Would you hire a nanny with very high-functioning autism?

[Anonymous]

I'm in college and thinking about becoming a nanny because I love to work with children but would be overwhelmed in a classroom environment. I have babysat for many years and am really good with kids. I've worked on my social and communication skills very much from childhood to the point that I pass as a typical person the majority of the time. When I don't, it's because I'm socially awkward with other adults, but it doesn't affect my ability to work.

Would you hire someone with high functioning autism if you knew about it?

[Anonymous]

If your qualifications were in line with what I was looking for, I would absolutely give you a try! I'm not on the spectrum but I, too, am socially awkward around adults but great with kids so this wouldn't bother me at all. Best of luck to you in your search!

[Anonymous]

Not unless my kid was autistic.

[Anonymous]

For a full-time nanny, interacting with the parents is a big part of the job. Social skills become very important, as you have to convey an entire relationship in short bursts--a few minutes at the beginning and end of the day. If I were you, I would look at a) families with autistic/aspergers kids as they might be more understanding and would likely value you as a role model for their kids or b) having multiple part-time jobs. There's a big difference between being able to convey what happened in the last 4 hours verses the last 10 hours. Start with an after-school gig while you're still in school and see how it goes. I am sure you are great with kids, but parents really want to feel a trust and kinship with the person to whom they are handing their kid, and depending on how "awkward" you seem, that may be hard at first, until you get more experience with the nanny/parent dynamic. It is different from any other relationship so it takes practice to learn the unspoken rules.

[Anonymous]

yes- as long as you were good with kids. I wouldn't think twice (my BIL is a high functioning Autistic lawyer and great with kids too. Not so great with adults until he get confortable- and sometimes not even then.).
Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Nope. High functioning Aspergers, yes. But not autism.

[Anonymous]

8:49 here and I wanted to add that there is no reason why anyone ever has to know your diagnosis. As you can see, some people are thoughtlessly predjudiced.

I encouraged you to work with spectrum kids or start with part time because YOU would likely benefit from adjusting to the nanny/family relationship dynamic within a more comfortable framework, not because I think you can't be successful in this field.

[Anonymous]

I'm the OP. Thank you for the variety of viewpoints. Yes, so far none of the babysitting clients I've worked for in the past knew my diagnosis. Like I said, I pass as typical most of the time. I just get nervous that someone might catch me being awkward and think I was weird, so wondered if I were open with my diagnosis, would it help them understand or hinder me? Well I think I got some good answers! Unless their kid is also ASD I'll keep it to myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the OP. Thank you for the variety of viewpoints. Yes, so far none of the babysitting clients I've worked for in the past knew my diagnosis. Like I said, I pass as typical most of the time. I just get nervous that someone might catch me being awkward and think I was weird, so wondered if I were open with my diagnosis, would it help them understand or hinder me? Well I think I got some good answers! Unless their kid is also ASD I'll keep it to myself.

I think you would be better off disclosing the diagnosis. I'd be more willing to accommodate a disability than oddness. Oddness would make me wonder what deep psychological issues/sources of danger to my kids might be lurking beneath the surface.

[Anonymous]

I think as with jobs in any profession you only need to disclose what could affect your performance or what you need accommodations for.

[Anonymous]

Can someone please define high functioning autism?

[Anonymous]

No, don't disclose your diagnosis. It is never a good idea to disclose any disability to an employer unless you really must.

You probably will need to work hard to make sure you interview and interact with the parents well, and it may take some time to find the right family. If you are good with kids, then the right family will be able to see that you seeming a bit shy or awkward with adults has nothing to do with how you are as a nanny. If I was interviewing a nanny who seemed awkward with me but totally great with my kid, I wouldn't hesitate, provided you had good references too.

One big caveat is that you will need to make sure you have good communications with the parents so that you are meeting expectations. With hfa you might miss subtle ways the mom is trying to communicate what she wants. So be sure that you are always getting clear direction from her and check in often to make sure you are not missing anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You probably will need to work hard to make sure you interview and interact with the parents well, and it may take some time to find the right family.
One big caveat is that you will need to make sure you have good communications with the parents so that you are meeting expectations. With hfa you might miss subtle ways the mom is trying to communicate what she wants. So be sure that you are always getting clear direction from her and check in often to make sure you are not missing anything.

This. I would also bring communication up in the interview, "Something I really value is an employer who can be clear and assertive in communication. The only way for me to feel 100% sure that I am meeting or exceeding your expectations is if I can trust you to bring up issues early and clearly. How do you prefer to communicate with your nanny?"

It might help to work primarily with older kids at first, since those parents will have already figured out a) what they want in a nanny and b) how to communicate that to the nanny. First time parents or first time nanny employers are still figuring all of that out and therefore are often more subtle or indirect in their communication. It might be easier for you to work with people who have had a nanny before.

[Anonymous]

I would not care unless you had issues communicating with me. I'm not talking about being "weird" or "strange" but I mean not being able to look me in the eye, avoiding me, not being able to constructively work on issues that may arise for both of us, not wanting to take DS certain places because of forced interaction with others, etc.

Honestly, I don't think you should disclose the fact that you have HFA. Unfortunately I have seen first hand way too many people who are misinformed or ignorant about certain diagnoses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope. High functioning Aspergers, yes. But not autism.

Obviously this poster is an idiot as HFA and Aspergers are almost exactly the same thing except that with Aspergers the person never had a speech delay as a child.