Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) is a neurological condition where social function is impaired. Considered part of the autism spectrum, AS shares many symptoms with "low functioning" pervasive developmental disorders such as resistance to change, hypersensitivity to sound or touch, and extreme difficulty interpreting facial expressions.

Spoken language usually develops at a normal rate, however, making early diagnosis difficult. The tendency of "Aspies" toward formal and literal speech is often interpreted as mere eccentricity or nerdiness. Their general withdrawal from social activity can be dismissed as shyness. As a result, many people with Asperger’s go undiagnosed, particularly those in underprivileged communities. No one around them is given a context for understanding their behavior, not even themselves.

This lack of understanding has led to a number of myths regarding autism and related disorders. It is important to note that Asperger’s Syndrome is not an illness in search of a cure.

Autism isn't something a person has, or a "shell" that a person is trapped inside. There's no normal child hidden behind the autism. Autism is a way of being. It is pervasive; it colors every experience, every sensation, perception, thought, emotion, and encounter, every aspect of existence.

(from "Don't Mourn For Us", by Jim Sinclair © 1993. To read the article in its entirety, click here.)

It is not, in and of itself, physically nor mentally debilitating; it does not affect the person’s intelligence. Despite what is often portrayed in movies and television, people with AS are not necessarily secret geniuses nor are they mentally retarded. And perhaps most importantly, being autistic does not define a person's personality.

While you may be quick to use autism to refer to someone's identity, autistics differ from each other just as much as those without the condition differ from each other.

When my friend Dan and I started Wrong Planet, we were surprised by just how different the members were from one another. We naively thought they'd be exactly like us. Needless to say, Wrong Planet members and autistics come in all shapes, sizes, professions, religions, political affiliations, and nationalities.

(from "Ten Myths About Autism – Debunked" , by Alex Plank © 2008. To read the article in its entirety, click here.)

When we started If You Could Say It In Words, we wanted to explore this nebulous area of the undiagnosed Aspie, the person who has taught himself to fit in because he is "not different enough" to be given permission to be himself. When you never show others who you are inside, how can they ever get to know you? How can they ever fall in love with you, even if you’re in love with them?

To learn more about Asperger’s Syndrome, or to make a contribution to organizations committed to raising accurate awareness about autism, please visit some of the links below.

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Autism Network International
Autism Diva
Autism Society of America
Wrong Planet (where you can find an interview with Alvin, the lead actor, and Nicholas, the writer/director of the film)