What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

The National Center for Learning Disabilities' (NCLD) mission is to ensure success for all individuals with learning disabilities in school, at work and in life.

[LdOrg]

NCLD has developed the LD Checklist: Recognize & Respond tool to help spot the potential signs of LD. Take the first step here: ncld.co/LDRR. #Check4LD

[nick]

I’m Autistic and live in almost darkness as it just calms every thing down for me, I feel like I’m bombarded with lights and noises all the time .
I love my own company only, I’m not lonely ever as my imagination is vast plus I read 7/10 books a week I’m proud of myself every day as Iv made my life my life .

[PN-skve]

Every time I have encounter a child or adult who has Autism or Asperger symptoms, the one thing that always stands out (to me anyways) is that they are really simple, sweet and they have most genuine personalities ever, they don't pretend to be someone else just so that others will like them (because they don't know how to be something else) and I find that very endearing because so many people pretend to be nice, likeable, funny, smart, etc.. when they are not and should be themselves. It's amazing to see so many cases of children who are diagnose with Autism, Asperger, ADHD, etc... So please be kind and understanding.

[thechosenwon]

The love of my life has slight asd she passed away recently I miss her so much
She was very expressive
And she understood people's emotions
And was really good at talking 1 to 1
However she found group conversations difficult
She was such a good person and a great teacher

[opheliagrove]

Have struggled all my life, no one has ever understood or helped . Now just tired being around people .Have many interests and hobbies and enjoy being alone .

[sourcehauntings]

My son has spectrum and his dad refuses to label him. So we work with him ourselves- he’s 14 and you can’t tell anymore he’s autistic. However, where his dad works on the functioning of everyday things I focus on emotional responses and humor. My son says he fakes it until he makes it. He feels all kids his age are “ignorant” but I tell him to find things to relate to .. not separate from. I also school him in how to “in the future” emotionally talk to his “future girlfriends or wife”. This is important and forgotten lessons as in my opinion even non autistic men have issues with this.
My son is just so wonderful and gifted. I just hope this world embraces him.

[codyshrimp]

I have Autisim. Back when I was 3-5 years old I dealt with many of the things described in the video. Now, I'm 13 and Ive seemed to leave these symptoms behind except for a few of them. Also, Ive *never* taken medication to help me cope. It all came naturally.

[Music_games_history]

Most people would never realize that i have autism/asbergers. mainly because the medication i take diminishes the affects almost completely. Still, the people close to me know and they can tell when i'm having a hard time. It's good to have friends that understand you. It really helps.

[phantomphoenix]

Asbergers syndrome is hard to live with but I am gifted and I love it.

[customspoons]

I'm 47yrs old and yesterday after my daughter was diagnosed with autism, I realised this is why I have struggled all my life, and had depression and anxiety over the last 20 yrs. I need to get a diagnosis for my own sanity and will just put all the pieces together. I'm happy that my daughter will not have to go through what I have, life has been so difficult.

[racheleberschlag]

Honestly girls with Aspergers are most likely to be misdiagnosed as Bipolar, OCD, ADHD, PTSD or Borderline Personality and the idea/diagnosis of Aspergers may be missed altogether. I'm being referred to a psychiatrist in a few weeks for Aspergers, Bipolar (or Mania), and Anxiety.

[infamoushiphop]

having aspergers has its pros and cons, i may suck at social situation, but i am able to stay incredibly focused on my goals

[kato_dsrdr]

Man, I remember accepting that I really have autism.. I noticed that people look at me differently and saying that my facial reactions are kinda weird, my eyes wander around, I rarely speak or socialize.. I once saw a video recording of me and yeah, I look exactly what an autistic person looks like.. I remember trying to act normal by fixating my eyes in something to avoid it from wandering and making no facial reaction at all to avoid looking weird.. I just end up looking like an automatic robot.. I remember being in a group presentation and this girl in my team said that she don't want me in my team because I have no emotions at all.. Lol.

[Mr.Mister]

I have problems with social situations because most people annoy me are rude act like jerks and bore me. I cannot always read facial expressions or body language but sometimes I can.

[mkhan]

My son has been diagnosed with mild-moderate Autism. I pray to Allah/God that he has a relatively easy & successful life, as well as do the other kids like him. Aameen!🤲🤲🤲❤️☝️💪😎

[JM-kfki]

This video did an excellent job of explaining such a complex disorder that manifests so differently in each person affected by it. As a college student, I was a nanny for a family that had a son with Autism and witnessed first hand the enormous challenge and undertaking that comes with raising a child with Autism. I think one of the most difficult things is the thought of not being able to comfort your child in natural physical ways that involve touch when they are upset.

[carsoneday]

Dear Dr Horowitz, thank you so much for your wonderful video explaining Asperger's syndrome. As a child of the late 70's who grew up in the eighties and nineties, I did not have the fortune of knowing about Aspergers until I reached adulthood. when I finally learned what I had it was like a light bulb went off. throughout school I would always test off the charts but could not stay focused in class and with the exception of art and science, would never do any of my homework. I remember in school being taken to the counselor's office and her asking what I did every night... My answer was that I sit and listen to the radio. she could not believe that I just SAT there listening to the radio and ask me over and over what I meant. finally getting it she asked "so you're telling me you just sit and listen?" As a kid I was fascinated with radio and DJ's and of course when I became older I went into radio myself, spending 16 years as an on-air personality and producer and now run my own mobile DJ service. It's interesting to watch your video with my wife because it was a list of everything that would describe me. even things I did not know to attribute to having Aspergers such as my distaste for foods with an intense taste... I especially hate ranch dressing, and difficulty with handwriting (Throughout grade school junior high and high school I struggled to use cursive because ultimately I found it difficult compared to using print.) I'm glad to know that there are people out there who are not grouping Aspergers into autism spectrum disorder and acknowledge that it is not a learning disability despite its similarity and shared traits with not only autism but nonverbal learning disorders and ADHD. Having Aspergers, while in school made my life very difficult, has enriched my life as an adult. In fact, I often say Aspergers is not a learning disability, it's a freakin super power!

[conservativeperspective]

I have autism and the vast majority of my friends don’t know I’m autistic. I usually end up telling them.

[doomsdayangel]

You’re missing the part about how we actually love others but seem like we don’t.

[carolannecelona]

Without extensive training and exposure to children with autism it will be very difficult to cover a class which has a student with this disability. However, the classroom usually has an aide assigned to assist and they are invaluable. As a long term substitute teacher, I have encountered several situations which have given me increased understanding of the challenges for the student and teacher.