Thank you for posting this. As someone on the spectrum, these means a lot.

I was only too happy to. I meant every stroke on my drawing pad and every word of what I said. =)

I have Asperger's myself, and it, (along with past experience with students at school specifically my last school district), has affected my time at my current school which is SOOOO MUCH better than the prison I was in. (Still annoying idiots but they're NOT trying to piss me off...they're just trying to delay the curriculum's progress or have fun).

Though at times, I honestly don't feel bad about having Asperger's as I am fairly intelligent and at times it is better to be alone for a while than crowded. Though it would explain why at times I have a hard time talking, verbally or even to myself.

As I said, be PROUD. I know you well enough on here. I know you're an intelligent and wonderful person. I think you should be glad that you have a way of viewing the world that is more unique. =)

Certainly unique, (I often call it cynical but there's reason to be cynical or pessimistic about reality), cause I'm sure the LARGE majority of people, (least in this nation), would all have in general the same ideology of life perhaps. Hive mind, conformity, and all that jazz.

I know exactly how you feel, mate.

I was fortunate to be homeschooled during middle school and the first half of high school. I found it a much more enriching experience in every way. I even learned to write a novel.

Since it's in the keywords and can be a source of negative feelings for those in the know, I need to offer an important link to why Autism Speaks is not worth supporting: https://thecaffeinatedautistic.word.....updated-62014/ There are many other autism organizations that are much more deserving of recognition, including the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and the Autism Women's Network, where actual autistic people are in charge, and the focus is on improving autistic lives. More good organizations like these can be found on the link above. I'd say more, but discretion is important in this situation, and so I'll end my comment here.

You're right, I should remove that from the keywords. The reason I used it is because I wanted to redirect searches for it to a more positive message. Regardless, I'll remove it to avoid further confusion.

Actually, it's not a bad idea to repurpose the keyword like that.

True. It's a tough call. I really do want to avoid obfuscating my message.

An example perhaps least in terms of my region would be True North, (it's, far as I know and recall, the only Autism program in the area, {well they run a program for Autistic youth from like elementary to 21 years old if I'm correct}).

“Alison Singer, former Autism Speaks board member and founder of the Autism Science Foundation, speaks about her desire to drive her daughter and herself off the George Washington Bridge, and only stopped because she was thinking of how it would affect her non-autistic daughter.”
— Sounds like this “advocate” has worse problems than autism!

Pretty much. When the non-autistic people around us make it about themselves rather than about autistic people, you know there's a problem waiting to happen.

Yay to understanding!

Agreed. =)

as someone with aspergers, nobody will take me seriously. i'm 24 years old, technically homeless, living off a microscopic budget, stealing wifi, with no possibility of getting a job because no place will take me because of my aspergers. i've even applied for basic jobs like sign holding on a street corner, but not even places like that will accept me. with my already-crippling income coming to an end in the near future, i'm not sure how i can make it in this prejudiced world. i'm not sure how many of you have unsupportive families, but i'm positive that yours don't intentionally treat you like you don't exist. im not sure if it's just my own bad luck that my life is like this, or if people around are really that cruel. my only real friends are online, and the internet is the only place anyone accepts me for who i am or even bothers to talk to me. in real life, it's like i'm a black baby born into a city with nothing but the kkk as residents. it's rough, and i don't exactly see life getting better. my family does pay for me in some things (like this hotel i'm living in), but that's only because they're being forced to. i'm totally stuck where i am, and unless i can win the lottery every time i enter, it seems like i might not make it anywhere in life, or even last the year. if any of my friends lived within walking distance, i could probably have a house to live in for a week. until i find one of those, i need a total miracle that no holy/celestial being could pull off.

That's not true at all. *I* take you seriously.

We've all had rough times in our lives, believe me. That applies whether we have autism or not. Don't give up. Things WILL get better. *Hugs*

so many things get lumped into 'autistic spectrum disorders' anymore cause we dont understand what causes them or what there true impact is, i have a friend who has asperger's, ive met several autistic people thru work both high and low function
i personaly have some non-autism mental disorders of my own [good old adhd though honestly it seems like half the planet has it anymore so meh] touret's syndrome and a little ocd so i understand what its like to think a little differently from the average so i can relate beter to those that do im glad your helping to spread this message and proud of you for haveing the conviction to do so.

I have anxiety disorder, PTSD, and OCD, so I know what you're going through. And like anyone else, I don't consider myself inferior for them. There was a time when I did, and there are still things I have a lot of difficulty with, but I also believe in myself and will try my hardest every day. =)

i belive i might have something alsob ut not 100% sres

Perhaps!

yup

Thank you Ryusuta and solarknight99 for supporting this specific topic on what I have myself, Autism. (more specifically Aspergers) I may not have been going on a downward spiral in life atm, despite me having minor meltdowns recently, but this is really inspiring, and I cannot thank you enough on how much this means to me. You guys rock!

My pleasure. I meant it from the heart!

thank you and the commissoner for this, for the support for autism

My pleasure. =)

I don't like the logo associated with Autism/Asperger's - it's stereotypical and doesn't apply to a lot of people with it.

