Should I tell my employer I have autism?

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I'm a web developer at a small tech/web agency. The company has been around for about 20 years and is very progressive. I have been working here for about 2 months. I feel especially lucky to be employed here considering I never graduated college (took classes sporadically at community college), and I have little to no work experience as a developer. However my technical skills have been outstanding since I was very young.

I was diagnosed with autism when I was 19. I quickly became aware of how this affected my life; my communication with other people has always been difficult. I sometimes come across as rude to people without intending to. However, I am very high functioning, to the point where most people I talk to can't tell I was diagnosed with anything, and are surprised to learn that about me. This sometimes exacerbates the miscommunications that pop up anyway - family and friends included.

I should also say that I wasn't born yesterday, and I've noticed a strong prevalence of autistic individuals in this field since my high school classes.

I am deeply conflicted on whether I should share this information with my employer or not. I am aware that legally, they are obligated to offer assistance, through some Disability Act. I made this known with the college I attended, and accommodations were made, but I never utilized them. But I wonder how this will change my company's (and my coworkers') perceptions of me (if they will treat me like I'm disabled, something like that). The main thing I'm concerned about is if I'll be considered rude, lazy, or otherwise untrustworthy if they don't know this about me. Should I address this with my employer at all? Am I being irrational in not clearly seeing a positive outcome from this conversation?

professionalism united-states tech-industry

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asked 16 mins ago

Tanner Babcock

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down vote

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I'm a web developer at a small tech/web agency. The company has been around for about 20 years and is very progressive. I have been working here for about 2 months. I feel especially lucky to be employed here considering I never graduated college (took classes sporadically at community college), and I have little to no work experience as a developer. However my technical skills have been outstanding since I was very young.

I was diagnosed with autism when I was 19. I quickly became aware of how this affected my life; my communication with other people has always been difficult. I sometimes come across as rude to people without intending to. However, I am very high functioning, to the point where most people I talk to can't tell I was diagnosed with anything, and are surprised to learn that about me. This sometimes exacerbates the miscommunications that pop up anyway - family and friends included.

I should also say that I wasn't born yesterday, and I've noticed a strong prevalence of autistic individuals in this field since my high school classes.

I am deeply conflicted on whether I should share this information with my employer or not. I am aware that legally, they are obligated to offer assistance, through some Disability Act. I made this known with the college I attended, and accommodations were made, but I never utilized them. But I wonder how this will change my company's (and my coworkers') perceptions of me (if they will treat me like I'm disabled, something like that). The main thing I'm concerned about is if I'll be considered rude, lazy, or otherwise untrustworthy if they don't know this about me. Should I address this with my employer at all? Am I being irrational in not clearly seeing a positive outcome from this conversation?

professionalism united-states tech-industry

share|improve this question

asked 16 mins ago

Tanner Babcock

13

New contributor

Tanner Babcock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

favorite

up vote
0
down vote

favorite

I'm a web developer at a small tech/web agency. The company has been around for about 20 years and is very progressive. I have been working here for about 2 months. I feel especially lucky to be employed here considering I never graduated college (took classes sporadically at community college), and I have little to no work experience as a developer. However my technical skills have been outstanding since I was very young.

I was diagnosed with autism when I was 19. I quickly became aware of how this affected my life; my communication with other people has always been difficult. I sometimes come across as rude to people without intending to. However, I am very high functioning, to the point where most people I talk to can't tell I was diagnosed with anything, and are surprised to learn that about me. This sometimes exacerbates the miscommunications that pop up anyway - family and friends included.

I should also say that I wasn't born yesterday, and I've noticed a strong prevalence of autistic individuals in this field since my high school classes.

I am deeply conflicted on whether I should share this information with my employer or not. I am aware that legally, they are obligated to offer assistance, through some Disability Act. I made this known with the college I attended, and accommodations were made, but I never utilized them. But I wonder how this will change my company's (and my coworkers') perceptions of me (if they will treat me like I'm disabled, something like that). The main thing I'm concerned about is if I'll be considered rude, lazy, or otherwise untrustworthy if they don't know this about me. Should I address this with my employer at all? Am I being irrational in not clearly seeing a positive outcome from this conversation?

professionalism united-states tech-industry

share|improve this question

asked 16 mins ago

Tanner Babcock

13

New contributor

Tanner Babcock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

I'm a web developer at a small tech/web agency. The company has been around for about 20 years and is very progressive. I have been working here for about 2 months. I feel especially lucky to be employed here considering I never graduated college (took classes sporadically at community college), and I have little to no work experience as a developer. However my technical skills have been outstanding since I was very young.

I was diagnosed with autism when I was 19. I quickly became aware of how this affected my life; my communication with other people has always been difficult. I sometimes come across as rude to people without intending to. However, I am very high functioning, to the point where most people I talk to can't tell I was diagnosed with anything, and are surprised to learn that about me. This sometimes exacerbates the miscommunications that pop up anyway - family and friends included.

I should also say that I wasn't born yesterday, and I've noticed a strong prevalence of autistic individuals in this field since my high school classes.

I am deeply conflicted on whether I should share this information with my employer or not. I am aware that legally, they are obligated to offer assistance, through some Disability Act. I made this known with the college I attended, and accommodations were made, but I never utilized them. But I wonder how this will change my company's (and my coworkers') perceptions of me (if they will treat me like I'm disabled, something like that). The main thing I'm concerned about is if I'll be considered rude, lazy, or otherwise untrustworthy if they don't know this about me. Should I address this with my employer at all? Am I being irrational in not clearly seeing a positive outcome from this conversation?

professionalism united-states tech-industry

professionalism united-states tech-industry

share|improve this question

asked 16 mins ago

Tanner Babcock

13

New contributor

Tanner Babcock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

asked 16 mins ago

Tanner Babcock

13

New contributor

Tanner Babcock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

asked 16 mins ago

Tanner Babcock

13

New contributor

Tanner Babcock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

asked 16 mins ago

Tanner Babcock

13

asked 16 mins ago

Tanner Babcock

13

13

New contributor

Tanner Babcock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

New contributor

Tanner Babcock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

Tanner Babcock is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

add a comment | 

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