Telling teachers about your autism

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I'm curious how many of you tell your teachers about your ASD, especially if you're in college.

I like to talk about my own mind, and sometimes I start discussions with psychology teachers and use my experiences as examples.

Is it somehow inappropriate to use myself as an object of analysis in a conversation? I get the feeling it is, But I can't think of a clear reason.

No, I don't receive services for it. And I like talking about AS but as it's a special interest I have a really hard time not monologuing about it, so it's best if I don't say anything about it at all. (my major deals with ASDs but not in a direct way usually)

Not as much for services as their curiosity. I told one teacher last year after they asked me after class why I seemed so distressed and I told them, but that my mom didn't know. When they asked how that was possible, I said I wasn't actually diagnosed, that I was only a self-suspected aspie but only because I knew for a fact that I was certainly not neurotypical. They then said "So then as of yet, you have nothing, right?" You can guess why I keep from telling anyone else if I don't have to.

It doesn't take but two weeks for teachers to figure out what kind of student I am, so there's really no need to. I've thought about it before, but there's just no reason. I doubt they even know what aspergers is anyway.

I revealed my diagnosis to most of my neuroscience and psychology teachers, as I could provide first-hand experience during class discussions. I also told professors for whom I needed to get accommodations. But there were a lot more professors who never knew than who did know. I basically tell my diagnosis as a "need to know" basis.

Only do so conditionally.

ive wanted to so many times. a little voice inside my head screams TELL THEM!! but i never do. i guess im scared they will laugh, or want to talk about it. i want my teacher to know, so they maybe aren't so pushy with answering questions and standing up giving presentations, but i dont want to discuss it with them. and i certainly dont want to risk the rest of the class finding out.

If I was officially diagnosed I would. Recently one of my professors met with each person in the class individually (it's a very small class) to discuss an assignment. I didn't do so well, I got a B-, and I told him a lot of it had to do with the fact that that week was really stressful for me. He said I could always talk to him about getting an extension on an assignment if I'm overwhelmed. I wanted to say "Well that wouldn't work, I have major problems with social interaction" but just thinking about saying that caused me a lot of stress. If I was officially diagnosed I probably would because that sounds better than "well I THINK I have Asperger's."

I'd go with 'sometimes' - on a very basic level some will be totally understanding and cool with it, where as others will start treating you like you're simple minded or even use it against you as an example of you not being able to work like others in the class.

I didn't know about asperger's/autism when I was in school/college.
In school whenever there was group or presentation work I'd skip class and get into trouble or fail the course, I was in and out of special classes, constantly bullied and teachers just used to give-up on me because they didn't understand. In college I was excluded by other students in class, and when issues arose I couldn't explain myself so then went into meltdowns which caused various problems with teachers and student support staff. I think if I had known about it then I would have told them because I think it would have made life easier.

I'm in college part-time now as an adult, I was being excluded by other students so I was unable to take-part in class which was then effecting my learning - I had no choice but to approach learning support (they didn't have this when I was at college first-time round), who were hugely helpful, turns out the teacher thought I was choosing to sit out of group work. Her knowing has been helpful as now I can be excluded...the autism support team at college seems great so they will help rather than punish as they did my first time in college.

The issue of diagnosis is a problem though - learning support seemed to make an issue of 'proof', as I have none I just mumbled a bit saying I didn't know exactly when I was diagnosed as I was scared they'd no longer give me support if they knew I was awaiting diagnosis. I think you do get this problem a lot, which I personally think is wrong because fair enough you can't say you're autistic or an aspie without diagnosis...but you still have the same issues so may need support or understanding.

They know because I have an IEP.

I don't tend to tell people about it usually, but there was teacher that I liked, but didn't have at my school last even though I didn't mean to. He didn't mind at all.

The disability offices at my college know about my Asperger's. I told my online sociology class about my Asperger diagnosis and wrote a paper for another of my classes speaking out against the autism stereotype. But for other classes I haven't told anyone.

