply

  • I think u are in a very positive environment and being supported by some very nice and truly remarkable people. So I recommend you go for an ASC assessment to see want they say.

    The diagnosis helps you to re-establish yourself and you can build from there on your weaker areas. There are some autistic teachers on here and they seem to do fine. I hope some catch this thread. 

    Bottom line here is your coach is so willing to help you  and work with you through your assessment which is really awesome. So please go for the ASC assessment and become a really good teacher of say sciences for really gifted children who need someone exceptional people to teach them.

    u.re doing the right thing and u're in the right place at the right time.

    you are managing now so you can manage even better in the future.

Children
  • in reply to aidie

    Thanks, my work place is amazing and although I’ve worked alongside my coach for 11 years, I only asked for help during the first lockdown. She has never once let me down and has given her time freely each morning or whenever I’ve needed it. She’s an assistant head, and so had a heavy workload. I have asked her in the past to help build on weaker areas and it has helped make some things easier- things I couldn’t have achieved on my own- only with support. I was unaware of someone my weaker areas- as seen on the supporting letter she wrote, - but they are areas I can ask for her to help me with. I did say they could send it direct to the assessment centre but she said she’d rather me see it first. I’m mostly outstanding in observations, and the areas that are sometimes graded good are as a direct result of anxiety. They’ve already helped me with the observation process last year even before we had any conversation about ASC. She’s assured me it won’t change a thing from a work perspective, and I trust her totally. I suppose I have just read so many negative stories about workplaces in general there’s a tiny bit of doubt ...and this is the reason I won’t share a diagnosis openly. I’ve seen how some staff treat difference. For me though, I think it will be a positive step as I already have the support in place and she had said school would fully support the process which they have done. In a way, I don’t need any other adjustments off them as they are all in place and they are ready to help if I ask. Thanks for a positive reply- I hope other autistic teachers can share some tips or advice too..