AIBU to wonder how you would feel about your child having an autistic teacher?

[Aspieteach]

Name changed for this just in case any one from my school is able to identify me from previous posts.

I had an appointment today at my county's neurobehavioural clinic. No formal diagnosis yet, but I was told that I meet the diagnostic criteria for ASD. I'm going to "come out" to friends and colleagues once I've had a formal diagnosis but don't know whether to tell parents or not.

I've been a primary school teacher for over 20 years and have always had good relationships with both the children in my class and with parents. But I'm not sure whether parents who don't know me would feel uncomfortable with the idea of their children being taught by someone with autism or whether parents who do know me may change their opinion of me.

I'll read all replies if anyone takes the trouble to post, but won't be back on this thread tonight. Today's been quite intense and overwhelming. I'm feeling pretty exhausted so am off to bed now.

I would have no problem with it whatsleber
I'm fact, I would encourage it. I think that the teacher workforce should be representative of the population as a whole. I also think that people with ASD/aspergers have so much to offer and have a lot of potential. If any parents have a proble with it, I would class that as discrimination, actually.

There is no need for anyone other than your family to know, it's a personal matter that I wouldnt particularly want to know either as a collegue or parent

Obviously it would depend upon what kind of teacher you were but generally if I knew (and no reason I should) I'd think fabulous, likely to be someone with out of the box and potentially original thinking. All 3 of my dc are on the spectrum, I am not. I love how they see the world, I learn so much, laugh so much and generally find their perspective (all different to each other) so refreshing.

Pardon the typos, damn phone!

If she/he was qualified and experienced I would assume their autism obviously didn't preclude them from doing their job so I wouldn't mind at all. If anything I would hope it would make them more sensitive and understanding towards children who are neurodiverse.

I've been a primary school teacher for over 20 years and have always had good relationships with both the children in my class and with parents

Seems the most relevant part of all of this. This is a test to see how your brain works, not what kind of person you are.
You're clearly good at your job, and that's really all any parent cares about.
I hope your friends and family are as supportive as they can be for you.

This reply is spot on

how would I know and why would I care?

Are you a good teacher?
Are you kind?
Are you fair?

Thats pretty much all I ask of the kids teachers

Oh and honest

I probably wouldn't tell parents.

You have been an autistic teacher for 20 years, if you get on well with pupils and parents you are obviously a good teacher and I don't think the diagnosis is relevant to your ability to teach. I wouldnt hide it as such but at the same time I wouldn't actively tell them.

One of my favourite teachers at secondary school had asd, I didn't know at the time and he was a brilliant teacher. I think he told us in a revision session and it didn't change the relationship or my or anyone else's opinion of him, he was still a good teacher before and after, there wasnt a particular need really for us to know as such but I think it was nice he told us. It was just an interesting fact about the teacher really. There was one or two moments where we clashed and I think had I known at the time it explained why (I think I have asd too) but we probably would have still clashed, I guess I might have cut him more slack but realisitically probably would have just spend spent less time moaning to my friends we are talking 15-18 though not primary.

I would be delighted! Perfect for my DD when she was in primary.

However I agree probably best keeping it quiet. You are obviously a good teacher, and the parents of children on the autism spectrum will be so grateful to have you as a teacher.

The teacher that turned my DDs school life around didn't have Aspergers but had 2 children that did. I am forever grateful to them.

I've been a primary school teacher for over 20 years and have always had good relationships with both the children in my class and with parents

This ^ is the relevant bit here.
I wouldn't expect to be told. In the same way I wouldn't expect you to tell me anything about your private life or medical conditions. Why would a parent need to know?

I'm really puzzled, why do you want to publicise your private medical diagnosis/diagnoses to your pupils' parents?
Would you be in such a rush to let them know you had arthritis, type 2 diabetes or any other medical condition you can think of?

It has absolutely nothing to do with anyone else except you, it's none of their business, alongside all of your other medical records.

If you need reasonable adjustments to be made at work, then by all means tell whoever it is in your school that would deal with those, but if not, there is absolutely no obligation for you to tell anyone at work.

I don't know if you've seen it but there was a fuss recently about the DVLA wanting anyone with autism to declare it, but that was soon rescinded and has reverted to its original basis of you only need to inform DVLA if your autism affects your ability to drive.

You are absolutely no different today then you were yesterday, your diagnosis is personal and if you keep it confidential like any other medical information, it will not affect your work, your ability to work nor how you are seen by colleagues, other staff, pupils, their parents or anyone else that knows you in a professional or friendship capacity. They will treat you as they always have done.

