• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Geek Club Books

Autism Education, Awareness, Acceptance, Advocacy

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • About
    • Autism Storytelling for Hope and Change
    • Speaking
    • Creative Team & Educational Specialists
    • Advisory Board
    • Our Benefactors
    • Press
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
  • Blog
    • All Articles and Interviews
    • Articles By Author
  • Families
    • Welcome Autism Families!
    • Autism Resources Bundle!
    • Freebies
    • Mighty League Autism Moms
  • Educators
    • Welcome Educators!
    • Autism EDU
    • Bluebee TeeVee, Autism Information Station
    • School Visits
  • Comics
    • Autism Comics Overview
    • Autism in Real Life Comic
    • Autism Spectrum Comic
    • End Awareness Comic
    • Understanding Autism Comic
    • Mighty League 1: Autistic Hero Comic
    • Mighty League 2: Autistic Hero Comic Book
  • Resources
    • How to Find Resources
    • Asking Autistics
    • Autistic Self-care
    • Amazon Autism Book Shop
    • What is Autism?
    • Books By Autistic Authors
    • What is Autism Awareness?
    • Autism Glossary
    • Autism Myths
    • Autistic or Person with Autism?
    • Speech and Language
    • Autism Business Ideas
  • Zoom Magazine
    • Issue 13: Family
    • Issue 14: Trailblazers
    • Issue 15: Powerful Women
    • Issue 16: Travel
    • Issue 17: Health
  • Take Action
    • How to Advocate for Autism
      • #Activate4Autism
      • Activator Heroes
    • Make a Difference
  • Contact
  • Donate

#AskingAutistics: Are You an Openly Autistic Professional?

April 30, 2019 By Jodi Murphy Leave a Comment

TwitterFacebookPinterestLinkedInRedditWhatsApp

Image of Christa Holmans on right giving presentation and neurodiverse brain graphic on left

When I was diagnosed autistic in my late 20’s, it was as if suddenly I’d been handed my brain’s instruction manual. That diagnosis was the tool to unlocking my success, so naturally, I wanted to share it with the world. Unfortunately, I quickly discovered that talking about autism with people outside of the autistic community could be tricky.  

Outdated Assumptions about Autism

People don’t know what autism is or they think they know what autism is because they saw autism on a TV show or know one autistic person. Most of the time people’s assumptions are based on outdated stereotypes that don’t bring to mind someone like me – a thirty-something, female, marketing executive with bright red hair and winged eyeliner.

Work has always been a place where I can thrive, assuming I’m working for an organization I believe in doing tasks I love. I firmly believe that I’m a great employee because I’m autistic NOT in spite of being autistic. When accommodated, and my autistic nature is respected, I’m a very dedicated and loyal employee who spends less time socializing then her peers.

At this point in my life, I need accommodations to be the best me I can be within the workplace. Being openly autistic allows me to explain why specific office environments won’t work for me, helps people to understand when I’m distant and ensures people let me get everything in writing.

Disclose or Not Disclose?

Disclosing within the workplace is complicated. Depending on the employer, it may not be advisable. I had one employer flat out tell me that my requests were unreasonable because “everyone wants to sit in a quiet corner with natural light and it wouldn’t be fair to give one-person special treatment” when the lighting in the office was making me PHYSICALLY ill. There are many common excuses – “You’re trying to get out of something” or you are asking for “something extra.” I find employers who don’t care about the comfort of their employees are not worth my time. 

Then there are the dreaded looks of pity and disbelief “Are you sure?” “Wow, I would never have guessed” or “you must be very high functioning.”  People are trying to be nice, but the truth is, they think they know what autism is and you don’t fit into that picture OR they are now putting you into their assumptions of what autism is, and are now changing the way they think about you.

Was I alone? How many autistic professionals were still hiding in the darkness, unable to be open and honest about their true nature in fear of stigma and discrimination? Is being openly autistic in the workplace still too dangerous for many or are professionals starting to come out of “the autism closet” in the workplace? 

I know that the answers to many autism-related questions lay with two hashtags:  #ActuallyAutistic and #AskingAutistics and as I’ve done many times before, I type my question:

Screenshot of Neurodivergent Rebel's Tweet asking about being openly autistic

Any other #OpenlyAutistic professionals out there? I’m openly autistic online and at work. Anyone else? #ActuallyAutistic #AskingAutistics If NOT – why not?


I’m an openly autistic senior software developer. I declared being autistic when advocating for accommodations. I also gave a presentation at work to educate colleagues about autism. I’m a director on the board of autistic-run non-profit @AIMautistic

Alexandra Forshaw, @myautisticdance


As an advocate yes, I am. As a person approaching a judge as such, no I’m not. The legal system has a biased rigidity. STILL. There are many autistics in the Field & few in my area, are out. We are educating the law per se, about autism so that our future counterparts CAN be out.

