I don't know why I am posting this, but this thread reminds of something really neat.
When my son was in 3rd grade, he invited an autistic boy to his bowling birthday party. It was the first party this boy had ever been invited to. No one but my son really talked to him- his mom stayed the whole time. My son got questioned as to why he would invite this boy. He was scared to death of public toilets and my son would go to the bathroom with him when he wanted to go.
What no one realized, was that bowling was this kid's special interest. While the rest of the 3rd graders were bowling 70's and 80's, this boy came out with a score of over 200. It was the NEATEST thing I ever experienced. All of a sudden, this child, who no one could relate to or even talk to, was the "king" of bowling. It was like a light went on in all their heads.
I guess, when I think of this, I am reminded that some things that may seem really hard (taking a kid to a bday party where pretty much no one likes him), end up to be really great experiences.