Thanks~
Since all of these conditions are "spectrum disorders", affliction has a VERY wide range. There are people like your cousin ( and some who are worse off still) and then there are people like my daughter, who has a much milder form and is now simply very "geeky", and has actually managed to make some friends and learn how to behave appropriately MOST of the time.
Geeky : ) I'm glad she's making friends, and learning how to behave appropriately. One of the major things that is so frustrating with my son, is that his behavior was so inappropriate at times. Without any kind of diagnosis, it boils down to authority figures judging your parenting skills. I wish I had known that autism varies in degrees, back when he was little.
I don't know if he'll ever grow out of it. His father indulges him, and allows him to smoke, and drink alcohol. This was going on when I had physical custody of him. Very sad.