Hi. My name is Carrie and I’m an Aspie (a short, playful, sometimes derogatory (not to me) nickname for someone with Asperger’s Syndrome). I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (also referred to as AS for short) on October 4, 2004. My stepdaughter, Emma was diagnosed with AS shortly thereafter and my son, Ethan was diagnosed with AS in September of 06.

Asperger’s Syndrome is a high functioning form of autism. What is usually most apparent is that those of us with Asperger’s Syndrome seem to function on an entirely different level than general society. We don’t speak the strange language of body movements in the same way as other people. We are sometimes highly intelligent and always VERY focused on subjects of interest - sometimes to a socially incorrect level. We have sensory needs that require us to move and act in ways that are different from the normal person. We often have special dietary needs and sensitivities.

We are, in short, I think, a different type of human altogether than the neurotypical (also sometimes referred to as ‘NT’ for short. Someone who has a typical neurological system and is consequentially not autistic) person. I have often found myself relating to others with this disorder on the grounds of.. ‘oops… wrong planet! Get me outta here!’ or.. ‘Really? I mean, really. What the heck am I supposed to do with this cumbersome lump of flesh I’m surrounded by?’.

Although, from the outside, these things could look like ’symptoms’ that need to be fixed or remedied, I prefer to think of them as simply different - but entirely ok things to be. I’ve found, in my own journey that the same ’syndrome’ that makes me different and gives me difficulty functioning in a ‘normal’ day to day role with other people, also makes me exceptional in other ways. For instance, it makes me crazy knowledgeable about what will happen based upon patterns of the past (psychic, even!), it makes me quirky in a pretty charming sort of way, it makes me able to perform at a really high level in a variety of specialized tasks because I can learn to do anything… and so much more.

My 4 year dxiversary (’dx’ is short for diagnosis) is fast approaching and when I think about what’s happened to me in regards to and as a result of my diagnosis 4 years ago, what really sticks out is how I’ve gone from seeing it as a horrible disability to thriving outside of it. It was the eventual diagnosis and the journey to learning to live with my different abilities that made me see my strengths in contrast to my weaknesses rather than just looking at myself as an overall, pretty bad idea.

I’ve been blogging for 7.5 years and I’ve been blogging about Asperger’s Syndrome since my diagnosis. I tend to blog with a very frank, honest but tongue in cheek style. I love to hear other people’s stories and I don’t think there is anything I won’t answer or talk about.

I hope that in hearing about these experiences that those with AS will find something to relate to and that those not on the spectrum (’the spectrum’ refers to the autistic spectrum of severity and symptoms) will get an intimate inside look into this ‘different-order’. Here’s to complete candid honesty and an inside look.