Any advice in how to tell my uni teachers about my Aspergers
I am beginning university at the end of the month. I have been before and it was the worst 4 years of my life, but I didn't have a diagnosis last time. This time I have disclosed to Disability Services in the hope that it can be better, I plan to be quite open about what it is that I need (since I know that I can not get by otherwise, I know it is not for everyone though). But I am wondering how I will actually approach this with my teachers.
I have been told that the head of the school will be given my letter requesting accommodations that just states that I have a disability, but not what it is. The paperwork is very assessment focused (eg. extra time on exams, lower attendance requirements). But it doesn't really deal with the day to day issues that I know from experience will come up. Things like if I need to leave the room during class because I am overwhelmed, or if I can not speak at a certain time, or if I am shutdown and have lost the ability to process information so can no longer participate, or if there is no structure in the class so I never know what to expect from one moment to the next (eg. changing from group work, solo work, reading aloud, quizzes) that I will likely meltdown.
How do I approach telling my teachers this kind of info? I handle new environments extremely badly, so it is likely that many of my AS traits will be on show right from day one. In the past my teachers have thought of me as rude, difficult, disinterested. Mostly they just had no idea how to take me and so avoided me. I really want this time to be different.
lotuspuppy
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Before you tell them, identify how your Asperger's will affect your studies. I know it may seem daunting because you haven't been at uni yet, but make a list of any potential problems.
I would make clear that Asperger's often has communication difficulties. Therefore, you should ask for abundant clarity from them on assignments and performance. I think most people are very accomodating if you let them be apart of the solution, and not preserve a problem that stands between you and them.
Most professors are approachable, and would appreciate you being upfront. I have not told all of my professors because I haven't needed accomodations in some classes, but when I have, I have emailed the professor before the class began or shortly after, asking if they could meet for 10 or 15 minutes at some point to "discuss their course". Most professors will gladly do this, and appreciate an emailed request. More specifically, don't show up at their office whenever and try meet with them. If you catch them off guard or at a bad time, they will probably be more aggressive in speaking with you, and that tends to make me go non-verbal.
If you do meet with them, I recommend opening with something along the lines of "it is very stressful for me to meet with you." prof - "why?" you - "I have AS/ASD, and it makes me very anxious with anything unfamiliar..." then you should be able to explain yourself and your needs in a receptive environment.
If your prof won't meet with you initially, you could email brief details about why you need to meet with them and what you may need in the course.
Something that I've learned the hard way in some instances is to be (or at least act) especially respectful to professors, whether in email or in person. Some of them are premadonnas and get catty if you aren't. It really isn't cool, or legal probably, for them to act like that given what it is you're there for, but it is what it is...
Honestly? I'd be pre-empting the release of the new DSM and telling them you have Autism Spectrum Disorder, rather than Asperger's Disorder.
There are many teaching staff who will be understanding and accommodating towards people Asperger's Disorder, but you may also encounter a handful of staff (as I have) who are on five-minute experts on the condition, and who have no qualms in telling you to your face that Asperger's Disorder is a 'difference', not disability or disorder, and therefore not deserving of accommodations.
There are many teaching staff who will be understanding and accommodating towards people Asperger's Disorder, but you may also encounter a handful of staff (as I have) who are on five-minute experts on the condition, and who have no qualms in telling you to your face that Asperger's Disorder is a 'difference', not disability or disorder, and therefore not deserving of accommodations.
Very good point!
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