Are we viewed the same as them by NT's?

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Are people with aspergers viewed as different as people with down syndrome from most NT's perspective? When you talk too an NT about AS they then say "Well its like people with down syndrome"

I guess you could argue that are our physical appearence is slightly different from how NT's look as well.

Personally i don't think you can compare AS too down syndrome.. i mean there 2 completely different beasts and i think NT's just get the wrong idea because of stereotyping and ignorance.

do you think as well becuase they both end in the word 'syndrome' could be a misconception that NT's get?

I have never met anyone who made a comparison between Down Syndrome and autism or Asperger's.

Perhaps extremely ignorant and uninformed NTs may think that. And no, of course you can't compare AS and Down Syndrome, they're not even remotely similar.

Marcia - my dad and my uncle made some brief comparisons between the 2 disorders. my uncle is 'thick' so maybe thats why he would think that

basically once i was saying too my dad about how unlucky i am too have AS and he said "Well james it's like people who have down syndrome". recently as well i was talking too my uncle about how my aspergers makes it difficult for me too work and do a job and my uncle said "well i work with someone who has down syndrome"

do you think i am misunderstanding my dad and my uncle?

A lot of normal people have their own problems, the most common of which is low intelligence (by definition, half the population has to be of below-average intelligence). What I'll do when I get that kind of reaction from normals is not disabuse them of their misperceptions. For one thing, they likely aren't bright enough to understand; and for another, being underestimated has its advantages.

Having said this, I've never met another person I know for a fact who has AS face-to-face. But I do have a kid with regular autism who volunteers. It is very obvious that he's not normal, though he's certainly a good kid. I've had to run off a couple of bullies who were giving him a hard time. Again, these types of normals have their own problems. I feel sorry for them, even though I don't put up with any nonsense out of them.

Aspies don't have different physical features.