Disclosing my high functioning diagnosis to my future bosses

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I've been told that this would give me an advantage, depending on the company, especially when it comes to getting a job and dealing with some issues that I may face within the workplace someday.

Ever since disclosing, I've always been told, by my bosses, that they understand and that they'd work with me if I had any issues while at work.

However, this only included part time employment during high school and college. IMO, I think "real world" jobs may be just as understanding, even though they may still expect me to perform up to their expectations, just like any job would.

Interesting question..

I think the modern day workplace would surely be understanding of these circumstances and be supportive of staff etc. I'll be facing this issue myself coming up and it often plays on my mind about employers knowing and how they'll view me etc.. I guess it's all varied from job role to size and other staff etc. It'd be interesting to hear from others how they've approached this and how they've found the workplace? Lets us know.

Are you severe on the autism spectrum so it's very noticeable at work? Some jobs may be OK with it and even give you some slack to make mistakes or work slow, but others would never touch a person with autism with a ten foot pole. Autism is weird, period. That person would be slow. You wouldn't know if you can trust that person not create problems at the company. My answer is no, do not disclose it.

It's safer to get the job first, and disclose after.

The only exception might be if you keep failing at the interview stage due to your AS (not just once but after several interview attempts), in which case you might wish to ask for understanding from the interviewers of your impairment in verbal communication.

DON’T DISCLOSE....especially in At-Will America. Except maybe if you know the bosses understand autism.

Workplaces are not as progressive as colleges/universities.

I agree with kraftie, I wouldn't disclose. I infact lied in a bad white lie way to an interviewer as he could sus my weirdness.

1. I'm high functioning autistic.

2. I also wonder about the Americans with Disabilities Act that protects individuals from being discriminated within the workplace?

3. On an extra note, I wish that more people were understanding about autism, especially when we have to deal with working for a majority of our lives, on top of dealing with autism.

I would not disclose unless I was generally doing well (so I'd know the boss would be likely to keep me on despite the disability) and I had a specific autism-related problem that was preventing me from doing even better and I had a specific accommodation to ask for that I had already considered whether the company could provide and I couldn't get the accommodation without mentioning autism.

If you can't give employers or HR people specific information about what you need, just telling them "autism" gives their imaginations the opportunity to run wild with whatever (possibly false) information they've heard about autism., and that could result in them deciding you are too much trouble to hire or keep.

You're probably less likely to face discrimination if you reference a more widely understood and less stigmatized disability. For example, just say you have noise sensitivity if you need a quieter work space; don't say you need it because of autism. Say you have bad auditory memory and need all your instructions written down; don't say you have autism. If you can, ask for the accommodation without saying anything about any disability.