Yep - statemented at 5 with "very strong autistic tendencies", officially diagnosed with ASD and dyspraxia at 20.
Can people usually tell that there's something wrong with you?
Funnily enough, I had this conversation with work colleagues yesterday - they all said they would never be able to tell if I hadn't told them. It's mainly because I've worked very hard to be able to hide my idiosyncracies to the point that I basically present as normal with a few eccentricities here and there. I don't stim in public, I manage sensory overloads pretty well and I'm a bit better at reading social cues well enough to appear highly competent socially. Only people who've grown up with autistic siblings/children have been able to tell somewhat.
Do you know anyone with autism?
I know a few people with it, I have cousins who are also midly autistic.
Would you date someone with autism?Why/whynot?
I would date a girl with autism if she was like me and we were compatible.
If you have autism, is dating difficult for you? If so, how?
It is very difficult because I have high standards for myself and I don't consider myself well equipped enough to date currently. Not necessarily because I'm autistic, but more because of the dyspraxia - I don't really like the fact that I'm living at home at my age. Thankfully, I'm working in a job that has decent progression in it, plus I'm still hoping to make money from other stuff eventually i.e. piano teaching. It ties in because I think part of being in an adult relationship is having a certain level of independence and I am personally of the belief that I must do the work to be better overall. Being more competent domestically, financially and physically are goals I want to pursue for myself, but the added bonus is that it will make my relationships hopefully mch smoother and more egalitarian.
It doesn't help that I still have teething problems when it comes to flirting and shyt like that but I'm getting better at it, but if in doubt I just tend to keep it neutral.