Are people with ASC always neat and organised

Thanks, I've up voted your up voting!

That's because most posts had a -1 and now ArchaeC has given them all a +1 which totals 0.

I really don't understand why we have the option to vote on posts. What is the point? If you don't agree with something someone says you can reply and politely disagree - I'd rather someone did that than just being down voted and not knowing why. Plus I often feel I should up vote people who have no votes in case they worry that nobody likes them.

I can only see one post that has any rating on this thread.

Have just upvoted everyone now!

I’m just looking through the replies now and see that most people are -1 except me. This doesn’t look good at all.

Who is this message intended for? I think I might have down voted Take 5 by mistake so I have tried up voting but it is showing only 0 now. Sorry if it was me. 

Take5 said:

I am quite disorganised though and very often struggle with how to start something, coupled with poor time management and mixed up priorities this causes me quite a bit of distress.

Your home sounds perfect - all those labels at the front of food cupboards, and neatly folded and categorised clothes. You could be describing the ‘after’ in a ‘before and after’ home makeover programme.

I identify strongly with struggling to start something and poor time management. But unlike you, I’m not a tidy person. Until recently, I believed I was naturally lazy, despite having worked for a large chunk of my life and achieving success in higher education. Perfectionism means I aspire to things such as a perfectly organised and tidy home, but it has to feel ‘just right’. The house is sometimes quite untidy, but mostly reasonably tidy.

I wouldn’t wish the distress that can come with struggling to start something on anyone, but it is helpful to know I’m not alone. 

Just a quick word of advice, which is intended entirely kindly.

I've noticed that you've down-voted several of the replies here. People generally take that as meaning that you disagree with their view, or that you don't value their response. It's located here, for example:

I totally understand that it can be very easy to tap or click on the wrong thing here, especially given that the forum buttons for voting up and down are both very small, and very close together.

And to be completely clear: I'm not posting this to be critical or anything other than just helpful! :)

I only mention it because some members here can get upset if they see that their replies have been given any negative votes without being able to understand why. We can be a sensitive bunch! :)

So I guess I'm also posting for their benefit, as I very much doubt that it's deliberate on your part.

I’m very tidy and everything has to be in order, labels at the front in food cupboards, things categorised in my wardrobe and neatly folded and things in line. For me I don’t think that is OCD as I don’t feel the need to check things over and over again I believe it’s more about order and something my mother said I did as a child. 
There are occasions where I don’t have the energy to be that way but eventually it has to be corrected.

I am quite disorganised though and very often struggle with how to start something, coupled with poor time management and mixed up priorities this causes me quite a bit of distress. 

Sometimes I'm disorganised, sometimes it just looks that way and I'm always untidy, not on purpose, but I have hair that refuses to be styled, I always managed somehow to have lables sticking out, or my knickers tucked into my dress, yesterdays knickers stuck halfway down the leg of todays trousers. I do politically correct ironing...it comes out differently creased, if anything fall out of the sky it lands on me, if anything comes up from the earth, it sticks to me. I look at neat people and those who can fold a hoodie into the hood and put it away neatly with awe and wonder, if I tried that it would immediately become an octopus that not only wouldn't stayed contained itself but would lead a rebellion amoung all the other clothes in the drawer.

I can be quite methodical when I need to be and know where things are in the organised chaos.

But I remember the perfect fridge magnet saying for me.  "Boring women have tidy houses".

Autistic people can be very untidy and disorganised. Some autistic people have co-existing conditions such as OCD and  ADHD. Dyspraxia and executive functioning difficulties seem be higher in the autistic population than the non autistic population and this can lead to poor organisational skills and difficulty prioritising and seeing through certain tasks. 

My autism assessment medical report details some executive functioning difficulties and these include difficulties with prioritisation and organisation. I find it challenging to keep my home tidy although it is kept in a reasonable condition. Most of the things that are organised were put there by a person who gave me help when I moved into my home. I would find it too difficult to organise things in my home from scratch. At the same time I am a perfectionist and would have difficulty if people move the objects in my home that have been put in the ‘right place’ by me. I am able to organise other things such as files on my desktop and iPad and in the past have organised and prioritised study and other tasks that require methodical attention such as complete academic qualifications. 

Autistic people can definitely be disorganised and untidy! :)

Your husband might like to read the NAS's introductory and diagnosis-related resources, which include:

NAS - What is autism?

NAS - Signs that a child or adult may be autistic

The diagnosis hub has plenty of other information that he might also find helpful, including about whether or not to seek a diagnosis, and how to request an assessment:

NAS - Before diagnosis

I am neat, organised & methodical but I don't believe all autistic adults are. As far as I'm aware, that isn't one of the traits used for diagnosis, and I also believe that problems with executive function are common in autistic people. If you are interested in learning more, go to the Advice and guidance section of this website and select "What is autism" ?

Also, your husband could complete an AQ50 test online, which will give an indication of whether he is on the spectrum.