I am not in agreement with all Liz's views on the subject. However, I do find some of you very abusive. The circle she speaks of does indeed refer to ASD--something I HAVE been diagnosed with and also another member of my family. There are way too many self-declared experts here, Dave.

As for my 'bullshit' remark to you, you have a history of following her around and also of getting really nasty with her at times. I do NOT fuckin' care what your history is. In fact, there are a half dozen people here who have done exactly as you do.

No two autistics are alike. There are both high and low functioning. The remark on this thread I appreciate most is the one in which a parent (and I'm a parent of an ASD child, too--and YES, diagnosed) said that what he worries most about is preparing his child for this world when he and his missus have moved on--read died. There is NOTHING on this earth that scares me as much as that scenario, and being that death is likely not all that far away for me, I worry indeed about my child, because there are too many misunderstanding assholes around. Please don't be one of them.

Liz is aware that autism is not a gift. If I'd had the chance to have a 'normal' child, do you really think I'd not have wanted that, even if only to spare my child the pain she's endured at the hands of people who would NEVER dare to say in front of me shit they've said to her? A few made the mistake of teasing her in front of her sister. She received a few days school suspension. She was always a good martial artist.

That stuff aside, the Daves here ought to take a seriously good look at themselves. I'd prefer to message my remarks with the OP, and I do.