Telling my professor about my Asperger's

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So I've been having a tough semester. I have this difficult technical design class where the teacher cares about precision, technique and consistency. She remarked the other day that all of my mock-ups are messy, and that were I to send my drafts to another country for production then they wouldn't be readable, even if they are to me... she is constantly asking me if I'm okay in class (I guess I look like I'm spaced out or falling asleep?). Either way, she thinks I'm a bad student when I'm putting all of my time and energy into this demanding course. I really don't just do technical things well - I'm more free-spirited and intuitive with my work, if you will.

I'm pretty sure my school knows about me having Asperger's, but I don't think any staff in my department know, and it hasn't been an issue until now. I really think I should tell her about my Asperger's, even with the risk that she'll view me as a disabled individual who needs to be looked down upon. This has happened before, which is why I usually don't tell anybody... I like to be viewed as me, unique as I am, and not as disabled.

I really just want her to understand my work ethic, the way I see things, and that I DO work hard, but it may show differently... How do you think I should go about telling her?

I wouldn't bother because you'll end up like I did. I told one of my teachers about it and it came back to haunt me. I had two classes with the same teacher and when I was messing up and not seeing what I should she told me to pay more attention to detail which I sometimes have a hard time doing. Then she told me that several people she taught had Asperger's and she said they did better than I did. Well I got pissed. I told her you may think you know about it but you don't then she had the nerve to cop an attitude.

It's all about the presentation. How you go about it, how you inform is key. You don't want to just drop it and walk off. You also don't want it to sound like an excuse. Highlight how it is a difference, describe both your strengths as well as your weaknesses. Go into it prepared with some ideas for workarounds and alternative methods of dealing with the course work. Engage them in a conversation about this in their office, not after class when twelve other people are vying for their attention.

You will always find instructors far more amenable to a student with a plan rather than one who is dumping something on them and expecting them to solve the issue. Even if your plan isn't perfect, the fact that you are trying will impress them and set you apart from the countless others with poor-me stories (and I am not implying that yours is a poor-me story, by the way!). This strategy applies to more than just this topic and can be useful to you throughout your academic career.

Best of luck to you, bearer of the Japanese Kikyo family kamon.

You should definitely tell your professors that you have Asperger's. They will be more understanding and more willing to work with you if they know you have Asperger's. You also have to tell them how they can help you out, because there is no way they can know what is going on in your mind.

I second the guy with the amazing cat avatar!

As long as you are certain your AS characteristics are related to your problems with the class.

But in the end, if your work is 'messy' to them, they have a point. Technical Design is all about precision and being clear.
Compare your work to other students' work. Whether you understand your work is pretty irrelevant, if down the road you work for a company and their clients can't understand your concepts, you're not doing a good job.

You all have a great point, I'll have to keep that in mind in case it comes up again.

I didn't end up telling my teacher after all... she was so happy with my final, I ended up getting an A on it, and a B in the class (better than my usual grade in those types of classes, actually). Considering the number of warnings she gave out this semester and the fact that everyone was practically in tears the entire time, I think I did pretty well. And fortunately, the career I'm thinking of is on the more creative end of things, so that class was merely a necessary evil which I learned a lot from, and which will improve all of my work and technical skills in the long run.

Thanks to all of you though!

Good job on that grade! And thanks for the follow-up

Show him the offical paperwork from your doctor about your diagnosis. If he still gives you trouble, go to the "head hanchos" of the school and threaten a lawsuit.

Does your school have a disability support services office? I have these services at my school, mainly because I need to take tests in a separate area. My social skills have improved a lot, although sometimes I still tend to say quirky things in class. I would recommend that you try to get these services, as they've helped me to express that I do have a disability in the form of a letter, as compared to you telling them. They usually can't do anything for you if you don't have documentation, or if you do not have those services. They don't look down on me at all. It explains a lot of things to them, and could really help you in the future. Even if it doesn't seem like it, many professors care about teaching their class well. If they knew what issues that disabled students have, it would help them, which would in turn help you. If you're paying for a college education, you may as well milk it for what it's worth, as you will never be able to go back and change those things again. It would definitely be worth your while. Good, luck, and I hope this helps.

I'm glad you got a B in the class. And I liked what you said about being free-spirited and intuitive and creative! In my opinion, you'll get further in life that way. That is playing to our human strengths like pattern recognition and right-brain thinking, and "feeling" your way through a situation by trying on medium steps and taking it from there (neither baby steps nor giant steps).

I have the Aspie ability to dive deeply into something, but I'm learning that it often comes at significant costs of energy, and also of taking my eyes off what else is going on, and also that I tend to expect immediate rewards. So, I'm learning there's also a lot to be said for skimming, and for medium-scale experiments.

The only thing I might add is the part where you say everyone was practically in tears. Although this teacher might be excellent in other regards, she clearly went too far here. In a beginning design class or even an intermediate one, people can't instantly and automatically become professional designers.