Should instructors disclose to students?

Post Reply New Topic

I recently realized, even though I was told I most likely aspie 2+ years ago, just how much it affects my teaching. I instruct adults and teens in a community forum for 23 years.
I know it has been pretty obvious on my "off days" that there is something "different" about me.
It can bring about ackwardness on every level, showing up my AS symptoms for all to ponder ..Most of my students are very tolerant and many have been with me for years.
I've also lost many because, I'm sure they were intolerant of my quirks (ie. little memory for names, mutism, (however brief),lack of balance, even an occasional petite seizure and many other well known symptoms.) I'm told by the students that have stayed (and even many who didn't) that I am kind, caring and very knowledgable and my evaluations always reflect well.However, I just feel I'd be more at ease if students knew why I am the way I am...But maybe it would just make me more self conscious.

I would like to know from other instructors, what they do as far as managing symptoms and experience of disclosure to supervisor,co-workers and students in particular.(the positive and the negative)...Thanx the input on this matter

Anjie

I absolutely do not disclose in any formal teaching environment to the students, as I just don't think it's appropriate. I disclose to my boss, however.

Hi Anjie. I taught English in high school for 19 years---but it never worked out that well although many students said they loved my classes. I was definitely an eccentric English teacher. Then, I took the gifted program and am in my 4th year with gifted high school students. I am now in my 23rd year of teaching in the same high school.

After my official diagnosis of Asperger's I told all my classes I had Asperger's and was on the autism spectrum. I even have my students do their own brain types and we have a poster in the room with all of our names on it (Simon Baron Cohen chart). My name is by itself in the lower right corner in the autism realm. And every year after, I have told my students I have Asperger's.

Any negatives? None whatsoever. The students think it's neat, and we move on with our school life. So what? I am autistic. I sure don't hide this from anyone. I perceive autism as a difference---a difference that offers gifts.

My recommendation---tell your students if you want to. It's a free world. There's nothing wrong about doing that. And I do not find it inappropriate to do so.

I'm not an instructor but I was a student and I had quite a few instructors in my time...some very likely with AS.

Generally, students complain about instructors among themselves...a lot. They even complain about the ones they like. But unless the student thought the instructor was horrible at teaching, these complaints were generally irrelevant.

I don't think I would explain how you have AS, but you might explain occasional mutism/seizures so that they know you are not intentionally ignoring them.

I just disclosed to my students, because it has caused problems in the past. What I'm learning is that it has greatly reduced my anxiety, and I tend to not get as stressed out in class. Because my anxiety is down and I feel free to 'be myself' even though I'm the professor, I thin they are enjoying me a lot more as well. That doesn't mean they like me, but at least we can have a good time while we're working. I think without that, I'd be ready to throw in the towel on teaching--and I'm quite good at it. It's just too painful to feel that everyone hates you every second of every day while you fake being some ideal model person who doesn't really exist.

Thanx for sharing everyone. Each of you has given me some clarity and insight as well as assurance. It's comforting to know, also, that I'm not the only one who is/has dealing/dealt with this situation.
I would not feel it would be appropriate disclosing if I was teaching "average"(as opposed to gifted) childern, but as these
are intelligent, educated adults that I am dealing with, most of the time.

I can totally relate to what you're saying, Pandora! That is exactly how I feel. The feeling like they are judging because I'm trying to be someone I'm not or because I'm showing a symptom that I can't seem to control. It puts alot of stress trying to hold it all together and
burns me out. I find myself muttering under my breath sometimes while in class, "I can't do this"..To which I gather my strength and mutter back "Yes you can"...

I know there is no rush on deciding...Like I said I've been at this for 23 years and known my dx
for over 2, so I will continue to process and even, perhaps wait till I get an official dx. I hope to
get one through DVR in the next month or so....Till then it's good to know you're all out there ......somewhere, and I'm not alone. Thanx again....Anjie

My self-diagnosed teacher disclosed to me. We were chatting halfway on topic and she said that I reminded her of her husband, first mentioning his brilliance, and then mentioning that he's an Aspie. I confirmed that I was, too, and she seemed to see no reason not to be frank about her own wiring.

