Help - how to disclose ASD in a job personal statement.

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I've got lots of experience working with children with disabilities, especially autism. I'm good at those roles - I was offered a job at one voluntary position (but the person who offered it retired and it wasn't the right time anyway) and have repeatedly been requested by parents for the school holiday position I've worked at.

I know I can do the work BUT I'm terrible at interviewing. For example, the last interview I went for got back to me saying I had very good experience and they'd like me to reapply when another position comes up, but because of my interview they couldn't give me the position.

The position I'm going for is 1:1 support for a child with ASD in a school setting. I need some help with how to positively frame having ASD and how it helps me in my role so that I've disclosed my disability ahead of time without making it sound like a terrible thing.

I've never disclosed before but it seems to be my interview manner which is the problem.

Why do you feel you need to disclose before being hired?

If the problem is interviews, then might it not be better to spend some time with an interview coach?

For general workplace tips, see my article "Workplace Tips for Aspies" on the website "The Art of Autism."

Maybe I should write one about tips for interviews?

Do you know if the place you're applying to has any openly developmentally disabled employees in similar positions to the one you want?

If they do, then I'd say you should definitely disclose and explain how your autism makes you better at understanding autism.

If not, then you run a risk by disclosing. They should see it as a strength, but they might think that a disabled person can't really help another disabled person instead. Then you have a choice which risk you want to take.

If you don't tell them, I could see two potential negative outcomes:
a) making a bad impression in the interview when knowing about your autism would have excused your behavior, or
b) getting hired but having trouble because they were not prepared for an autistic employee and have an unfriendly work environment for you

If you do tell them, I could see another two potential negative outcomes:
a) they decide not to hire you because they think autism makes you incapable of doing that job, or don't want the work of accommodating you
b) they decide to hire you but don't trust your abilities so they micromanage and patronize you and act like you're a child

You just have to decide which options are the least unpleasant or seem the least likely in this situation.