You can't be autistic because....

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I'm not organized enough to be autistic... okay, so my house is a complete wreck. But all the books on my dresser are organized from largest to smallest, with things stacked up along the rest of it to ensure that none of them will wobble this way or that, and you wouldn't believe all the organizing I do with my stuff on the computer... oh wait, maybe you guys would, lol, but others don't.

I don't have any area of main special interests-and rarely ever become an expert in anything. I just get by with enough information to be able to do whatever it is I'm doing (usually artsy/craftsy stuff) and am happy with that.

Because I have feelings.... huh?

Because I am on anti-depressants, therefore there must be something other than that going on with me

Because I smile and do not have a monotone voice. (nevermind the fact that my tone of voice rarely reflects what I'm feeling, and I ALWAYS smile like an idiot even when angry or upset)

Yup. Why I don't believe the so-called "professional" they brought in was a professional at all.

Also (and I love this one):
"But you're not like any of the other people with Asperger's here.".

That school. I will. NEVER. Miss it.

...I have friends.
...I have a sense of humour.
...I can use sarcasm.
Edit:
...I'm getting an Arts degree, not a Science degree.

I was once told by someone that should know better that my son did not have ASD because he:

Seems so relaxed

laughs alot

tells jokes

seems to understand humor.

Cheers

Oh and this is more of a question.

After talking to a few ASDian adults over time I sometimes doubt that I have ASD because I just have not suffered enough for being different. I don't actually have the horror stories that many ASDian adults have.

If anyone can correct me on this let me know

Cheers

I've been told something similar. That I couldn't be, because I was nice and pretty etc.
So people on the spectrum are always ugly and horrible to be around?? Hmmm.....

someone told me:

"you "look" so normal and could think well eventhough you're shy...are you sure you're autistic?"

I would imagine that it is at least theoretically possible for an autistic person to grow up in an environment where her differences were appreciated and had a supportive family and friends that allowed her to be herself while guiding and encouraging her to be the best she can be. In such a case, endless suffering might be avoided.

Most of us grew up in a reality starkly different from that mythical ideal. An autistic who was fortunate enough not to might not feel at home with autistics who did, especially since those early experiences do profoundly affect us. Obviously, that does not in any way disqualify one from being autistic. It can, however, raise doubts in the person's mind, since many of us first discover that we are autistic by recognising ourselves in the experience of other autistics.

I was extraordinarily fortunate in my choice of parents - they would occasionally try to help me learn to fade into the crowd (never did work, because back in the day nobody knew what AS even was), but they never tried to make me fit some mythical ideal at home. Home was where I could relax, hide in my room with my books, talk with my father about some of the more obscure aspects of European history, and generally just be myself without anyone trying to judge or change me.

Out in the world, of course, was a whole different story, but that was hardly my family's fault...

Me, too. You have to realize, though, that suffering does not equal "validity" of an ASD. You also have to remember that many who are drawn here to WP (or any intentional gathering of autistics) are probably more in need of support than those who have "found their own way." so to speak. So you have a tendency to see a lot more of that suffering up close and personal. It does not, however, mean that it is representative of autistics everywhere.

Because I'm imaginative.

Because I'm capable of holding a conversation.

Because I have friends.

And:

"But I have a friend of a friend/distant relative with AS, and you're NOTHING like them so you can't have it!"

I was told I most definitely couldn't have As because my IQ was above average.

I'm a girl. Apparently only guys get autism.

I don't watch starwars/startrek

I don't look ret*d. (not meaning to offend anyone! These aren't my words from my mouth!)

I don't live in my parents basement and play videogames.

I'm not nerdy or act like the rainman in anyway what so ever...

Yeah... stupid reasons...

You, ah, did point out that one of the diagnostic criteria for AS (to distinguish it from HFA) is that the subject must have an IQ at least in the normal range if not higher, didn't you?

I haven't really gotten extremely weird reasons. The most common is getting no reason at all, ie. "maybe someone made that up" (my former doctor, referring to another doctor who had diagnosed me). My mother used to say I can't be auitistic cause I like social interaction. But she says I am depressed (and gives for a reason that "that is treatable with drugs"). Now liking interaction may be an argument against depression more than against autism.

The one I've heard more times than anything else is that I can't have an ASD because I'm too old. Autism Speaks would have everyone believe that Autism (in all forms) is a "children's disease". I've gotten used to it being called a "disease" since many people don't understand the difference between a disease and a syndrome, and it takes too long to explain it in terms they can understand.

The problem is that many many people completely believe that Austim is something that only affects children, as if we either grow out of it or die off at age 18. I've been told by people (including teachers) that I can't be 28 and Autistic, or that I'm a one in a million case.

The question I still have yet to receive a believable answer to is "what happens to Autistic children when they reach adulthood" since nobody seems to know, the only thing they know is that Autism only affects children, and they repeat it like a parrot.