Disclosure – how to encourage an open and pragmatic approach…
“A neurodivergent teacher could find themselves in a cycle of disclosure they may not feel altogether comfortable with. ”
For a teaching professional disclosure is unlikely to be a one-time event, every new academic year brings changes and challenges, new students, working with new or different colleagues, new parents, a neurodivergent teacher could find themselves in a cycle of disclosure they may not feel altogether comfortable with.
So, what can you do as an employer to make the process easier?
Hopefully, the following suggestions will make the process just that little bit easier and move your organisation a little closer to becoming a neuro-inclusive workplace. The three suggestions are not a definitive list, just something to get your organisation started…
· During new starter inductions encourage disclosure by sharing the organisations neurodivergent inclusive policy (if your workplace doesn’t have one, please do get in touch to find out more on how we can assist in the writing of a neuro-inclusive policy)
· In staff communal areas, staff rooms, information boards, (both static and online) document the disclosure process – present the information in a way that is open and encouraging in the language used, try to avoid using words like ‘support’ ‘help’ ‘assistance’ as they imply a deficient. From my own experience and speaking to teaching professionals who were either diagnosed or suspected they may be dyslexic, the fear of ‘outing’ themselves in the form of disclosure raised concerns about how they would be perceived in terms of professional competency, neutral and sensitive wording will encourage staff and hopefully address some of their fears
· As part of the appraisal process ask about disclosure – do not assume a history of non-disclosure equals there is nothing to disclose. During my first teaching post it was three years before I formally declared my neurodivergent status, reasons why people choose to disclose are nuanced and usually informed by previous experiences, both positive and negative
In your discussions encourage and support teachers who wish to adopt a full disclosure approach, set in place a strategy for managing any questions that may arise from students, colleagues, and parents following the teachers disclosure
An inclusive open environment will encourage inclusive and open behaviour. Let’s all do our part to encourage disclosure, be part of the change!
Dr A O’Dwyer
