My supervisor/job-coach is getting on my nerves.

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I work as a cook in the kitchen of a daycare/preschool run by the YWCA. I get assistance from a job-coach, Sarah, who is also the kitchen supervisor. She is a nice, very funny person but seems to have annoying control issues. Whenever my coworker and other job-coach Duane and I make a suggestion, Duane and I bring up alternative ideas, or I try to explain my reasons for doing something and she throws a fit and thinks I'm being an argumentative know-it-all who thinks she's dumb.

It sounds typical.

But, remember, we suffer from "mind blindness", and a lack of understanding of the supreme importance of the neurotypical's ego.

We can also seem to be very blunt and insensitive.

You are trying to make helpful and constructive suggestions but if you are not careful your boss may interpret them as criticism of the way she does her job. If your boss is complaining that you "think she's dumb" that may be your problem. It's one I've had before so now I'm very careful to be as tactful as I can e.g. "maybe we could" not "we should".

I do try to be tactful as possible, but it doesn't matter. It seems like any idea that doesn't come from either her or her superiors is just "wrong" and she takes it as "being argumentative" no matter how much I emphasize that what I'm saying is just my opinion.

That's not unusual. As far as workplace "superiors" are concerned, you're best just keeping your mouth shut a lot of the time and playing dumb. This is particularly true if you're young because no matter how smart you are most people don't like to feel upstaged by someone young enough to be their kid. If you have an idea that's going to make your life easier, though, you may do best to subtly nudge the boss in the right direction so that they appear to get the idea, along with the kudos, and you get the easy life.

I'm with ascan. It may take your boss a lot of effort to "switch gears" on a process or task she's used to doing almost without thinking. Let it rest for now, and wait for the bosses to ask for suggestions.

I would just ask her if you can do something a certain way. This is conceeding to her authority, but also making a suggestion at the same time.