How open are you about your Asperger's?

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I used to be very open about it but not anymore.

Not at all.

There's a woman at work who is Dyslexic, and almost every time she's in a situation where she's got to read or write, she says ''I'm Dyslexic''. I suppose that's easy to say because most people have heard of Dyslexia and know what it is.

In my experience it seems some people are afraid of Asperger's for some reason. Some younger people become afraid of you as soon as they hear that you have an ASD, even though they knew you as you were before they knew about it. I wish they would just put that aside and continue liking you for who you are. Asperger's doesn't mean I'm going to bite.

I do tend to avoid telling people about my Asperger's, like friends, work colleagues, neighbours, etc. I just get embarrassed about it because I worry that people might not understand or might start judging me against it and thinking I'm some sort of ret*d or something. I feel like I'm half NT and half Autistic, not Asperger's, if you know what I mean. Other time I feel like I have everything but an ASD. Recently I have made up a label and I call it ''Non-Specified Learning Disability''. I like this label, and wish I could tell people I have that. They might not overestimate me so much because a non-specified learning disability can be anything (in their opinion). Asperger's and Autism seems to be viewed through common stereotypes, and I hate all the Asperger's and Autism stereotypes and I don't have most of them anyway.

I'm open about having Aspergers.

Only if necessary.

LOL...I'm so old that ADHD didn't exist when I was a kid. I was said to have "minimal brain dysfunction," or (better yet), a "brain injury." I would bet I could be diagnosed with it right now (though, if I'm interested in something, I could, in Aspie fashion, cogitate over that interest for hours.

I don't tell people that I could be on the autistic spectrum. There's not much substantive knowledge of it amongst the general public. There's considerable prejudice against it, especially in the working world. If there's one thing a boss fears most, is a meltdown coming from an employee. They would fear the employee might "go postal." People, in general, are really scared of those who don't adhere to social norms.

Depends. I don't volunteer it. If someone were to ask me, I'd probably tell them. But no one has ever asked. My wife knows, obviously. I'm 60 years old, and very secure in my job. So no worries there.

I am pretty open about it. Most people who are in my life regularly know and I mention it in conversations to strangers too. I have no problem with people knowing and I prefer that they do because if I do something weird they know why and then it does not scare them or freak them out.

i guess i'm open about it. i don't try to hide it, but i don't lead with it, either. it's on a "need to know" basis. most people don't care that much. if they don't like you, they aren't going to change their mind because they know you are aspie (usually).

people close to me i've started telling and most of them are like, ooooooohhh okay yeah i've seen that about you...

but in general i've found people just aren't that into whatever my diagnoses are, unless they find out i'm considered disabled and ask why (frankly i'd rather tell them it's asperger's and ptsd then go into the entire laundry list). then often they ask what asperger's is, an i give them the short skinny version.

and it can also be a way for predators (bullies, etc.) to target us, so be careful.

I'm upfront about it. Now that it's confirmed, it's helpful that people know.

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I´m open about it, when I think it may cause a problem, say, in fast paced job situation´s . Otherwise I only reveal it to some friends. Not to all.

I am not open about it. I've met too many persons who seem to place AS into the mental illness category. I'm also so good at coping that trying to explain how I am different when they don't see it except when I am tired is just too much trouble.

It has come up with persons who turned out to also be AS and asked me if I were. With them, I am open about it.

My family does not know. They would not be open to understanding. If I can fake normal patterns of behavior then, in their minds, I am only picky and oversensitive and have a weak character that things bother me and give me trouble. I don't see them changing their opinion about my character based on a diagnosis.

I do think about it and modify how I treat myself though. I no longer beat myself up for things I cannot help. I no longer think I am a bad person because some noises or smells bother me horribly. I treat me much nicer and that has been a good thing.

I buy nice socks. It has been a major relief to accept that I have sensitivities and that socks that feel good are necessary and not a character flaw.

It is nice to know that it is OK to admit that I do not understand something.

I do wish I could fix my face though. Grinning at someone who is angry at you isn't appropriate but it is what my face does when faced with an angry person when embarassed because I did something that deserved the anger. I also wish I could make my face show that I care when a friend is suffering, but sympathy never shows, I have to make sure I write it on their facebook or state it verbally.