• Replies 22 replies
  • Subscribers 86 subscribers
  • Views 3085 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Disclosing autism at work

NAS81850

I told my team colleagues on the team Teams call this Tuesday that I found out Friday before that I am on the spectrum. I felt I had to, to not keep that to myself and to hopefully get my colleagues talking about it and get some feedback on how 'oh yes it makes sense now I have always thought that etc.'. But when I said it to my team, it felt like it fell flat and even at my 1:1 with my line manager this thursday gone, it wasn't brought up. I said I didn't need any adjustments because I didn't want it to be a fuss. 

I feel a superposition of: stupid for having told everyone, embarrassment at what they think of me, and righteous for having told them considering it took courage to say it. I have felt upset since Tuesday, and haven't had the courage to raise that I have been upset with my colleagues, because I already think I gave them a burdensome piece of information without reminding them of it. It made for emotional pain and self hatred for the rest of the week and now it is weekend I'm able to look back and feel calmer about it. I feel my trust having been broken however and I won't be bringing it up again with my colleagues, unless they approach me about it. Thing is; I don't even know the truth about it, so the truth could be something which makes me silly for having felt this, but the lack of specific communication received has left my mind wandering.

Should I have received more engagement about it from my manager and colleagues, even so much as a well done for letting everyone know? 

Has anyone else experienced declaration of being on the spectrum fall flat because nobody seems to know how to respond to it?

Parents

  • I think that people in general know so little about autism that they do not feel able to comment or ask questions. That is unless they are very close family or  friends, who will feel less inhibited from asking questions.

    It might be useful to collect some leaflets and other written information about autism and give them to your line manager, along with some information compiled by yourself on how your autism affects you.

    Employers are obliged by law to make 'reasonable accommodations' so that you are not disadvantaged by your autism, relative to your non-autistic colleagues. They should go through a procedure with you, whether you want it or not, in order to comply with legislation and to cover their backs against any possible legal action against them on the grounds of disability discrimination.

  • in reply to Martin

    I don't wish to inundate people, but hopefully with the assessment feedback I get, I will be able to find some suggestions on things that adjustments might improve. It is in their interest so that they can get even more out of me. That said, I think it was more the social aspect that I said it for, since I am a bit eccentric at work and my motive in declaring autism was to clarify that.

Reply
  • in reply to Martin

    I don't wish to inundate people, but hopefully with the assessment feedback I get, I will be able to find some suggestions on things that adjustments might improve. It is in their interest so that they can get even more out of me. That said, I think it was more the social aspect that I said it for, since I am a bit eccentric at work and my motive in declaring autism was to clarify that.

Children