have you told anyone about ur autism?

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Yes, I have told people about my autism. For the most part they don't mind.

a few people knew about it before i did. But i have told Doctors, police officers, Teachers, family and close friends that i have autism. I dont tell anyone else unless its relevant or important.

Im always nervous to bring it up in a romantic setting because i dont know what will happen but other than that its no big deal.

The first reaction is ALWAYS disbelief, like "huh, you dont seem autistic" or " i know people who are autistic and they cant talk though..."

But occasionally i get the "Oh you mean like aspergers? so you dont have a filter but your really smart"

You dont have to tell anyone, (well maybe if your talking with a psychologist/psychiatrist) If its not relevant then theres no need to bring it up at all.

I only bring it up if its absolutely necessary, Like incase of a meltdown, sensory issues, or if i made a big social mistake.

For example there is a schedual change and i feel a meltdown coming on, i tell the teacher i am about to meltdown and ask to go for a walk, the teacher doesn't allow it and i explain that i have Autism Spectrum Disorder and i cannot calm down unless i walk around a bit and she/he apologizes and allows me to leave

You dont even need to bring up the entire diagnoses.

For example, lets say a teacher gives me a set of instructions that are rather vague and i dont understand, i ask the teacher to be more specific because i have difficulty following instructions and the teacher apologizes and clarifies.

I have either AS or OCD (self and psychology educated friend diagnosed), and I have a formal diagnosis for ADD.
I am shy about disclosing my ADD because I am afraid people will assume I got the diagnosis for the Adderall (I live in a university town).
That is the only thing I worry about when disclosing.
Beyond that, I am pretty open with what I have and think I might have (yes, I indicate uncertainty where it is due). I am fascinated with psychology and mental disorders. It is so very interesting to me. I love it. If I were formally diagnosed as AS, I would probably tell people about it. Both because it is fascinating, and because I think being open can help others.
By being open about mental health issues, I feel like I am giving others support and validation. I can be at least one person who advocates that it is ok to not be NT.

Only my mom and my doctors know. My dad doesn't even know and nobody else in my family knows either. I don't tell other people at school or work because I'm afraid to.

I announced my diagnosis before all 350 people in my church congregation. Was I nervous? No. I was relieved. How did they react? Graciously. Not only do I still teach adult Sunday School, but now I minister to other people who have Autism as well as to their families. I've even gave sermons on the subject. I've heard a lot of Christian bashing over the years - but truly, the evangelical community is truly the most tolerant - certainly more so than the liberals who bash it.

I told an auditorium of around 200 people about my aspergers diagnosis at a mental health awareness event.

technically yea ?? its kinda complicated :^o i have a tumblr where i talk abt my autism issues so a few of my friends know. i told my mom and she doesnt believe me because apparently my ability to pick up social and nonverbal ques is too good to be autistic (despite following basically EVERY other criteria on the list), and my dad found out about my aspergers on his own, but thinks i dont know. he hasnt told me himself yet, i just know that he knows because he was talking about it in the other room thinking that i couldnt hear

i also told my english class that i most likely* have aspergers (i said most likely even though i pretty much know for sure, i just didnt know how to explain that i was self diagnosed)

I didn't find out myself till I was 52. Yes, I tell people. Except at work, where I'm encouraged to shut up about it.

There are a fair few autistic traits on display in my organisation, and "don't ask, don't tell" is the rule. I suspect I'm the only one there with a diagnosis.

The trouble with grown up autistics is that no one knows -

In person it is impossible to miss. Online in forums I usually mention it. Maybe too much.

I have no trouble telling strangers, because I don't really care what they think. It's actually a bad idea, but my mouth seems to work faster than my brain.

As for those I've deliberately told, only four people know besides doctors or therapists. They are close family or friends of family.

The majority of people in my family would think I was making it up as an excuse. I'm already thought of in a negative light by most of my family, ever since I started having serious emotional/behavioral problems at about age twelve.

Those on one side of the family likely think that I'm stupid (although I'm significantly smarter than they are), trashy, lazy, that I have no morals, etc. I base this off of the way they have treated me and talked/laughed about me behind my back.

The other side seems to think I'm troubled, and lazy. So not quite so bad, I guess.

Either way, for those whose mind is already made up concerning my character, autism will only seem like an excuse.

didnt you say that you were faking having autism a few posts back?

or was that a joke.

i remember you saying something about that.

either that or someone else

Someone posted a thread accusing everyone on WP of being NT's faking having autism. So I said as a joke that I started faking it when I was two years old (which is impossible) and fooled the neurologist who diagnosed me when I was two years old (which would be impossible for a two year old). It was just a joke.

I love telling people on the internet, and watching their stereotypes shatter like glass. It's pretty hilarious, though sometimes they don't believe me and can have some bully type actions.

I think the only way they can "fake" it is if they were coached (the parent taught them from a young age how to act instead and how to play with their toys, you know reverse ABA), the parent exaggerated their symptoms but never took them to a professional who is more qualified to officially diagnose, they were abused or neglected in some way so it delayed their development and they developed behaviors that would mimic autism.

My family knows about my autism and I have told my teaching staff and my closest friends that I am autistic. They all understand everything about my autism (how I frequently get stressed) and try to help me a lot, which is great. I have not told anyone else, because it is something that I like to keep private.

Only several thousands.