Anonymous wrote:Doesn't sound like any of the PPs describe anyone different from "real life". They're working, they have families.....what's the problem? And how does anyone think that it compares to the kids that have autism today? Sorry....not buying it.

Read the article. The people they are describing are living in the community or living in institutions, but they're not fully functioning.

Anonymous wrote:Apparently, on in 38 of your neighbors is autistic in some way, if it follows the same trends as our kids in generation RX. Highly unlikely though.

*eyeroll*

Serious researchers estimate the rate at 1-2 in 1000, not 1 in 38.

FIL has undiagnosed ASD. So did his son (brother in law) - also undiagnosed. Both brilliant and both as classically on the spectrum as can be.

Anonymous wrote:If your autistic co-workers are alive and well, functioning as independent members of society, I hardly see how it compares to non-verbal children who are wandering off into the wilderness and dying because they don't answer to their names.

Just wondering...how many of THEM do you work with in your law firm? How many of them are your neighbors? How many of them are your aunts or uncles?

There are many researchers that have studied and written about this topic. Before the 1980s, most kids that were non-verbal, low IQ, and/or violent were labeled as having childhood schizophrenia, emotionally disturbed or mentally retarded. This is well documented (researchers look at old records of patients for symptoms and compare diagnoses). Where are they now as adults, in mental institutions, adult homes, etc. As ASD diagnoses went up after the 1980s, mentally retarded, childhood schizophrenia diagnoses went down. High-functioning kids with Asperger's for example, were not labeled and ended up at the law firm or science lab as PPs have mentioned, considered "quirky" or lacking social skills, but smart. I just read a study that kids with average to high IQs that are diagnosed on the autism spectrum as a child will probably grow out of many of the traits that labeled them in the first place, without intervention as they grow up. Unfortunately, IQ is highly correlated to diagnostic outcomes within ASD.

Thanks for posting. Very interesting!

If your autistic co-workers are alive and well, functioning as independent members of society, I hardly see how it compares to non-verbal children who are wandering off into the wilderness and dying because they don't answer to their names.

Just wondering...how many of THEM do you work with in your law firm? How many of them are your neighbors? How many of them are your aunts or uncles?

I used to work in a law firm, definitely lots of them there!

Doesn't sound like any of the PPs describe anyone different from "real life". They're working, they have families.....what's the problem? And how does anyone think that it compares to the kids that have autism today? Sorry....not buying it.

They are in my family.

They are thought of as smart but sensitive and weird at work.

When I was growing up, they were referred to as "emotionally disturbed." The term autism wasn't in common use for a long time.

Anonymous wrote:I work in a law firm. They are working right next to me.

My DH is too and many of his coworkers would qualify too. Also my brother who is a MD and others who work at the medical school.

Apparently, on in 38 of your neighbors is autistic in some way, if it follows the same trends as our kids in generation RX. Highly unlikely though.

I work in a law firm. They are working right next to me.

Right in front of you.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/autism/la-me-autism-day-four-html,0,6403471.htmlstory