How many of you are diagnosed with aspergers/autism?

[plastroncafe]

I consider it a kindness to assume someone is on the spectrum when they behave or exhibit a socially inappropriate behavior. Maybe it's something they can't help, and aren't aware that they're behavior is unacceptable. Giving them the benefit of that doubt gives me the opportunity to take a breath and not automatically downgrade that person to Jerk right off the bat.

I used to work with a guy who appeared to have NO concept of personal space, and for a good long while I used to think very poorly of him because of it. After we'd known each other a bit longer, all the while me thinking of him as a massive jerk, he told me that he's legally blind. So all those minor facial expressions and all that body language I was utilizing to display my displeasure at his behavior wasn't seen. The moment he told me he was blind I changed tactics, and when he was doing something I considered in appropriate I just up and told him, and our relationship got a whole lot better then.