Saw "Rain Man" when it came out on video in 1989 but never connected it to me.
Amateur Dx by my boss in the late 1990's but I thought he was bullying me.
I noticed the TV character "Temperance Bones" had similarities to me and read she might be an Aspie. I thought that combined with what my old boss said means I probably have it. At the time it never went beyond the mild curiosity stage so I never realized how important it was.
Diagnosed professionally at age 55 after intervention by siblings following probable "autistic burn out". My sister works with autistic children and picked it up.
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Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity
It is Autism Acceptance Month
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman