i work as a support worker for adults with learning disabilities. i didn't disclose that i had Asperger's; i just disclosed that i had general mental health problems, which i did. I am able to work quite easily with the people with learning disabilities and sometimes do so in apparently creative ways, which is great. however, i have problems with my colleagues and sometimes with competency assessments etc. i find it difficult to answer questions that are set up for a particular answer if i don't know what that answer is supposed to be.
i do tend to take things literally, so i am always getting into trouble. if someone asks me to 'get a pen', i will get a pen. Apparently 'get me a pen' also includes fetching paper.
they used to ask, ''are you autistic or something?''. i think they have now come to that conclusion. with that conclusion comes implication that i am incapable of working with people with learning disabilities. because of the way i have been treated, i am becomingly increasingly anxious when at work and, of course, this is unprofessional in this sort of job. therefore, they say, i am incapable of working as a support worker.
it also seems that the job description is written as some form of political correctness, and there are socially acceptable ways of doing the job. obviously, i miss a lot of these, and simply see such behaviour as 'bad practice'. apparently, that is annoying to everyone else and they think there is something wrong with me for wanting to follow the ethical and government guidelines which tell us how to work.
anyone else having these sort of problems? do you think it's because i didn't disclose from the beginning?