Grad/Professional School & Misread Body Language

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I am taking a training class in a very brightly lit room. I have also had an exceptional amount of stress in my life that I won't go into right now because it is such a long story.
Point being, my stress and sensory disorder manifest in exhaustion at work/in meeting s and training sessions and this means that in large group settings, where it is hard for me to be anyway, I will frequently be sighted with my head resting on the desk, or leaning back, getting in a posture where my body is maximally at rest, sometimes closing my eyes and shaking my head from side to side (my favorite) because this allows me to rest and generate an activity that keeps me alert. This allows me to listen and be present while resting my head, which feels so physically heavy and tired.

However I was recently severely rebuked and criticized for being disrespectful, inattentive and "checked out" by my supervisor. She doesn't know I have Asperger's. I also have chronic fatigue syndrome. How do I explain that my body language is not normal, that I am doing the best I can with my body, but it doesn't obey normal laws?

I feel so frustrated and angry. Also, I have a mentor now in grad school who is being very kind and helping me. But the problem is I get really obsessed with mentors who are kind to me. It is so hard not to want to talk to him and see him all the time now since he has listened and offered some help. But neither of us really know how to talk to my supervisor.

Thank you

Is it possible to wear a hat to the class?
I wear a baseball cap to my classes, because I don't like bright overhead lights.
It does help a lot.

For your supervisor, perhaps you and your mentor could arrange a meeting with them and let them know about autism, and how you are attending but just have different body language?

Thank you! That sounds so simple. You make it sound so simple. I am still so scared of drawing attention to myself and my weaknesses. I also have a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome.

My mentor thought of coming to talk with me to my supervisor, but then we decided it may look poorly for me to need someone with me at all times. So I might just try on my own. I will keep you posted on how it goes. I have disclosed sensory processing disorder but am afraid of all the explanations and skepticism when I say I have autism (how did you get this far? You have good verbal communication skills? I don't believe it!!).

Cool, a meeting between just you and supervisor is probably best, please update on how it goes.

I second the hat idea. You could also try bangs if that's possible with your hairstyle..

I would go ahead and do an official (documented) disclosure for school. I have a neuro disease and will look drunk or like I'm on drugs if I'm having a bad day. The accommodations I get when I ask for them help so much to make any embarrassment from a professor knowing my business totally worth it.

Some example autism accommodations could be: ability to take tests in a better lit/quieter area with a proctor, extra time to turn things in, not having it count against you if you need to leave early or skip class and get your work another way (say if you have a meltdown or an extra bad sensory issue).