New job

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I'm pleased to say I have landed a new job. I just heard about that for sure today. Had the interview 6 weeks ago and was offered the job the same day, but was subject to a criminal records check before I could start. I start a week on Monday (June 5th).

The job is in a homeless hostel, working not directly with the homeless men (I wouldn't be up to that), but working in their office as Administrator. Probably because of my AS traits, I went through an amazing number of interviews (about 20, and another 10 if you count those I had while still in my last job). In the circumstances it was a miracle I got a job at all, but I believe in miracles. When I start the job, it will end a period of 5 months out of work.

However the following is worth mentioning: in a meeting with my boss today to register me as a new employee, I was made tell about my AS. I was not asked about disabilities in the application or in the interview, but a question about whether I suspect I have a disability did come up in today's meeting.

I couldn't lie, and had to admit I'm awaiting an AS diagnosis, having seen doctors about AS already - all just bad timing. My boss doesn't know about AS so I had to spend 10 minutes explaining what it is (I was so nervous). Fortunately he wasn't angry or displeased in any way, but maybe he thought it came out of the blue, but there was no danger of me not getting the job. After all, they can't discriminate on the basis of disability.

I rather hoped I wouldn't have to mention my AS in case it affected my job, yet for me things are never as simple as that. I guess I'm wondering, has anyone else been in a similar situation where they have been pushed into admitting their AS to an employer?

Had I some time to think about how I would react, this is how I would evasively dismiss that.
"Do you suspect you have a disability?"
"Yes."
"... What would that be?"
"It's complicated, it'd take too long to explain."
"You could try?"
"I could, but it really isn't that big a deal. Really I'd probably just waste a lot of time."


Granted that might backfire. But sometimes it's good to learn how to avoid answering questions

I wouldn't say I was pushed, but I was in a review situation where I felt it was prudent to mention it. My bosses were somewhat surprised...I think they'd just pegged me as awkward and a little odd...but I feel mentioning it was the right decision, as they have tactfully help me avoid a couple of potentially disastrous situations since then.

I've always preferred to mention it only after I've proven my capabilities at a given job, if I do say anything at all. That way they have no doubt that I can do what's required of me, and they pay less attention to it as a whole.