explaining AS to college profs

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I will be starting college in two weeks.
The University disabillity specialist suggested that I write a general letter to my professors explaining Asperger's syndrome and how it affects me.
Has anybody on the forum ever written a letter like this? Does anyone have suggestions of what I should include?
Has anyone (who did not write a letter like this), experienced problems with their professor due to a lack of understanding about Asperger's syndrome. Does anyone wish they had sent out a letter like this. Of those who do, what do you wish you had said.

I got through grad school and almost to a PhD without disclosing anything relating to AS or asking for any external accommodations (that is, I didn't ask the profs for anything different than the other students were given or had to do).

What I would suggest is going to class and doing whatever assistive things you can do for yourself - bring a tape recorder and tape the lectures, for starters. If you write better than you can talk, and you have an option of doing a written vs a verbal project, go with the written. If you can do individual projects v group projects (and you don't do group well), go with the solo projects. If you find yourself having trouble keeping up in the class, THEN I would go to the professor and try to discuss whatever problems you are having. If talking is an issue, then yes, do a letter. I can see there being times when you might need to do that - if you have problems in the classroom because of the noise level in the room, group projects, or if you have some other issue along with your A/S like ADD or a speech/hearing processing problem. I had the most trouble with group projects, because the participants were not on-task and seemed to want to talk and goof - I usually wound up doing all the work and they'd get the same credit as I did. Annoying as hell, that was. If it's that you find the coursework difficult, that's the breaks. You need to find a way around that problem so that you can succeed. They can't modify the course requirements (nor should they) to give you (or any of us) an easier road than the other students have. You need to be able to do what the rest have to do to pass the course. That is the definition of passing the course - you meet the standard. If there's modifications you need to have made that allow you to meet the same standards, and you can't succeed otherwise, then ask for them. Definitely do.

If you do a letter, say what your particular problems are and what kind of help you need to overcome them. Be sure to include documentation from your office of disability services so the instructor knows you are not "faking it".

I wouldn't assume you're going to have problems until you actually find you are having them. If so, at the point when you know you're starting to get into trouble, then do not be at all shy about asking for help. But if you're doing ok, there's no reason to self-identify. The caveat to that is that if your institution requires that you identify your "special needs" at the start of the term or forfeit them, you'd better identify them just in case and do so according the the rules at your institution.

The very best of luck to you. What are you studying? Where are you going to be in school?