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Q&A with Adam Kofoed on autism
Op-Ed · April 16, 2025
Public Management Magazine posed several questions to West Branch City Administrator Adam Kofoed about his recent diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder:
Q. Were there particular situations where masking felt most necessary?
A. I often mask in one-on-one conversations — small talk doesn’t come naturally to me. We all know the weather, so why talk about it? I also struggle with the give-and-take of relationships.
With staff and council, my guard is high. I have a strong team, but I’ve instinctively assumed that when someone asks a question, they are against the idea — or against me. That mindset helped me overprepare and succeed, but rewiring that thought process will take time.
Q. How did it feel to receive your diagnosis?
A. At first, I felt a strange sense of clarity — my life suddenly made sense. But then came embarrassment and fear that people would use it against me. I also misunderstood autism as an all-or-nothing condition, not a spectrum.
Over time, I’ve come to understand myself better, though I still have moments of anger. Looking back, I realize how much I masked as a child.
One of many examples, I vividly remember being told I had “ants in my pants” because I couldn’t sit still. That was just the common response to neurodiversity but it was incredibly hurtful to me as a child.
Q. Oftentimes when first telling others about one’s autism diagnosis, there is some education involved, as many people don’t fully understand what autism is and the fact that it presents differently from person to person. How did you explain your autism diagnosis to your staff and city council?
A. I haven’t explicitly disclosed it.
Instead, I introduced a training called Reset 2025 to improve workplace culture. I shared that I would be attending regular health appointments and explained my challenges — like distinguishing between a directive and a heads-up conversation, or between an employee venting versus a complaint. Staff read between the lines and clapped.
I haven’t verbally spoken about it to my council yet. Writing is easier than speaking about it.
My advice? Start with those you trust and show your commitment to personal growth. People are more supportive when they see effort. Let them absorb it before diving into details.
Autistic people often walk a fine line — too guarded or too open. I overshare, so I’m giving it time before revisiting the conversation with council.
Q. How can we best support colleagues with autism?
A. First, recognize that autism is a spectrum — everyone’s experience is different.
Verbal and written support matter as many autistics are embarrassed and feel alone.
More broadly, integrating mental health into workplace conversations would help everyone. The more we normalize discussing neurodiversity, the better our teams will communicate and collaborate to strengthen our communities.
Q. How has unmasking impacted your mental health and self-esteem?
A. Self-esteem is still a work in progress. Masking feels natural, and I sometimes worry I’m not unmasking enough.
The biggest shift has been in my energy levels. I no longer burn all my energy trying to “fit in,” which has pulled me out of a constant fight-or-flight mode.
That’s made me more present at home. My wife’s mood has improved; my 3-year-old, whom we suspect also has autism, has started to talk and read for the first time; I’m building a stronger bond with my 9-year-old; and my 13-year-old has gained confidence.
Being in the moment has changed everything.
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