Disclosing to new coach

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I'm a female adult with diagnosed AS. I'm good at sport and recently re-joined the international team. I tried to join two years ago but couldn't cope with it all and dropped out after a couple of a weeks. This time I'm determined to succeed and part of that is having an honest conversation with the coaches about my AS and what that means as far as my sporting career is concerned.

Has anyone ever had a similar conversation? I've never talked to my bosses at work about it, they just got to know me over time, so this is the first time I've done anything like it. I've started a list of things that I think will be the most affected aspects but I don't want them to think that it's an exhaustive one. I also don't want it to come across as a list of 'needs'. I want the conversation to be beneficial to everyone but don't really know how to go about it.

Sorry if that doesn't make much sense. Any help is appreciated!

I train in and coach Judo.
I recently was also given a working diagnosis of having ASC.

I recently told my head coach who was actually quiet surprised and told me in person he has no problem what so ever with this.

I think that if you feel it will help your coach understand you or make some allowances for you if you have any communication problems or behavioural problems (such as meltdowns or stress issues) then perhaps it would be worth talking to your head coach, if not, then its really up to you.

With the Judo Organization that i belong to, I could if i want push to be eligible for competing in the "special needs" category for Judo which includes a special needs Olympics and perhaps even world championships.

However, i am high functioning, so don't really see my self as disabled to that extent. Sure, I may not always understand what's going on, I may sometimes get really stressed, be sensitive to sound or too much going on and perhaps may very occasionally throw a swearing tantrum. but this isn't enough really to say that i am as disabled as perhaps some one with down syndrome.

I think it would be cowardly for me to compete in a special needs comp especially against people who have major disabilities whether their disabilities are cognitive or physical.

In some ways, i actually think having aspergers makes you more suitable for some sports.
For example, sports that take a lot of patience, routine, repetition and perfection - many aspergers will love while perhaps some who are superior physically and even intellectually will get bored and never reach the same level.

I think some aspergers are like the duracell bunny's that go on and on and on. Much like some of the aspergers can talk for their country.

So, you could try and work out how your diagnosis has an impact on your training and performance. Weigh it all up however, and perhaps try and emphasize the pros rather than the cons.

Hope this helps.

Thanks madbutnotmad, that's a help. I think I've made up my mind that I'll need to talk to them (the coaches) and have started a list of ways that my AS impacts on the training I do. I think I might just have to see how it goes as opposed to trying to pre-plan anything!

Hi Evam - I'm still trying to work that out myself! I think it was a combination of things, and the quicker I can work out what they all were, the quicker I can address them.

Thanks both.

I would say have a talk with your coach.

Which sport do you play, anyway?

It's not the same thing as disclosing to your employer, since you have already proven that you're good enough in your sport to be on the team.

Thanks kraftiekortie, I'm definitely going to, I'm just working out how!

It's wheelchair basketball.