Factually Inaccurate Autism

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I have started up a new micro-blog that I call Factually Inaccurate Autism. My inspiration for the blog is my grandmother, who says at least 3 inaccurate "facts" about autism or Asperger's anytime I actually talk with her. Of course, I would like it to be more helpful than just what I deal with, so I'm letting you know about it here so if you've heard of any factually inaccurate "facts" about Autism that bug you or you'd like corrected- please post them below. You can check out my little project over at http://factually-inaccurate-autism.tumblr.com/. I know you guys have heard some crazy/inaccurate things- so please share them below!

You can outgrow Asperger's/autism.

If you can (occasionally) converse fluently and intelligently (on certain topics) you can't be autistic.

Click the link in my sig and take what you want from there.

DrHouseHasAspergers- Awesome! Thanks. I'll definitely add that to the list!

Invisable- I've addressed communication already. My family did not disappoint in pointing out "how well I communicate" haha.

Ganondox- Awesome! thanks!

"You can learn to appreciate things that other people say you should."

E.g. I don't "obeserve" birthdays, so I cannot be persuaded to appreciate them. On the other hand, it's rather fascinating that the Earth has gone around the sun 30.5 times since I was born. But, if these days are somehow supposed to be happier than any other day (or vice-versa), that just wouldn't be fair!

Great work so far, Shayna! Keep writing and researching. This list could go on and on.

Heard this one on in a chat-room recently: "People with autism have no emotions" (paraphrased).
Edit: I've just read some of the content on your Tumblr, and I have to say, it's fantastic. I've never seen anyone- even people who are also on the spectrum- describe the way I experience Asperger's so perfectly. When you describe Asperger's as it is from your perspective I feel like you're also inadvertently describing it perfectly as it is from my perspective.

Postmaster- Thank you for the comment! That makes me feel good because I'm speaking from my own research/experience and I feel mildly bad making it sound like an "all-aspie/autie" thing, at the same time- I hope that it IS applicable to others. So thank you for that comment!

"People with autism can't feel compassion, love, or attachment."

"People with autism will always be exactly as they are when they are children. They will never learn anything unless someone makes a heroic effort to teach them; and sometimes not even then."

"Asperger's makes you shy and socially anxious. Autistic people are never extroverts."

"Autistic people can't fall in love, have sex, get married, or have kids."

"Autistic people who can speak are automatically better at everything than autistic people who can't speak."

"Autism makes you a genius, or at least gives you savant skills."

"Autism (or certain kinds of autism) isn't really a disability."

Practically anything that starts with "All autistic people..."

If you pick up on any social cues, you can't have autism.

Most people have no clue about autisms, its never in the media.
They are pretty much ignorant all round

I feel the need/impulse to comment on this statement.
IMHO
I think as you get older you learn NT traits and people don't notice the AS traits so much. They're still there, Just not so obvious.

So, 'you sort of' do outgrow the visible Aspergers in the eyes of a NT.

But if you look in the mirror, an ASD person will be looking back.

I genuinely heard this from a colleague (who works with autistic children, worryingly):
"All autistic children like ready salted crisps, innit? Is that, like, an autistic thing?"

What. That's just stupid.

That is really stupid!

One I heard recently

"If you can rationalize a social situation after you messed it up, that means you had the ability to do so before you said/did something stupid, therefore it was your choice to be socially inept"

I bet she worked with two or three autistic kids who really liked salted crisps, and somehow assumed they all did. Lack of logic there.