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late diagnosis, workplace assessment, impact on career?

Y

Hi all,

Although I don't have a diagnosis yet, I've realised in the past year that a lot of my experiences in relationships and at work might be related to being on the autism spectrum (I'm 39 btw). I've had an appointment with my GP a year ago (pre covid) and she assessed and referred me, but they rejected my referral because I now live in a different borough. Obviously haven't seen a GP since covid started so haven't been able to get a new referral.

Fast forward to now where I've had an excruciating year of working in a new job virtually, being bullied and almost pushed out by my previous very manipualtive manager, and have never felt so out of place and paranoid in my entire life (I mean I have most of my life, but this tops everything). Does anyone else find virtual working worse? I don't really pick up information from listening to it on a call, and I am mostly unclear of what I'm meant to be doing, find social interaction even more awkward, feel constantly excluded from meetings and at the end I'm just on the margins while other people do all the stuff, despite my over 10 years of work experience and 3-4 degrees. I'm signed off for anxiety and depression now after a recent team change (there's a lot of change where I work and I think I just couldn't hack it anymore and hardly slept, plus changing to yet a new patronising and over-bearing manager after a month of being managed by a woman who was brilliant but got promoted) and am re-considering getting assessed properly and perhaps doing it through my workplace.

My question is, will there be any backlash / impact on my career and prospects? Are there any legislative disadvantages to having been diagnosed? It's been a long and ardous path to just get to where I am now and I don't want to make it more difficult. I've previously disclosed mental health stuff at a previous job and it resulted in me getting lots of work taken off me and not being trusted with anything and being treated weirdly by my manager - when actually my main gripe with any work is that I never get included or any high profile stuff and can't see myself making progress or having an impact while watching others get all the opportunities and that depressing me.

Would really appreciate any advice from anyone who's gone through the process and how it's impacted their work!

Y

Parents

  • I only recently got my diagnosis, so I haven't told work yet, but I wouldn't have any particular issues with telling them. I am probably in a better position than most as I work in education, so there is more awareness of autism in general and the possible accommodations they can make. 

    I can imagine in certain workplaces that might have a more "old fashioned" view of autism, it might be more of an issue.

  • in reply to Dan

    Dan, it is interesting you said that. I work in education as well and I have been trying to decide whether to disclose, and I’ve chatted about it with multiple fellow teachers who have said I should go for it and they don’t foresee any problems arising.

    I feel the same way you do: I think the field of education is unusual in that autism training and awareness is a required part of our qualification process and continued education. I’m grateful for that.

    Elizabeth

Reply
  • in reply to Dan

    Dan, it is interesting you said that. I work in education as well and I have been trying to decide whether to disclose, and I’ve chatted about it with multiple fellow teachers who have said I should go for it and they don’t foresee any problems arising.

    I feel the same way you do: I think the field of education is unusual in that autism training and awareness is a required part of our qualification process and continued education. I’m grateful for that.

    Elizabeth

Children
  • in reply to Elizabeth

    I'm sure it probably depends on the school and there are probably exceptions that prove this rule, but overall I would say education is possibly the most positive field to be more openly autistic in that I can think of.

    I've been teaching for over a decade and have taught huge numbers of ASC students and been on any number of training courses (some better than others) on the subject. It's just not possible to work in education and not be "exposed", for want of a better word, to some aspect of autism on a daily basis. That has to be a benefit for openly autistic staff.