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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

  • Hi. I've been a teacher for 11 years at the same place, but have only self-diagnosed with autism in the past 6 months, haven't disclosed to my workplace yet and am wondering some of the same things that you are about what might be helpful (or the opposite) if I disclosed or had an official diagnosis. One thing I do have that you might find helpful is my own office (most other teachers share one with up to ten or so other staff), which my workplace kindly gave me after I had a bit of a breakdown. It sounds like your workplace are brilliant - I've never heard of anywhere having a workplace coach except for new staff. 

    Can I ask how you got a diagnosis with Bupa? 

  • in reply to Dara

    Hi, I don’t have an office, although they have given me the use of one or if it is in use, a quiet working space away from noise. We all have a coach for performance management. Previously my coach simply met me a few times a year and completed the necessary paperwork- it didn’t add any extra help. Three years ago, I was given my current coach and she’s been brilliant- much more of a mentor. She had helped me quite a bit in the past 2 years (although it was probably clear I had really bad anxiety, I never talked to her about anything else),  and then when Lockdown happened she offered to meet with me every day, always in the morning, sometimes after work or whenever was needed. She’s been my absolute work hero and is probably the reason I’ve not been off sick. I’ve worked with her for 11 years, but only have felt able to be totally honest with her in the last 6 months. I was finding all the change too much and couldn’t methodically plan as I used to. Someone asked her if I had ASC, we had a conversation and she said work would support me if I chose to go for an assessment- that they weren’t pushing me but would support. It will help us both I think. Work have written a statement detailing my strengths and difficulties. Work pay for BUPA for employees so the assessment has been arranged through them. I simply found an assessment centre - the consultant has to be GMC registered and the appointment has to be described as a consultation. I have decided only to disclose to my mentor, Head and Exec Head, so the appointment is simply marked as an assessment with a psychiatric consultant so as the office staff/ whoever deals with the claims side doesn’t know. 

Reply
  • in reply to Dara

    Hi, I don’t have an office, although they have given me the use of one or if it is in use, a quiet working space away from noise. We all have a coach for performance management. Previously my coach simply met me a few times a year and completed the necessary paperwork- it didn’t add any extra help. Three years ago, I was given my current coach and she’s been brilliant- much more of a mentor. She had helped me quite a bit in the past 2 years (although it was probably clear I had really bad anxiety, I never talked to her about anything else),  and then when Lockdown happened she offered to meet with me every day, always in the morning, sometimes after work or whenever was needed. She’s been my absolute work hero and is probably the reason I’ve not been off sick. I’ve worked with her for 11 years, but only have felt able to be totally honest with her in the last 6 months. I was finding all the change too much and couldn’t methodically plan as I used to. Someone asked her if I had ASC, we had a conversation and she said work would support me if I chose to go for an assessment- that they weren’t pushing me but would support. It will help us both I think. Work have written a statement detailing my strengths and difficulties. Work pay for BUPA for employees so the assessment has been arranged through them. I simply found an assessment centre - the consultant has to be GMC registered and the appointment has to be described as a consultation. I have decided only to disclose to my mentor, Head and Exec Head, so the appointment is simply marked as an assessment with a psychiatric consultant so as the office staff/ whoever deals with the claims side doesn’t know. 

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