Moi - university teaching a couiple decades. Doesn't matter are you black white green, Aspie NT demigod, liberal conservative anarchist - some will hate you and your teaching, some will value you and your teaching.

I would say NOTHING [based on my own experience]. You run a good chance of giving the ones who hate you a handle with which to take legal proceedings, which is increasingly common.

I was accused of being a racist, a sexist, a sexual harasser, an incompetent, a Christian and a grammarian. Nobody ever accused me of aspie tendencies - but someone would have taken the department to court if they had realized.''

Hey - we had a case of a native subSaharan African sued for being prejudiced against blacks and incompetence in his own language.

Philologos said:

"I would say NOTHING [based on my own experience]. You run a good chance of giving the ones who hate you a handle with which to take legal proceedings, which is increasingly common."


I'm confused, how can admitting to one's aspieness, give someone else legal power to do one harm?

Disclosure is a hard question.

I would say if your AS could complicate your effectiveness as a teacher, your students should be told about your condition. This way they are more understanding about the quirks that happen. It might help them cue you to keep on track if your quirks are getting in the way.

However, that means you should be comfortable with being "out" about your condition in the first place.

I hate to have to say it but I have to agree with Philologos.

The problem is this that all university classes have some shallow surface learners who are just interested in collecting stamps and they are trying to get a set of bricks which count towards a degree. They have little love of the subject compared with many of the deep learners. The surface learners tend to be very insecure and when something goes wrong some of them will instantly seek someone to blame.

Read Biggs, J and Tang C. (2007): Teaching for Quality Learning at University and you will learn all about the deep and surface learners.

The problem is that while a deep learner might tolerate or even welcome a university teacher who is known to have a very different point of view due to a cognative difference, those surface learners who are seeking someone to blame will latch onto the aspie, autie or dyslexic university teacher and try to blame their own academic failings on this person.

So while it might be OK to be out of the aspie closet with your fellow academics I would be much less keen on the undergraduates knowing. Also bear in mind that once one person knows the whole of the undergrad population will know within days.

I think that the news that one of the university teachers has his/her brain wired up differently and sometimes acts differently to the rest of the population will get the students attention far faster than most news. So be careful.

_________________
Health is a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity I am not a jigsaw, I am a free man !

Diagnosed under the DSM5 rules with autism spectrum disorder, under DSM4 psychologist said would have been AS (299.80) but I suspect that I am somewhere between 299.80 and 299.00 (Autism) under DSM4.

[quote="zer0netgain"]Disclosure is a hard question.

I would say if your AS could complicate your effectiveness as a teacher, your students should be told about your condition. This way they are more understanding about the quirks that happen. It might help them cue you to keep on track if your quirks are getting in the way.


I have actually told them about my memory problems and dyslexia. Both have been impossible to cover up (Believe me, for years I tried...Exhausting!). I do have a few
of my veteran students who notice when I'm having a "senior moment" and will quietly cue me
as to what I need to do next...It's very helpful. Although at first I felt like they were being condescending, now I'm just grateful, and know they're trying to help me out. However, even these students I have not proclaimed my aspieness... yet.
Although it took me sometime over the years, through much teasing as a child and teen, I have been able to develop a tough skin to critisim along with a good sense of humor. I'm quite skilled at sending
humorous, sometimes cutting zingers back at the offending party.(not to where it would get me in any trouble, mind you, other than maybe a fist fight as a kid! :) )

I would not think it wise to make an open announcement to a class, with new students, "By the way, I have Asperger's Syndrome" and think that was going to make teaching less ackward. Tact and
disgression need to be employed in matters such as this and yes, I've had to deal with hostile/snide students from time to time. They don't usually stick around for long but they may use such info against me. However, my current supervisor knows me well enough and has always had my back, so I do not think there would be as much a problem, if they did complain.
However, still a bit unclear about this becoming a "legal matter". Can someone in the know clarify for me...(I can be slow to grasp sometimes ) Thanx.

Anjie