My Life With Asperger's

How to live a high-functioning life with Asperger's.

by John Elder Robison

Ultrasound and Autism—A Connection?

Could the increased use of ultrasound during pregnancy be implicated in the rise in autism? Read More

Is Autism Becoming More Common?

Last year I participated in the Autism Speaks-CDC workshop on evaluating changes in the prevalence of autism. Now that the CDC has published the meeting summary, I'd like to offer a few thoughts on the discussions and findings that came out of this meeting. Read More

How Will the DSM V Changes in Autism Affect People?

Last week's NY Times and ABC News stories really got people talking, especially when one doctor suggested that 75 percent of today's Asperger population would not qualify for a diagnosis under the new definitions. Let me say at the outset, I think that 75 percent statement is inaccurate, and a substantial overreaction to the available data. Read More

Are we autistic people shaping the public's view of autism in ways harmful to our cause?

Do today's autistic self advocates unwittingly present a rose-colored view of autism to the public, thereby diminishing the pool of services available to our population? Do we make ourselves look so "capable but eccentric" that we are no longer in need of help? Read More

Love Is Blind, Marriage Is the Eye-opener

When people meet me for the first time, they're often surprised to learn that I have Asperger syndrome. "Oh, my," they say, sometimes slowly and clearly, as though they're now addressing a child. "It is really remarkable how well you're able to handle yourself socially." Read More

Why Are There So Many More Autistic Boys?

I spent this Tuesday in Washington, reviewing autism research proposals. I really enjoy that work, because it puts me among some of the best minds in autism science. In the course of our discussions, an intriguing question arose. Read More

Autism in the Family: Striking Results from a New Study

This morning I read a new study which addressed the question of autism in siblings - how common is it? The findings will be of vital interest to many; most especially young families with an autistic infant. Read More

Love the Homosexual, Hate Homosexuality

That was the title of this morning's sermon, on one of the Christian radio networks the guys play in the Robison Service shop. We've got a dozen guys here at work. As they restore our Land Rovers and Mercedes, they listen to a wide range of programming, from talk radio to heavy metal. Even with all the stuff I hear, walking through the shop, those words stopped me and got my attention. Read More

Autism Diagnosis: Who Has What and Why?

I listened to a very interesting talk today from Catherine Lord, one of the creators of the ADOS test. ADOS is kind of the "gold standard" diagnostic test for autism, and she's a well-respected figure in the world of autism diagnosis, so I jumped at the chance to hear her thoughts on where we're headed in that regard. Read More

Making Friends

I've just come from a morning at the Parents/Families/Community conference that's associated with the big IMFAR autism science meeting. The conference moves around every year (some of the scientists have a reputation for getting wild) and this year we're in San Diego. I flew in late last night just in time to sleep three hours and get up bright and early for the cab ride to the Univ Read More

Autism and Self Advocacy

What, exactly, is self-advocacy and what is its place in the autism community?

Autism is a communication disorder, with a broad range of affect. Some people's autism makes them eccentric and geeky. Other people can't speak at all, as a result of more severe autistic disability. Read More

Autism and Fear

My friend and fellow autistic author Temple Grandin said something at last week's autism conference that really got me thinking. She said, The principal emotion experienced by autistic people is fear.

Temple went on to explain that fear is the foundation of many other feelings are built upon for autistic people . . . anxiety, rage, even depression. Read More

The meaning of a smile

One of the biggest problems of Asperger people in love is that we can't tell a false "salesman" smile from a genuine nurturing smile. One smile is delivered for the benefit of the smiler; it's essentially predatory and self-serving. The second is delivered for us, the smilee. It's true, open, and giving. Read More

Help me out with reading and resources that have helped you

My next book, Be Different, goes on sale March 29 of 2011. The stories are all written, and put to bed . . . I'm on the home stretch with editing right now. One part remains undone . . . the Reading and Resources chapter at the end. And that's where I turn to all of you - my readers and the autism community - for help. Read More

When love fails us

Lies, evasions, and half-truths. All deceits. Yesterday’s white lie, discovered, reveals last month’s big deception. What seemed sweet and sad becomes shabby and tawdry. It’s easy to demand honesty, but hard to deliver it, and harder still to know if we receive truth in our most intimate exchanges. Revisited in the light of dishonesty, everything changes Read More

The promise of genetics and autism

This summer, the Autism Genome Project announced the discovery of several new genes that are implicated in autism. Their report is the culmination of a study that compared genetic data from 1,000 people with autism to a slightly larger number of non-autistic controls. The results are fascinating. Read More

Affluence and Autism: Cause and Effect? Or not?