There's no need to be proud of having it, either. You can think however you like about there being nothing wrong with you - but that will NEVER stop the vast majority of neurotypical people thinking that you -are- broken. That there -is- something with you.

We humans stick together in groups - even on a subconscious level. We want to feel part of a group or at least feel accepted by our peers. I imagine many of you had a horrific time in school, labelled as a black sheep without doing anything to deserve it, other than the mere fact that "there's something different about you and we don't like it" - but this is typical behaviour from children.

As adults? It might get a little or a lot easier - people might start treating you on more even terms - and there's people online with similar traits that you can relate to and feel like you're part of something again. But if you're the type who has communication and/or socialising difficulties - then people will pick up on it and treat you accordingly.

--

To everybody with Asperger's and Autism; it's your choice whether you wish to be proud of your condition (or "different perspective on things" if you prefer to call it that) - because pride doesn't really change anything except your self-esteem. People will still treat you the same way whether or not you feel proud of it.

The important thing is to ACCEPT that you'll never be what's considered "normal" - and accept that there are pros and cons to being made this way.

Since it varies from person to person, I can't say accurately how it affects each person - but for myself; numbers, patterns and sounds are where I excel in life. But give me a bunch of regular folk on the street to talk with and I'll crumble after a few minutes. I'll say something awkward or out of place, because I have no tact in communicating on their level.

I'll never be able to hold a proper conversation each time - and it slowly eats away at my confidence knowing that we're on two completely different wavelengths, but I'm forced to interact with people as part of my job on occassion - and the less I say, the less awkward I look to people. D:

(Psst, this was originally supposed to be a few lines. x3)

The logo is on there because the person that commissioned it WANTED it on there.

The idea of pride in autism doesn't mean that autism itself is something to be proud of. It's the same as pride in other minorities. A lot of people in popular society are conditioned to think that people with autism are inherently worse than "normal" people. It's important for people to believe in themselves and not think that being different makes you any worse.

Oh I've no qualms about them wanting it in the picture, I was just saying why I think it misrepresents us as it's a very wide range of people to try and cover.

I do believe that people -should- feel proud to be an individual - and I feel that any sort of condition is just how you experience things differently to another. We may we worse at communication, but we make up for it in other ways - and that "normal" people focus too much on our lack of communication and tact, because a lot of people like to feel part of a group and conform to a standard...one that we're just not really part of.

I guess it really varies from person to person. It's not wrong to be proud of having Autism or Asperger's, nor is it wrong to just be proud of your unique traits that make up who -you- are. Everybody's entitled to feel however they like, I guess - so I'm sorry if it seemed like I was trying to push my opinions upon everyone. D:

No worries. *Hugs a cute*

I recommend Dale Carnegie’s book How to Win Friends and Influence People. Social skills are not as natural as popularly thought. They have to be taught.

Ever since reading this book, I no longer believe Asperger’s Syndrome is my limiting factor.

my friend on da and here has autism. i treat him like a brother and look out for him. so yeah. ive known autism for a while.

Awesome. =)

yep. you might know him. do you know tmk0009 on DA or ThePkmnChmp here?

Maybe, but doesn't ring a bell.

oh. i know he likes some of your art.

I'm so glad. =)

I'm someone was was diagnosed ASD, but not by a doctor- by a teacher, since I was sucking at school. I don't really like the diagnosis. It feels like an excuse. Even if I am, I don't want that to be the reason I keep sucking at emotions and at concentration. I wanna get better at those things other people do.

Well, yeah. A teacher isn't in a position to make such a diagnosis. And I agree, whether you are or not is irrelevant. You're you and that's just fine!

I'm one of them, I've had autism all my life.

solarknight99 have autism ?

Asperger's, but yes. =)

do you know some guys who have autism on FA or DA ?

Why do you ask?

just for know

I am sorry if I ask this because I am interessed about this subject ( I am autisitic too )

I find it interesting too! I know a few people on the specturm and I love them all.

I was diagnosed with Asperger/autism when I was three. I am 15 and in high school. I don't think I am going to live to next semester.

I was diagnosed as an aspenger when I was a child. My family did everything to protect me and help me, but I suffered a bit of bullying at school. Nowadays, my biggest difficulty is to relate to people, because I can not correctly convey what I want to say and I am still learning to give it to people who do not know me well or who think I am strange. I always try to be proud of my efforts both in my studies and in overcoming the difficulties that life puts to the test. I have learned not to hate those who do not understand me.

I have learned that social skills are not as natural as popularly thought. They have to be taught.

I recommend Dale Carnegie’s book How to Win Friends and Influence People. Ever since reading this book, I no longer believe Asperger’s Syndrome is my limiting factor.

I would say “differently abled” is not just mushy political correctness. Rather it’s the truth of how we’re all differently designed. I think about how one Pokemon would seem handicapped compared with another. But it really is just different abilities.

By the way, I am also on the autism spectrum.