Hell No, and I am in college!

Sometimes. Well, usually, now.

In middle school I had an awful experience where the vice-principal of my school thought that it would be helpful to tell all my classmates about the "special" new kid before my first day. She had no idea what she was talking about and my classmates had no idea what kind of freak was going to walk (slither? ) into class the next week. I've tried to keep it on the down low since.

I'm in college now and I try to meet with most of my teachers during the first week of class - if nothing else, just to introduce myself. The disabilities office put together a brief note that just says in a few sentences what I struggle with.
When I meet with them the only thing I really warn/ask for accommodations for is my dysgraphia, since that's currently the most noticeable manifestation of my AS and I don't think its fair that I should lose points for correct answers because my handwriting is often illegible. Sometimes, after reading the note, professors ask me to explain what AS is and I just quickly say something about having minor social issues, a lack of a social instinct or something. I tell them that I've learned to deal with most of those difficulties on my own now and that that shouldn't be a concern for them. It seems impossible to put into words what AS is as I experience it - I mean, it's an integral part of me. How can I accurately describe myself in just a few sentences to someone who doesn't know me? It's so daunting to faithfully explain it so I just try to downplay it and emphasize my handwriting issues since those are more noticeable and they are relatively straightforward to explain/demonstrate.

It's so hard to explain because a) I don't want to terrify/exaggerate if they have never heard of it before and b) I know I don't come across as the typical "aspie". I've had experiences where people don't believe me about my diagnosis and when someone says, "you don't look/act like the other people with asperger's I've met" it just makes me feel almost guilty... I mean, I have figured out how to cope with the most immediate of my social difficulties but I still do have AS - even though it might look like I know what I'm doing from an outside perspective.

I still struggle with if I should tell people or not... The professor whose lab I work in doesn't know about my dysgraphia or AS diagnosis and my parents want me to tell him before circumstances require me to since he will be writing me recommendations and stuff and I plan to work there for 2 or 3 more years - mom thinks I should let him know BEFORE it does come up as an issue in the future. But I still just don't know what I should do... I like the way things are now and i don't think they would change if he did know but I mean, there's still that guilt. I'm a normal person... Everyone has their difficulties, why should mine get me special treatment? I don't know.

I think regret telling my teachers about my Aspergers already, I've only told two and its only been a week. I have been offically diagnosed since I was a child and apparently I'm good at hiding it. After I told the first one she looked at me like a dog thats been shown a card trick. The second one was like "I have an idea of what it is, I had no idea you had Asgerpers". I study a B.A of fine arts and since my brain is wired differently, it brings out different ideas. These teachers are my drawing teachers so they are meant to help develop my drawing skills. At the time I thought it was a good idea because I really want to achieve my very best and it's my final year of study. They seemed understanding but I think they don't understand fully about Asgerpers, I think other conditions like Depression are understood by everyone but I think Aspergers isn't really well understood by alot of people as it is a fairly new discovery compared to say Depression . I'm afraid I will be treated as a "special kid" and I don't think I'm going to tell the other kids or possibly the other teachers about it. Hmmm conflicted.

I've told a couple, but only when there's a reason to. One bio prof asked what I was diagnosed with after I brought in the letter from the disability office (for separate, quiet testing room) and then gave me what I can only gather was intended to be a motivational/uplifting talk on how I shouldn't feel bad about being autistic. I also ended up having to explain it to a history professor after the disability office did some weird and inappropriate things.

I've only told three professors. I'm majoring in special education so I told two of my professors that were teaching my sped classes because I thought that I could add some insight and help the class understand what it's like to have autism. It went really badly, they tend to treat me like I'm three years old. One of them used to come right up in my face and ask me in front of the whole class if I understood what an IEP was. The other one is at least more discreet about treating me like I'm three. I don't think I'm telling anymore professors after what I've gone through with those two. But it wasn't so bad when I wrote a paper for my english class about autism, the third professor actually took it really well.