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Teaching, Aspergers and capability proceedings

RidleyRumpus

Hi,

After a degree in Physics, a career in SW I started a new career teaching Physics in secondary school 14 years ago.

I have struggled for some time with complaints from parents and students for reasons that I struggle to fathom as the students results have at least been in line with other teachers (who receive few if any complaints)

I have suffered from anxiety and depression for some years.

I have often put my problems down to a complete inability to remember student (and even teachers names), even after I have taught them for years. I have raised this as an issue and I have been advised to use the old chestnuts which just do not work for me. I have found that I seem to annoy colleagues with apparent rudeness/abruptness which has gone against me. I was not happy that my head of department accused me of having Aspergers in from of my department in a meeting when I asked her to clarify something. In retrospect she may have been on to something even if her communication skills were flawed.

My ex wife also thought I was on the spectrum but I had put that down to her not being very nice....

However the school have now moved to put me through capability (essentialy a dismissal) on pretty flimsy evidence. This sent my anxiety through the roof and I have been signed off for some time. I applied for help with my local IAPT service and the worker there also suggested Aspergers as a contributor. 

After some pondering/research which showed me that the traits fitted my to a tee. I took the plunge and was tested and was diagnosed as having Aspergers.

Now should I tell the school?

If so then what difficulties do you think I could face in the classroom as an Aspie and what should/could I ask for as reasonable adjustments?

Parents

  • NAS18906 said:

    [quote][/quote]

    I have struggled for some time with complaints from parents and students for reasons that I struggle to fathom as the students results have at least been in line with other teachers (who receive few if any complaints)

    Are you trying to understand this aspect of the situation? Are you getting any counselling and assistance from an autism support team?

    On a different tack, have you enjoyed teaching? is it a career that you are finding rewarding and that you want to continue with?

    I was only diagnosed last week and am sort of in denial at the moment. I am however under the care of the local IAPT service for the depression but have not been able to secure any counselling but have a support worker.

    I enjoy teaching but not the BS that goes with it nowadays. We have to do so much paperwork to prove that green is blue or to prove that we have done the paperwork it is just not true. Almost non of it is useful apart from the great god OFSTED must be satisfied that all boxes are ticked even though no one will ever refer to them, EVER.

    Unfortunately i am of an age and have a gender history that would make it hard to find any form of alternative employment esp one with a pension.

Reply

  • NAS18906 said:

    [quote][/quote]

    I have struggled for some time with complaints from parents and students for reasons that I struggle to fathom as the students results have at least been in line with other teachers (who receive few if any complaints)

    Are you trying to understand this aspect of the situation? Are you getting any counselling and assistance from an autism support team?

    On a different tack, have you enjoyed teaching? is it a career that you are finding rewarding and that you want to continue with?

    I was only diagnosed last week and am sort of in denial at the moment. I am however under the care of the local IAPT service for the depression but have not been able to secure any counselling but have a support worker.

    I enjoy teaching but not the BS that goes with it nowadays. We have to do so much paperwork to prove that green is blue or to prove that we have done the paperwork it is just not true. Almost non of it is useful apart from the great god OFSTED must be satisfied that all boxes are ticked even though no one will ever refer to them, EVER.

    Unfortunately i am of an age and have a gender history that would make it hard to find any form of alternative employment esp one with a pension.

Children
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