It is important to consider when and if you will disclose your ASD diagnosis. Should your employer know? Your romantic interest? Friends? Remember, in all cases, disclosure is a personal choice, and there is no law obligating you to disclose your disability.  However, to be eligible for the accommodations under the American Disabilities Act, OOD and Social Security, some level of disclosure is necessary.  Once disclosed, though, that information legally must be kept confidential in the workplace, places of higher learning, housing options and medical environments.  

In her book Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adult Asperger Syndrome, Gaus (2007) discusses several additional factors people may want to consider when exploring the option of disclosing their ASD. The question is not only whether to disclose, but how much to disclose. To arrive at a decision involves analyzing your goals for disclosure, as well as understanding the many possible outcomes — positive and negative.

Gaus’ book (2007) suggests that the individual explore the following questions:

• Why do you want this person to know about your diagnosis? Would disclosure possibly improve a professional relationship? Or could it deepen understanding and intimacy in a personal relationship?

• How do you think disclosure will improve your interactions with this person? Without thinking through this goal, the individual is less likely to achieve the desired effect.

• Are you prepared to ask this person to support you in a different way because of this new information? If so, can you be specific with the person about what you need? For example, if the individual hopes that an interpersonal problem will improve with the disclosure, it’s important to be able to explain specifically how the person should use the new information. The other person may be unsure about the purpose of the disclosure or how he or she can help.
• What are the risks of disclosing to this person? If it’s someone the client doesn’t know well, such as a coworker or employer, anticipating the reaction can be difficult. Exploring this question can help the individual plan for the possibility of a negative or confusing reaction.