autism itself as a special interest

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I'm just curious how common this is. Sometimes, especially in waves as some of my interests can be, I think my interest in autism spectrum disorders might actually cross into the borderline obsessive territory of my other pet interests. I don't know if this is some kind of meta thing, or just natural because it directly affects me, or what. I will say that I have had special interests in other exceptionalities for years as well, like in school when my good friend had Down Syndrome and I studied all about it and used to follow her around explaining about chromosomes and different types of trisomy until the teacher made me stop, but I continue to be fascinated by autism itself.

I consider autism a sub-division of one of my main interests - psychology. So while I do have an interest in autism, I don't think I spend most of my time on it. I spend it equally between the topics of psychology that I'm interested in.

I'd say a lot of people on here have a pretty big interest in autism (and I mean more than an interest than just learning more about it, of course). I don't know if they'd consider it "special interest" level, but there are a couple people around here that have given me the impression that it's something they're pretty passionate about, so I assume it's one of their special interests.

I've been on other forums where people say it's pretty common for us to have an obsession with autism though. It does seem to be true for the most part, even if it's not at a "special interest" level.

Autism is definitely my primary special interest right now, and has been ever since I first really heard about it roughly two and a half years ago. I spent all my free time studying it, to the point at which I now go to my old community college and guest lecture on it in the abnormal psych classes. I love it so much that I'm not even nervous when I do it.

Autism isnt my special interest, but I had special interest that were caused by situations I frenquently found myself in, so special interests can be caused by situations, and autism affects all our lives constantly, so I won't be surprised if quiet a few aspies are fascinated by it.