Woman finally told her boss she's autistic — what he said next changed her outlook on life

Instagram user @autistic.thought shared a powerful moment where she spoke about telling her boss that she’s autistic, and how his response left her feeling supported in a way she hadn’t expected. The video has gained over 282,000 views and over 18,000 likes so far. "Today, I told my boss that I'm autistic," she began, "and he responded by saying, 'Thank you for telling me that.'"

From there, she described a conversation filled with understanding, empathy, and openness. Her boss acknowledged that the language around neurodiversity has changed, saying he knew we don’t use "Asperger’s" anymore, and that being neurodivergent is simply a difference, not a deficiency. "He understood that low support needs don't mean no support. He wants to understand how I communicate better and wants to work with me on that… and if I need accommodations, I’m welcome to have that conversation with him too," she said. What stood out to her most was that he didn’t just say the right things, but he meant them.

"He said all the right things because he knew about them and believed them," she said. She also shared that he recognized that not all workplaces would be this understanding. So they made a plan together to prepare for how to handle situations where future employers or environments might be less accepting. In the caption of her post, she clarified a few points. "I should have said being neurodivergent is being different; neurodiversity refers to the wide diversity of brain types. I was trying to say... that he recognizes I do have needs," she wrote.

She also mentioned that her boss knew the term "high functioning" doesn’t truly reflect people’s lived experiences, something many in the autistic community have long advocated. "I recognize this is a privileged video to make for many reasons, I think it's important that these conversations are said, though. If those of us who are lucky enough to have privileges are able to be more open, people with less privileges will benefit from a better and more understanding world," she continued. Moments like this are reminders of how inclusive leadership can change the workplace.

A 2024 sustainability-focused review emphasized that organizations integrating neurodiversity into their HR practices saw greater innovation, higher job satisfaction, and enhanced organizational reputation. Importantly, these benefits depended on managers and supervisors actively understanding and supporting neurodivergent team members. The video hit home for many people and filled the comments full of support, recognition, and hope. "I'm glad you're in a workspace where you will not be harmed. It's beautiful that it can happen," wrote @deathlikescats. @grocerydad1 added, "There really are empathetic and supportive leaders out there who are willing to learn alongside their teams. This is the new form of leadership."

"I just got teary-eyed… having been diagnosed AuDHD and knowing the level to which you felt understood had to have been insurmountable for you, and I love it," commented @fitheach17. @lacafedora observed, "You seem like you are still trying to believe that this really happened. It's nice to know that sometimes we take chances and it works out." @courtneyskellz said, "I’m so happy for you! Every autistic individual should have informed and compassionate leaders in the workplace and in their lives. If we don’t have them, may we become them?"

You can follow @autistic.thought on Instagram for more content on autism awareness.