@MelanieCreane


I’m an openly autistic midwife. It took me awhile, because there’s a lot of ableism in the medical field and I knew it could be rough. Being autistic ABSOLUTELY makes me a better care provider, it heavily influences my personal practice style in a positive way.

Arden Kindred, @ardenkindred


I really wish I could be, but unfortunately my field is far too ableist for that. I hope that someday the culture will change enough that I can be openly autistic, but in the meantime, I choose to keep my job.

Speech Autist, @SKP_SLP


I’m out online. At work (I’m a teacher) I didn’t tell anyone at first, then one or two people. Cautious because people have so many wrong ideas about autism, and I’m not sure how comfortable I am with it being known among kids I teach.

Update: I’ve since had ‘Autism Tips for Teachers‘ published in @tes and had a copy sent round my colleagues, so I’m significantly more out than I was when I tweeted that!

Fergus Murray, @MxOolong


I’m a piano teacher, private & in schools. I’m much more open online than at work, but if it came up, I wouldn’t hide it. I think some guess anyway, as I don’t mask.

Madge Woollard, @funkiepiano


Openly autistic. I have the luxury of being in a creative field where everyone’s something! I was already established enough when I was diagnosed to be confident people know I can do my job. I don’t personally like to treat it like something to reveal, just a fact of who I am.

Sara Gibbs, @Sara_Rose_G


Since “coming out” I’ve been able to correct misconceptions and “urban myths” and yes, i think everyone in my department has seen me have a meltdown at one point.  Embarrassing but important for them to realise that even though I LOOK and ACT NT I do still have problems.

Pete Little, @FormerlyPete

Read about Christa


Read more #AskingAutistics articles by Christa Holmans, Neurodivergent Rebel

Our website at Geek Club Books is a platform for autistic voices, positive autism advocacy and education, and sharing autism resources we think you’ll want to know about. Here are additional categories we cover and questions we explore:

  • How to Find Resources
  • What is Autism?
  • What is Autism Awareness?
  • Autism Myths
  • Autism Glossary
  • Books by Autistic Authors
  • Autistic or Person with Autism?
  • Speech and Language
  • Autism Business Ideas
  • Autistic Self-Care
  • Zoom Autism Magazine – Autism through many lenses
  • Find great books in our Amazon Book Shop
TwitterFacebookPinterestLinkedInRedditWhatsApp

Filed Under: Blog Haps, Neurodivergent Rebel, Penfriend Project Autism Columns Tagged With: #ActuallyAutistic, #AskingAutistics, #OpenlyAutistic, neurodiversity

About Jodi Murphy

Jodi Murphy is the founder of Geek Club Books, a registered nonprofit committed to creating a world where autistic individuals are fully accepted, valued and have a voice. Her priority is bringing autistic individuals creative and leadership opportunities that are meaningful, empowering and support their advocacy. She works with a creative autistic team to produce pop culture-based autism awareness education that is innovative, engaging, positive and opens hearts and minds to a new way of thinking about autism. Sign up for Geek Club Books mailing list for free apps, resource guides, curriculum, audio stories and more: https://geekclubbooks.com/autism-bundle.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Join Our Neurodiverse Community:

Read Our Current Issue:

Search

Latest

  • #AskingAutistics: When Did You Realize You See the World Differently?
  • A Year That Forced Me to Be More Patient and Flexible
  • This Year I’ll No Longer Apologize for Taking Up Space
  • #AskingAutistics: What Caused Your Autistic Burnout?
  • Why I’m the Caregiver I Never Had Growing Up

Topics

  • 501c3 Mission (8)
  • Anxiety (8)
  • App & Product Reviews (12)
  • Autimisms (29)
  • Autism Acceptance (13)
  • Autism at Work (9)
  • Autism Entrepreneurs (17)
  • Autism Resources (6)
  • Blog Haps (535)
  • Buzz (6)
  • Classroom (15)
  • Curious Interviews (116)
  • Day in the Life (9)
  • Dorktales (4)
  • Impactful Blogs (9)
  • Labels (4)
  • Love (5)
  • Mighty League (31)
  • Neurodiversity (2)
  • Our Personal Autism Journey (28)
  • Penfriend Project Autism Columns (216)
    • Adriana's Awesome Autistic Book Lists (1)
    • Aspierations (16)
    • Autism Insider (76)
    • Autistic Speaks (27)
    • Being Brave (25)
    • Chloe Rothschild (3)
    • Fidgets and Fries (2)
    • Happy Aspie (9)
    • My Shaynanigans (8)
    • Neurodivergent Rebel (20)
    • Positively Autistic (17)
    • Proud Autistic Living (6)
    • Tud Sense (5)
  • Pop Culture (8)
  • Safety (8)
  • Self-Care (7)
  • Self-Esteem (3)
  • Self-Improvement (10)
  • Sensory Needs (9)
  • Social Skills (4)
  • Speech and Language (6)
  • Tell Us Your Story (29)
  • Zoom Autism (55)

Footer

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2021 Geek Club Books

To improve your experience on our site we may use cookies. Find out more.