I met a 21 year old with Aspergers on Sunday

[MomOfOneCoolKid]

I went to a support group for parents of kids with special kids.

All the moms and dads there were super sweet and nice.

I met a sweet 12 yr old with downs syndrome and a 21 year old with Aspergers.

 

I know no two autistic people are a like but I did not expect what I met.

Other than my son, I don't know anybody or anybody's kid who is on the spectrum.

 

This wonderful young man just graduated from the local community college and will be going to a 4 year state university!! Awesome!

 

With this young man, it was markedly noticeable. He was slow to respond. Awkward and robotic in speaking. Fleeting eye contact. Honestly, I was taken back because knowing that he was going to a 4 year state university, I thought in passing no one would be able to notice. That wasn't the case in his case.

 

I wondered if that is what my son would be like when he reached 21. I hope he goes to a 4 year state university like this wonderful young man.

 

My son is only 3 almost 4. To me, I think the "outside" world views him as a bit inattentive and a bit rambuctious but manageable and still within age behavior. If your child is older, is their autism noticeable? (I hope that's not offensive. My pre-conceived notion of aspergers and hfa is that it is barely noticeable) 

[MomOfOneCoolKid]

Quoting momtoscott:

Different is okay.

 

I have always been "different"

 

Not immediately noticeable, but I definitely don't flow with the majority :)

I wouldn't mind one bit if my son is "different" :)

[momtoscott]

 That's a good attitude to pass to your son, and it's one that I'm passing on to mine, too.  I hope.  As a teenager, he wants to be just like all of his friends...

I will say that in my personal case, it took me a while to realize: 1) I was really, really different from other kids, and 2) being different was just great.  I think for many there's a long process in learning to accept yourself. 

At any rate, from my experience, even in a high functioning situation, autism is noticeable even at older ages. 

Quoting MomOfOneCoolKid:

 

Quoting momtoscott:

Different is okay.

 

I have always been "different"

 

Not immediately noticeable, but I definitely don't flow with the majority :)

I wouldn't mind one bit if my son is "different" :)

 

[isotoner]

 My son is 10 and sounds exactly like yours.  I do like to hear stories about older people on the spectrum that are making it.  It gvies me hope too.

Quoting leprechaunmaide:

My son just turned 13 and you can notice some very stilted speech and extreme focus on his favorite subjects but he is getting better about the eye contact. Many times he acts like he is 5 and doesn't really have any empathy for anyone other than me, my husband, or his brother.  It is very hard for him to understand when someone is being mean to him or using him. Other times he thinks someone is being mean when they are just being friendly, but he doesn't know the proper response so he feels 'put on the spot'.  This does give me hope for him in the future though.