Should people with Aspergers or others on the autistic spectrum have children?

I've got it mildly (officially anyway, I think I might have been wrongly diagnosed, but that's a different story) and it's only got better as I've got older (some experts do think that it can actually go away as you get older, but again, another story). Even so, it has caused me some problems, especially when I was younger. I have no doubt that my life would've been easier without it. Anyway, I sort of want children but sort of don't, for a few reasons, one of which would be giving it to them (if I've got it, perhaps I'm just a little odd lol). What are the chances that they'd get it, and (this is a bit controversial I know) do you think people with it who have children are selfish? It can and does cause an awful lot of misery.

Parents
  • Hi! I'm sorry you feel you were wrongly diagnosed. Perhaps you are experiencing something different than perceiving and reasoning with an "autistic wiring" (as some call it). It's just a different way of processing and engaging with the world. Some individuals suggest our strengths were very important for early humans, being hyper sensory and with our bi-lateral detail processing. Like any natural "talent", all types of being human require disciplines to grow and nurture strengths. 

    Have children! Although I might suggest finding someone who respects and values you to have them with :) Children need to feel understood and safe to thrive regardless if they have an autistic brain-type, dyslexia (and are actually quite gifted at more kinetic things) or full speed ADHD and (like several of my friends with this) become professionals in the music industry. 

    I'm autistic. In my 40s. Had my parents been a bit better I may have gone even further than I did, but I work in sound and post production. I might suggest a good part of the entertainment industry is #ActuallyAutistic

Reply
  • Hi! I'm sorry you feel you were wrongly diagnosed. Perhaps you are experiencing something different than perceiving and reasoning with an "autistic wiring" (as some call it). It's just a different way of processing and engaging with the world. Some individuals suggest our strengths were very important for early humans, being hyper sensory and with our bi-lateral detail processing. Like any natural "talent", all types of being human require disciplines to grow and nurture strengths. 

    Have children! Although I might suggest finding someone who respects and values you to have them with :) Children need to feel understood and safe to thrive regardless if they have an autistic brain-type, dyslexia (and are actually quite gifted at more kinetic things) or full speed ADHD and (like several of my friends with this) become professionals in the music industry. 

    I'm autistic. In my 40s. Had my parents been a bit better I may have gone even further than I did, but I work in sound and post production. I might suggest a good part of the entertainment industry is #ActuallyAutistic

Children
  • Yeah, it's a bit of a long story, I went into it on my other question, but they were saying at one point maybe I don't have it (one of the doctors even said that he was fairly certain that I don't, but for some reason the diagnosis remained), plus I've done my own research and I really don't think I've got it. I'm looking to get the diagnosis removed. But if I do have it, I don't think that it'd be fair to risk giving it to any potential kids. I have it mildly (either that or I'm just a bit odd lol) but it has affected me negatively in a few ways, especially when I was younger. Is it fair to perhaps pass this on to my children?