Have you seen this new University of Wisconsin study that correlates an increased prevalence of autism with greater household affluence? Read More

Of Mice and Men - Genetic research and its importance in autism

How does genetic research benefit people living with autism today? And why do scientists do autism research on mice? Those are two of the questions I discussed with researchers at this year's IMFAR autism science conference.

We'll start with genetics, an area of study that's often misunderstood . . . Read More

I Am Autism, Too

For many of us on the spectrum, a parent's stated quest to "cure" our autism feels sort of like a divorced parent constantly criticizing her ex in front of us kids. As that kid, I know I am half Dad, and half Mom. So when Mom tells me Dad is no good, what is she saying about me? For those of you who think this is metaphor, let me assure you it's not. Read More

Autism Speaks, advocacy, and me

Readers of my blog know that I've been concerned about the direction of autism research for a long time. I am also troubled by the way we allocate dollars in general in the autism world. I'm a fairly action oriented guy, and I don't like to sit around and worry. I want to do something; I want to take action. If this were a political issue, I'd have to run for office. Read More

How science is using magnetic energy to rewire our brains

For the past little while, I've been involved with a group of scientists and doctors who are using focused high powered magnetic fields to alter the way we think. The technique is called TMS, for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. And lest you think I'm hooked up with a bunch of mad scientists to make the next Frankenstein, let me reassure you that these guys are legit . . . Read More

The Power of Faith

Last night I attended a very moving talk by Immaculée Ilibagiza, author of No One Left To Tell, a memoir of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Her talk gave me a lot to think about - faith, sprituality, and belief in a protective God in our darkest hours. Is God real, or an imagined comfort? And should we forgive, or take up the sword? It's far from black and white. Read More

Is Technology Making Us Dumber?

I can still remember how impressed I was with my father's academic friends. Whatever I said to them, they always had an answer. I'd point to a ship in my book, and they'd tell me about the Bremen, the Lusitania, and the United States . . . all the great passenger liners. I'd talk about elephants and they answered with stories of Africa, Asia, Hannibal's warriors and the Indian Maharajahs. Read More

What is smart?

"He's such a bright little boy!" My mother and her friends said things like that all the time, as they pointed to me when they thought I wasn't paying attention. Read More

One more way to be rude

Thanks to modern technology, I now have one more way to seem rude while actually paying incredibly close attention. I made this discovery when my friend Jan invited me to the annual meeting of the Connecticut River Watershed Council. Come on, she said, It will be interesting. I'm feeling more social these days so I decided to go . . . Read More

The "Cure" for Autism, and the Fight Over It.

Our society is confronting many serious, chronic medical issues, including AIDS, diabetes, obesity, cancer, Alzheimer's, MS, heart disease, and autism. What do all those conditions have in common? Every one is something you live with for a long period of time; in some cases all your life. Read More

Is the Bible obsolete?

In medieval times, people managed by decree and threat. The King made a proclamation, and said, "Fear this, and tremblingly obey!" You ignored the King and his nobles at your peril, as most anything could be a capital offense. Stealing a loaf of bread, or murdering your neighbor - either could send you to the gallows. Read More

Which is easier – being a genius or being retarded?

What is it like to look at the world, knowing one is isolated by disability, wondering how it would feel to have a job, a girlfriend, or a family? What is it like to be less disabled, to have those things, lose them, and be crushed by depression and despair? Is one role better than the other? Read More

Why can't we all get along?

Just this morning I was reading a post on Autism's Gadfly, and it made me think about the tremendously different wants and needs of people at various points on the autism spectrum.

His motto is, We don't want no stinkin neurodiversity! Read More

Are Manners Logical or Superficial?

When I was younger, people often accused me of strange behavior. I used to feel bad, but now I see the accusations in a different light.

I've learned that neurotypical people - folks who don't have autism - have certain expectations for how another person will act. And first impressions are all-important for many. If I want to make a good one, the onus is on me to act as expected. Read More