Knowing autism is knowing me

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By AMANDA PHILLIPS, Manheim Central

I believe in autism awareness.
More specifically, I believe in high-functioning autism understanding.

As a 15-year-old girl diagnosed with a form of high-functioning autism called Asperger's syndrome, I have never fit in with my peers.

It wasn't until sixth grade that I realized this, though.

That was the year I started memorizing digits of pi, random trivia facts and how to spell long words:
http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/219930

pretty much me too. I have no non autistic windows to peer through. And I am happy at this.

However, we may all be the same, but we are all so different within the basic concept. Never forget you are you.

I am fifty four and female.

Same here.

I was diagnosed with High-Functioning Autism in 7th grade.

But at that time I hated math, but that was only because I had the meanest teacher on earth.

It's a little strange how this ended up because I was diagnosed when I was 12 with high functioning autism.

I still hate math because I am dyscalculic.

hmm. I learned about my asperger's at 25, and I wish I had known it earlier. I wish my parents had known.
I could have chosen a path less built on resisting the NT-world, or trying to adapt, and find a niche for myself, knowiing that the NT world is not something I'm built to live in. (not that I didn't feel it, but people made me believe it was my fault)

While I had known the term, Asperger's, for years, I had no idea that it applied to me till my daughter had been diagnosed with another form of autism, PDD-NOS, when after reading up on high functioning autism, recognized a great deal of my self. Soon after came an official diagnosis. I had always had NT friends (and a few who I have since come to believe are also Aspies), and so through trial and error, along with scolding and ridicule, I saw how I was "supposed to behave," even though I remained the weirdo of my clique. Incidentally, I couldn't do higher math even if my life depended on it!

Thank you for posting this excellent thread. However, it doesn't belong in News & Current Events,so need to move it to General Autism Discussion.

I was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism at the age of 5. I didn't know until three nights after my 15th Birthday. It took me a couple of years to accept the fact that I'm on the spectrum. I like to celebrate my autism these days, and I do it the most through my crafts, by making various toys in a variety of colours.

Thanks for the link. For some reason the page isn't loading, but I'm curious to read the article. I live a few towns over from Manheim.

Not to derail the subject at hand, but my dad's people way back in the 19th century had come from the region just south of Manheim, in the Sinsheim, and Heilbron region.