Hi,
Aspie here. My prosopagnosia (face blindness) has become really embarrassing since I began teaching college freshmen this fall as a graduate TA. I continually get a group of young Caucasian men mixed up, and today, I called one blonde by the name of another. Then, I called the dark-skinned dark-haired medium height latina by the same name as the dark-skinned dark-haired medium height southeast asian woman.  I was happy that I had gotten the blondes mixed up first, but I still felt awkward because of the race thing .

I'm afraid I just seem like this flaky person for being so completely useless at names. I told them a little bit about face blindness, and I think it made them uncomfortable. I was thinking about totally "coming out" by sharing a link that described face blindness and linked it with spectrum disorders, and telling them that it was a little disability of mine.

Would this be a good idea? Today was such a bad day with names/faces, and otherwise I believe I am a very good teacher, but I lose so much confidence every time I fail to recognize or too hastily attempt to name someone. Thank you. - mj

I have the same problem.  I used to tell my class of preschoolers apart by their shoes and hair-styles, but most of the time they were as similar as Marty the zebra was to the rest of the herd in Madagascar 2!   I think you did the right thing to tell them, so they know that you're not flaky or trying to be insulting.  It's just something that you have to live with and can't change.  Tell them to imagine that to you everybody is wearing a bland mask and all look the same.
Alison

This post was last modified: 10-06-2012 12:34 PM by Alison.

I would imagine college students would be able to understand. If it were me, I might even say something at the start of the term, before anything embarrassing happens. Don't make a big deal out of it. Just say it like that's how it is.

What is it that you teach, MJ?  Perhaps you could put prosopagnosia in as part of the course!
Alison

Thanks for the responses!
Allison, I teach Freshman Comp/English. That's a good idea! At least make it a "word of the day" or something. All the best articles on the subject reference autism and Aspergers, so it might take a little explaining. Next quarter I am going to try to bring in an essay about Aspergers for course reading.

Neurotypicals seem to be much more accepting of people who are "really bad at faces" than with people who out themselves as Aspies.

"Bad at faces" seems to be viewed in the same way as "tone deaf" or "bad at mathematics" and is less troubling to NTs than dealing with an Aspie.

You might tell your students that you are really not very good at learning names to faces and if they could sit in the same place and give a seating plan.  Of if you have them sign an attendance sheet then use a seating plan and have them sign where they are seated.

Some people feel that a person who does not "bother" to learn their name does not care about them.  You really do not want your students to feel that you do not care about them especially if they can earn credit for attendance and participating in your tutorial.