How do people react when you tell them you are an Aspie?

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the only people who know i am autistic (apart from my dissolute family) are my I.T bosses (part of my income is earned contracting my programming services to a few companies), and my friends.

everyone who has been informed by me that i am autistic knew me reasonably well before i informed them, and since they already had a respect for me despite their misgivings about my lack of warmth and social integrity, they could not suddenly demote me in their esteem to the same degree that would match their lack of respect for me had they known before they met me that i was autistic.

for the first few months in any new company i am contracting my services to, i do not mention my autism, and if the position requires me to be on site often, and to integrate with the other staff, then things become more difficult. it becomes imperative for me to inform the "bosses" that i have asperger syndrome, and therefore i am unable to fulfill the unspoken social requirements of the position, and i ask if i can be cordoned off in a private room to do my work, and by that time, they usually are very happy with my work, so they oblige.

the rest of the staff are usually puzzled at the fact that i am no longer in their presence, and some are annoyed that i get an office when they have to work in a "work station", and others think that i am mysterious, and they like to interact with me.

my friends all excuse the fact that i am not "in their face" with eye contact and enthusiasm of facial expressions, and they see i am deeper than my facade of apparent disinterest in almost everything that average people find spiritually essential.

people can tell i am not intellectually ret*d, and if i tell them i have AS after their belief in my cognizance is solid, then it can not disrupt the foundations of their belief that i am credible.

Only my closest friends know, and not even all of them, that I am ASD. Basically though, it did not surprise anyone who has had long exposure to me & my habits.
And that is as far as its going, too. No need to proclaim it to the World.

Sincerely,
Matthew

I don't know. Haven't risked it yet.

Actually, I lied. I did tell some friends (who are NOT my friends any more) that I had AS, and they just said, ''no you haven't, you've got to look signifficantly different to have that, and you don't look signifficantly different'', so I know they were implying that ''I have no disability, I'm just a weirdo''.

Hurts really.

"I'm sorry to hear that"

I'm on something called the work programme and my adviser got somewhat pissed off that I'd not said anything sooner. Why would I claim to have something when it's not actually been diagnosed? Part of it was because I'd supposedly coped fine before.

"Asperger's, whats that?"
-Read this summary I wrote.

...

long silence while they read

...

"oh.."

Usually they say no wonder your so smart and weird, or whats an aspie? Or you dont seem autistic you seem too normal alittle odd but normal to me. Can you count cards? Me: "face palm" "thinking I probably shouldnt of told them that"

I've had a couple of interviews which have gone very well and I've got another on Tuesday.

In the UK it's normal to be asked to fill out an induction form which asks if you have any disabilities etc. I'm HFA and people tend to either like me or loathe me - I am quirky and can be up-and-down but I hate being distracted from something that I'm doing. I don't see HFA being a disability but should I make mention of it or just keep it to myself?

They usually just nod or say "ok".

Most of them say nothing (most of them openly admit to having ADHD, depression, OCD, etc.). One of my friends has said that she still accepts me no matter what, and another said that's probably why he considers me so interesting.

I took a chip last night in front of 300 people acknowledging that I am an aspie. Afterward several people asked what AS is and how does it affect me, 1 person was telling me traits in himself and his children. I was shaking like hell when I walked to the podium and for about 20 minutes after that. I felt compelled to open people's eyes however I could and I think that's going to be a positive thing

I've only told one person, and she responded with "oh. I don't think you do... But I hav'nt seen you for 5 years so I'm probably wrong"
*face palm*

I told some of my close NT friends and they reacted like i had just told them i have a serious illness that i couldnt get cured n that i was going to die.....

I then replied with "it's Autism" and they said "Oh"

-facewall-

I either get, "Yeah, that makes sense..."

Or,

"Well, it must be really mild, then!"

... Two completely opposing responses.

Though to be fair, it's the people that have known me the longest that say the former, while people who've only met me within the past couple years say the latter. At least I can take comfort in knowing that my coping skills are well-honed...