Single adults autism / aspergers' with no children

Hi cloud, your posting represents a well known issue. Most resources for autism are parent driven, and NAS itself originates from provision for parents.

Those with autism are seldom economically independent so unable to generate independent websites and resources, though there are other websites predominantly run by and for people on the spectrum. With this one you have to live and let live with two types of respondent - parents of children on the spectrum, who are the majority, and those with a diagnosis, over 18 if I recall the rules right, who tend to be few and far between.

You are more likely to find people with autism in the Living with Autism topic box, but it just takes a bit more patience to find the regular correspondents who are representing their own personal experiences.

To respond to your question, I'm at the manageable end of aspergers, diagnosed aged 55, and have had a career, now retired. That means I'm likely to be accused of being a mis-diagnosis (as I cannot possibly have been genuinely on the spectrum if I had an education and a job - well its what you get - even on here); taking funds away from more important causes - (parents!); obviously self-diagnosed or privately diagnosed (apparently that's inferior) or deluded - in fact I have an NHS diagnosis at a diagnostic centre (though it did take me by surprise as well - it took a long time not to think they were over easy).

I was bullied right through school years and remained vulnerable to it as an adult, particularly workplace bullying. I'm big enough to take care of myself (as was so often pointed out). Part of the problem at school was that I could be egged on towards a meltdown by peers, I am very responsive to sudden movements and noises and complex environments with lots of people moving close around me. But also I do have real day to day problems following conversations and reacting to others in the right way.

With a diagnosis I have been able to analyse a lot of my difficult situations. For example I seem to have grown up almost addicted to bullying, actually tending to put myself into positions that make me deserving of being bullied. So late in life I have been able to see what happens and adopt more effective evasive tactics.

What I do think is immensely sad about this forum is that parents don't take much notice of the adults on the spectrum. They all seem convinced their children will grow out of it, or be cured, or somehow educated enough to avoid the pitfalls. Those of us who are adults on the spectrum seem to be viewed as wilful failures who didn't try hard enough. It is difficult to persuade parents that we are the future.

Hi cloud, your posting represents a well known issue. Most resources for autism are parent driven, and NAS itself originates from provision for parents.

Those with autism are seldom economically independent so unable to generate independent websites and resources, though there are other websites predominantly run by and for people on the spectrum. With this one you have to live and let live with two types of respondent - parents of children on the spectrum, who are the majority, and those with a diagnosis, over 18 if I recall the rules right, who tend to be few and far between.

You are more likely to find people with autism in the Living with Autism topic box, but it just takes a bit more patience to find the regular correspondents who are representing their own personal experiences.

To respond to your question, I'm at the manageable end of aspergers, diagnosed aged 55, and have had a career, now retired. That means I'm likely to be accused of being a mis-diagnosis (as I cannot possibly have been genuinely on the spectrum if I had an education and a job - well its what you get - even on here); taking funds away from more important causes - (parents!); obviously self-diagnosed or privately diagnosed (apparently that's inferior) or deluded - in fact I have an NHS diagnosis at a diagnostic centre (though it did take me by surprise as well - it took a long time not to think they were over easy).

I was bullied right through school years and remained vulnerable to it as an adult, particularly workplace bullying. I'm big enough to take care of myself (as was so often pointed out). Part of the problem at school was that I could be egged on towards a meltdown by peers, I am very responsive to sudden movements and noises and complex environments with lots of people moving close around me. But also I do have real day to day problems following conversations and reacting to others in the right way.

With a diagnosis I have been able to analyse a lot of my difficult situations. For example I seem to have grown up almost addicted to bullying, actually tending to put myself into positions that make me deserving of being bullied. So late in life I have been able to see what happens and adopt more effective evasive tactics.

What I do think is immensely sad about this forum is that parents don't take much notice of the adults on the spectrum. They all seem convinced their children will grow out of it, or be cured, or somehow educated enough to avoid the pitfalls. Those of us who are adults on the spectrum seem to be viewed as wilful failures who didn't try hard enough. It is difficult to persuade parents that we are the future.