How forthcoming are you about your diagnosis?

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Do you usually tell people right away that you have AS or do you only tell certain people?

I'm very forthcoming. I may not walk up to random strangers and say "Hi, I have Asperger's Syndrome!", but most people who have known me for a while know about it. I've even worked it into a handful of speeches and essays since it's such an easy subject for me to write about.

I don't blab it to everyone, but it tends to come out in the end. I'm quite quiet and shy-seeming until you get to know me, but when I come out of my shell I can talk for Britain.

So yeah, most of the people at my work know. They're all social workers and psychologists anyway (I'm an NHS admin for a Learning Disabilities Team that helps adults with LDs in my county) so they're all pretty understanding

I don’t tell people I have been diagnosed with anything or that I suspect that I may have Asperger‘s. I kind of let them figure it out on their own that I’m a little off.

Only certain people.

I've got NLD, not AS, but I've only told 2 or 3 people outside my family.

Not forthcoming at all. My concern is with the DX affecting my ability to stay employed. Also I just don't consider my business to be anyone else's business. I have told a tattoo artist that I have known for 13 years, and I have let her know that I don't consider it public business.

Only certain people who I think are deserving of my trust.

The majority of the students at my school are not that trustworthy
and essentially, I am a forced closeted dude.

Last edited by AnonymousAnonymous on 29 Apr 2008, 3:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I would tell a certain small group of people that I can trust.

Only if admitting it helps alleviate an Aspie-related misunderstanding, and only if there's no other way to back out of the problem. I eventually had to tell both of my bosses at work, which was helpful for them AND for me.

I have found that bringing it up casually can invite a bunch of ignorant and judgmental remarks.

So I don't.

Some of my friends know, but a lot don't. My partner knows, of course, and my family. I never deny it if someone asks, but nobody ever has asked! If they did, I wouldn't deny it though. I just don't see how it really affects anything. People don't really need to know because I get on fine without them knowing about it.

I have mentioned it at work to a few people...mmostly to explain why I may not understand what they are talking about. I mentioned it to my family and my BF and his mom but no one really seems interested in it as a topic, so I don't really go into detail.

If coworkers (especially management types) notice you are different, and do not know there is a reason for it, that will affect your ability to remain employed. If you are diagnosed with a disability, there are laws in place to protect you from discriminatory firing.



Completely understand, but in this case there might be a positive reason for disclosure.

I find the main reason I sometimes hesitate to mention it, is that a lot of NTs are so programmed by the LFA cases they see on television, they actually don't believe that a person can be autistic and walk around in public. So to them it sounds like you're making it up as an excuse, or for attention.

only 2 people at work know, and one of them's likely forgotten... yeah, in a right-to-work state, you can be fired for any reason, or none at all, so mum's the word...

My mother has told everyone on the street--it explains why I don't wave and/or interact to them. She told the family too, which is good as they always used to hound her with questions concerning me in relation to "normal" people; now, they offer empathy (the irony).

I don't talk to anyone, but if I interacted with someone in a mechanical setting, like work or school, I'd definitely tell them as I don't want them assuming the worst of me when I seem to "ignore" them.

The way things are Willard, is that I do very good work and I'm in a trade with a lot of cantankerous former druggers and boozers and a few active ones as well. In Category One language the contractors can send anyone back to the Hall with no reason given, on initial dispatch. This is where I see trouble down the line as possible. I do better than most at not being in the first or second ROF layoffs on any given job. Outside of the Union what you mention could be a problem, but it's not now.