Adults with Aspergers

I'd certainly agree with you on the line that people on the autistic spectrum have brought some very valuable perspectives and contributions to society. Lots of engineers appear autistic.

I laughed recently when someone I know who cycles a lot and who works on computers, told me very seriously that he had taken the OS sheet which covers our county and had decided to cycle every single road on it. Seemed both male and possibly autistic!

I also always think of Temple Grandin who designed an abattoir that was kind and unfrightening for cattle and other animals. And then there's Susan Boyle!

Gosh, this list is amazing!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_with_autism_spectrum_disorders

Didn't see Gary Numan on the list [may have missed it].

Also look at the contribution to society by people with dyselxia [eg Richard Branson] or are depressive/bi polar [eg Stephen Fry/Spike Milligan].

I'm alarmed by the number of people who claim, or who are assigned by family and friends, the diagnosis of being 'Autistic' or 'on the spectrum'.

IMO the phrase is bandied about and applied to anyone who just doesn't quite fit in.

Rather like Bi-polar .... every other celebrity suffers from it!

anniezzz09: "I laughed recently when someone I know who cycles a lot and who works on computers, told me very seriously that he had taken the OS sheet which covers our county and had decided to cycle every single road on it. Seemed both male and possibly autistic!"

I toyed with doing that several times, but before I had to give up I was trying to visit every Youth Hostel in the country. When I was fellwalking I was a peak-bagger, ticking off lists of summits like the Wainwrights.

I won't list all the other things I do that others think are eccentric or obsessive.

This is an interesting list, it includes Hans Asperger himself. I thought that it's named for him because he discovered it, not because he had it.

Two and a half years ago, I shared the joy with a dear friend that she was to become a great grandmother, she proudly sent me photos of her 1 hour old DGS. The past couple of years she has kept me informed about his progress, a beautiful little boy. She started to share her concern with me about the fact he didn't talk, just grunted, I kept telling her all children are different doing things in their own time, to try and reassure her.
He is not yet 3 and has been diagnosed as being severely autistic, I don't know what to say to her as I have had no experience of autism.
From what I gather the whole family is going to find this hard as by now there is a baby sister and she is copying at 1 year old, the grunts of the little boy. I worry so much as to what will happen to this lovely family

newist; that's terribly sad. Something similar has happened to someone I know .