If you do decide to trumpet it from the rooftops to all and sundry, then do expect some negative reactions from some people, they will be the ones who don't understand what autism is, who "don't believe" in autism, who think autism is something you grow out of, who think particularly with high functioning autism that you could be just like them if you tried a bit harder, who think autism is a mental health issue, who think autism automatically means unable to work, who think you cannot be autistic because you can look them in the eye, who think we are all on the spectrum somewhere, who think ... well basically think of any misconception of autism and add it to this list.

There is a LOT of ignorance about autism outside the autistic community and their support networks, lots of the ignorance centres on education, have a look on the SN boards to see the struggles parents of neurodiverse kids have with getting schools to support them properly.

To answer your question, I wouldn't mind at all if my child's teacher was autistic because I have an autistic relative and am fairly much on the ball with how their autism presents etc.
However, I'd be very surprised indeed to be told by that teacher that they were autistic as I'd consider it to be absolutely none of my business.

It's definitely not something that the parents of your pupils need to know. You've been a successful teacher for 20 years, there's no need to discuss the ASD diagnosis, unless you have a pupil who has the same diagnosis and would benefit from knowing.

I'd have no issues at all. Glad you got your diagnosis, may help piece some things together for you .
Best of luck in all you do !

I can understand your train of thought here, OP. I came out with being neurodiverse, to some ex pupils when they were leaving school, in 2006. But regardless of how much progression has been made in this area, there are still a lot.of neanderthal judgmental idiots who will go out of their way to cause you trouble because they don't or won't understand. Just be careful. The doc who diagnoses my adhd had adhd themselves, couldn't come right out and say it but still let me know. If that makes sense. And I'm forever grateful to him for that.

I wouldn't care a jot, it doesn't affect your ability to teach and as you have stated:

I've been a primary school teacher for over 20 years and have always had good relationships with both the children in my class and with parents

that is all that matters.

Carry on as you are and I hope you find the support you need from your friend and colleagues.

I would despair of anyone who would take any issue with your diagnosis.

What's it got to do with anyone?

Even your employers (unless you need special accommodations)

You've presumably done a good job for 20 years, nothing's going to change that.

I'd find it strange that I was being told! I have autism and in a work setting I just tell people who really need to know, the parents don't. Your a good teacher for years, they don't need your health records.

MN is not representative of the general population, and this is 100x so around autism. Our autistic son is very proud of his autism and we are open with the people around him. If the world were made up of people who reply to autism threads on MN, then going public would be a very positive thing.

In the real world I would not inform parents. It will needlessly open up questions about your abilities to empathise, communicate effectively etc. However well you are regarded by colleagues and current students' parents, your future classes might hear that you are "the autistic teacher" before they get to know you, and they will combine that with whatever preconceptions and misinformation they already have to judge you before they get to know you. It's not something you need to tell parents. Hopefully by the time my son has grown up, things will be different. But I'm being a bit of a hypocrite as we do tell people about my son's autism.

I'm not a fan of the "coming out" phrasing in this context. I'm not sure why - maybe because most of the autistic people I know are under 10.

Dd has an autistic teacher plus another who is undiagnosed but has such clear traits I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t. (We only know because dh teaches in the same school)

The first has communication issues with some of the students. They find her a bit abrupt and parents too I think. For dd however it was a really good year when she had her for an important class. Everything was so clear and unambiguous for dd who is on the spectrum herself. She’d had a very difficult year the year before and this teacher helped turn it around.

The second teacher dd and he have intricate conversations about the relative qualities of stationery and paper quality in notebooks plus very nerdy subject related stuff (she’s a bit more familiar with him as he’s also a personal friend of dh).

I'd probably love it. Good luck.

It wouldn't bother me at all,2 of my 5DC are austistic and 1 of them wants to be a teacher.

If anythink it would be reassuring for me that other people that are on the spectrum can go onto have good jobs,which is what we've been teaching our 5DC all along.

Another vote for not telling. You are a teacher, doing well in your job: your autism doesn't prevent you doing well in your job, but talking about it might get some particularly ignorant parents stirred up to no purpose.
I can see, though, what some posters mean about it being encouraging for DC who are also HFA - my DS has recently been diagnosed and, when we were waiting for referral I compiled lists of cool, impressive, successful people with autism. But no one is obliged to be the poster person for any difference/condition/disability if it's likely to cause them trouble, or even if they just don't want to have to talk about it all the time.

I think you should take some time to digest this yourself. Then have a really good think about why you want to tell people. You can’t untell people stuff, so be sure you’re telling the right people for the right reasons.

People’s perception of you can change - don’t invite that into your life.

It is nothing to be ashamed of AT ALL but many people are ignorant and telling them won’t help you.

I really wouldn't give a shit. I have two autistic children.

If you're inspiring, fair and a good teacher then it's a non issue. No reason why I'd have an issue