Autistic Biology Teacher Job Prospects

[DemonicCaveMaggot]

My DC is considering applying for secondary science PGCE. They are visibly autistic (they cannot mask and its extremely apparent to most people within 5 minutes of meeting them there is "something" different about them) and physically disabled (wheelchair user). They are capable of functioning independently in a lab and regularly do so as part of their current degree, so that is not a concern.

The primary concerns are if a school would be likely to hire them and if their needs could be accommodated. Currently it appears as if they would need instructions and expectations explicitly outlined to them, provided warning of timetable changes, a classroom that is wheelchair accessible and some sensory supports (fidgets, ability to wear noise cancelling headphones when not actively teaching, not expected to supervise the main lunchroom/other sensory overwhelming areas).

We're aware of the existence of autistic teachers, but how willing are schools to actually hire and support them?

I’m sorry but those are not reasonable adjustments in the context of being employed in a school, as either TA or teacher.

Classrooms are variable places, if she needs advance of timetable changes, will she handle needing to change her lesson plan on the spot? Or if she has a noisy bottom set class, will she be able to effectively behaviour manage them? I have ADHD and have certain adjustments made for me such as having fidgets but certain things I have to overcome as there is simply no reasonable adjustment and it causes a lot of stress but that I part and parcel of teaching.

Thank you for the replies.

DC could change a lesson plan on the fly if it was in their intended subject, but would want advance warning if going to be asked to teach a different subject e.g. they want to teach biology and suddenly have to cover drama or PE. They understand teaching requires an amount of flexibility, so if they were asked to cover another class, they would really just like to be told as soon as it became apparent, they would need to.

Would behavior management be covered in the PGCE? They have been through mainstream school in an 800 student US high school so can cope with large classes and behavioral issues as seen there. However, they would rather not have to listen to the entire school's ambient noise during a planning period.

The science labs at my school are not wheelchair accessible as the teacher desk is on a raised platform so that pupils can view demonstrations. I don’t know how common that is though.

If sensory overload is an issue, I don’t think that a school would be a great work environment. Even if not supervising the lunch hall, corridors at changeover time can be very challenging, and classrooms themselves can be noisy. Perhaps a school with a silent corridor behaviour policy would be ok.

The kids themselves can be extremely unforgiving, and an autistic teacher unable to mask who needs noise cancelling headphones may well find a lot of pushback from the children. A lot of teaching is about building relationships so again, this is something to consider.

Things change quite often and unexpectedly in schools and there is a lot of thinking on your feet needed.

Tbh I would steer them away from it as it is a challenging enough job without those additional considerations.

If wearing noise cancelling headphones would they be able to supervise the class appropriately? Like hearing low level disruptions, potential bullying, questions?

They may be better suited to continuing study and trying to teach at university? Those adjustments would be more realistic in higher education

Behaviour management is far far more complex than sitting through a lecture on relationships, which is how most courses present it now.

BunnyAnneSummers Based on OP’s post and replies it appears as though they wouldn’t be using headphones while dealing with children?

It will be covered in the pgce but you have to remember that there is a short turnaround, especially in first placement to hit those targets. Come October she'll have 30 young people in front of her, very few who will want to be there and a select few who will take great pleasure in using her autism against her. Is this going to be the best career for her mental health if she struggles to mask? I agree with noblegiraffe in that if she got in at one of the strict Michaela style schools, she'd be fine in that respect. Schools, like any workplace, vary tremendously and depending on where you live, the pool of applicants with also vary. There are some lovely schools out there that look after their staff and they flourish, but there are a lot of toxic workplaces out there, that would not hesitate to find a way to put someone on capability if their needs "got in the way".

These are very helpful replies, thank you.

DC was thinking of working in an SEN school. There is one not too far from us that specializes in educating children with autism. I was hoping that a school set up to work well for children with autism might also be set up to be a good place for adults with autism. I don't know if other SEN schools would be a better workplace for them than a mainstream school?

Perhaps - I would have taken not actively teaching to include times students are working independently or in groups in class. These aren’t times I would personally say noise cancelling headphones would be appropriate.

It’s likely to be more inclusive certainly but how would it work for your DC in terms of their sensory needs if students were to have meltdowns? If they’re in a SEND school in the UK their support needs are likely to be substantial. I’m sorry I don’t mean to be so negative but teaching in the UK is a gruelling job for someone with absolutely no support needs, so your DC should certainly be approaching it with a full picture, for their own well-being.

Might tutoring be a better route?

