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I’m ASD(Aspergers). We were just never diagnosed when I was a kid. We had full-blown autistic kids but they were sometimes kept out of school. Many of us just grew out of it although it still comes back. I work in an office full of IT types who only talk to their shoes. We have one guy on the hall who won’t speak at all. Diagnoses surge when they start labeling kids in the Aspergers range.

Hi AppyPappy. Yes, I do think that although Aspergers is on the spectrum many can either outgrow it or learn to cope. Many go into the computer field where they don't need to interact with people frequently.

Those on the lower end, as my grand son is, will never outgrow it. They can make progress but will never be able to live on their own. I am sure in the past many of these children where kept at home and no one talked about it. Now that there is more awareness, it is DX'ed more often. Doctors and parents are on the look out for it, the earlier treatment is started the more progress that can be made. I'm not even sure that my son didn't have Aspergers. He had so many sensory issues but did well in school and loved working with computers. As a matter of fact, and I say this with shame, he even got in serious trouble for computer hacking. Thankfully he has outgrown it but it is a real condition.

I am apartment community manager and we are located within 3 miles of a company that hires lots of computer engineers and IT people. Many of them have Appergers. They will rent an apartment via email and pay deposit and application fee on line. Arrive, sign lease, get keys and barely say a word. Some have lived here for years and don't speak to anyone as far as I know. They will walk past my glass office door and drop their rent payment in the drop slot. If they have packages delivered here, they will come in and nod their head and I am able to determine they are here to pick up their package, no words exchanged. I see them in the grocery store and they are either starring at the ground or straight ahead. They are able to function in the world and make good money because they have skills where they don't need to talk to people.

As for my grandson, and many like him, we can't even get him near a grocery store. It must cause him some kind of pain.

This part is not directed at you AppyPappy, I'm sure it happens occasionally that someone is gaming the system to get money but a lot of the time it seems that husbands/boyfriends can't deal with the situation and walk out. It's nearly impossible to find decent daycare that is affordable so that mom can work, so many do apply and qualify for assistance. What are they suppose to do, give their kids away or shot them. They love their children. I have talked with many women that at the end of the month don't have enough food so they go without so their children can eat. It is very sad.

Now that I know autism up close and personal, I can spot it a mile away and let tell everyone, there are lots of people with autism and the numbers are growing. Maybe not as fast as the latest numbers claim, but it is growing none the less, even if you don't believe it

Hello,

I knew a little boy that went to school with my son. Alan has Aspergers. I was able to attend every school party for their elementary school years. By 2nd grade, the party experience became almost more than he could stand. The worst memory of his pain was finding him in a corner, while my son and the rest of the kids were having a great, but loud, time and he had his hands over his ears and was crouched down and rocking back and forth. It was heartbreaking. He was, and is, in a family that is devoted to him and his sister (both have this) but it is incredibly hard. My thoughts and prayers to you and your family.

MOgirl