I don’t think an SEN school would be a good environment. Adjustments are made for the children, not the teacher. Mainstream might be a bit better but I still wouldn’t recommend it. I have worked in mainstream and SEN.

I think schools are very challenging places to work. Children are in no way tolerant. Adults can be worse.

I have worked in an autism specific school. There was an official behaviour policy and an actual one. Children received consequences depending on how good they usually were, how angry their parents might be and if it was Friday afternoon.
(Good children had the book thrown at them, persistently naughty children let off).
I think it might be worth looking at laboratory jobs elsewhere.

I have an autistic son and I suspect I am on the spectrum. I think it might be worth looking for lab work in other environments.

I hope your DC finds a suitable career. I would not recommend teaching.

These replies have been very helpful. DC has read them and agreed that teaching is probably not the best career choice for them. Unfortunately they have a hand tremour so lab work (using micro-pipettes for instance) is not in the picture either and they really don't enjoy data processing which would be involved in dry lab jobs. They love lab work but can only do it with the help of another person.

Your DC sounds very considerate and should be enormously proud of their achievements. I am sure they will find something right for them.

Could they consider something like tutoring sciences? Then the issues around lab work would be avoided- most secondary school labs are not accessible (unfortunately) and would the tremor be an issue for dissection work etc? Micropipetting is also used at KS5.

You can tutor without doing a PGCE, and if their subject knowledge is strong, and they enjoy working with young people on a 1:1/small group basis it could really suit them?

Alternatively, some kind of educational outreach might work?

It is worth bearing in mind that you have to pass a health screening to access a PGCE, as well. I have known of prospective autistic teachers being turned away (although this was generally due to them not being able to stay in the class with students if they were being overwhelmed). I do think as a profession we should be aiming to be more inclusive.

Has your DC considered getting any work experience in a secondary school? That might help them ultimately decide if teaching is a viable option for them?

While school teaching may not be a suitable choice for your DC, perhaps, as others have suggested, other types of teaching might work?

Schools are very busy, often noisy places to work. Things like cover can often be very last minute so preparing someone in advance is not always possible. For example, last year, as a HoD, I had to send a colleague home in the middle of the day as they were unwell. So, people had to cover last minute. Not ideal but not much option really.

Would continuing study with a PhD be an option- if there are difficulties with hand tremors that make aspects of lab work difficult, the university should absolutely be able to make adjustments e.g. when I did my degree, our technician used to regularly support in labs with all manner of things. This way, your dc could then eventually look at lecturing in university which would be more suitable I think.

Or perhaps eventually looking into teaching adults?

Agree about tutoring.

My autistic DD is currently having 1:1 online tutoring arranged via school through an agency. The tutors are university students. She finds it incredibly stressful, worrying about what to say, the small talk, the introductions, the social niceties, working out how each new tutor works, to the point where she can't actually learn much.

She told me how amazing it would be to have an autistic tutor, someone with passion for the subject who teaches in a straight forward way, doesn't do small talk, can be quiet when needed etc.

Thank you LeakyLoftHatch that is very encouraging. DC didn't have friends at high school but has made many friends with autism at university, so definitely can make other people on the spectrum feel at ease. They are also volunteering as an interviewer for a research group that inteviews people with autism as part of the project.

Our local wildlife trust is asking for tutors in math to help adults with no math skills so I will ask DC if they would volunteer for that to see if that works.

They are not keen on university teaching as from talking to researchers in their department, they would have to move frequently (difficult with their complex health needs and keeping doctors and consultants), would have employment insecurity, and unfortunately some lecturers and other researchers in their department are hostile to people with autism - even though they are researching into it. As DC says 'Why would I want to work with people who don't even regard me as human?', or with people who question their diagnosis as they assume people with autism can only read at a 10 year old level. I'd really like to take the department to task over that but DC is an adult and capable of handling it if they want to.

Unfortunately, employment insecurity is also possible in teaching. Despite the shortage of teachers, many schools will still only offer a one year temporary contract to start with- or even if they don't, probation periods of up to 9 months are common.

Many schools still take the view that they want to be able to get rid of first year teachers easily, even if it doesn't work out.

Also, from colleagues who are neurodivergent- there is very much an assumption that school staff do not have SEN of any kind. Even SENCos often present staff training in a way that is not accessible!

My (mainstream) school would make some of those adjustments, but the nature of schools means that some of them would just be impossible. With regret (ugh, I feel like lord sugar), I think she should look at something else. Sorry.