What does the non stereotypcial "aspie" look like?

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So you're saying anyone who gets diagnosed is stereotypical as they fit all the criteria and is the only way they would be diagnosed, and those who ala cart their criteria are non stereotypical. Which probably explains why I find the behaviors here atypical of autism. Thanks for clearing that up in all seriousness. I now understand why there is so much stereotypical autism bashing.

First clause in the first sentence...already dead wrong about what I am saying. Don't know how you got that outta what I said.
Even those officially dxd DO NOT HAVE all of the traits. The specialists who dx you do not expect you to have every trait. Just a proponderence.

I myself am officially diagnosed with aspergers. But I don't stim for example (or don't have clear cut stims today in middle age), never had a meltdown (there is always a first time). So I lack some traits associated with aspergers. Every person Ive encountered on WP is different. Not all (perhaps most) lack every single trait even if they are officially dxd. So if you wanna see a "nonstereotyped aspie" just look around you at most of the folks on this site ( or if you find a support group in your hometown just go to it and look at the real life ASD folks, few would probably exactly fit a 'stereotype').

i believe you are mistaking two very different things and trying to sell them to me as one. Traits are not diagnostic criteria using your previous example of cars a trait of a car is it has tires, although not all cars have tires at all times. The diagnostic criteria is not traits that vary from person to person it is a set of rules to call someone something. Much like a car is defined as having four wheels, engine, a transmission, exhaust, and a chassis for the bare minimum to be considered a car. The number of doors and body type may change but it still needs the bare minimum it's the same as the diagnostic criteria for autism. Meltdowns aren't required to be diagnosed with autism much like cars aren't required to have four doors. However there are plenty of four door cars just like there are plenty of people with autism who have meltdowns and those who don't.

I have been to groups, several in different regions of the country actually and I can tell you that they all fit the criteria and traits very well while displaying different personalities. Even witnessed a few meltdowns and shutdowns. The ones that didn't stick around are the ones who didn't fit all the criteria. (I moved out of the area due to my roommate's job and again so my roommate could take care of family that's why several in different regions). Though my experience online has been a direct opposite of that.

I didn't misread your statement or misinterpreted it, I read exactly what you wrote, it clearly says what I repeated whether that was your intention/meaning or not. I had someone else read it and asked if there was any other way to interpret it and was told "Not really, it's rather convoluted and talking in circles, but it does say that." Before I replied. Though I was told that some people don't like looking in the mirror especially when it might look poorly on them or so they think, so they do pick and choose what is relevant to them rather than being objective and dealing with the truth/reality. I didn't add that to my thank you, because I figured it would lead to more circle talk. So again my previous statement stands thank you for explaining it even if you don't realize you did, because without that explaination I would have never got an answer that adequately explained what I observe. (Again in all seriousness)

Thought so. Like I said, it's only a minor thing. I get names confused too sometimes, I used to get faces confused too occasionally when my brain would go on autopilot but I don't have that problem anymore. Is it bad that I can relate to Sheldon in a couple of ways? I also hate the sound of whistling, and I can be a tad obsessive (like checking doors three times to check if they're properly locked) and sometimes I mess up on picking up on sarcasm, but other than that, we're quite different. Oh, and we also both like cats and are atheists.

I thought that you might've gotten annoyed at me for nitpicking on such a minor thing. Haven't watched the Big bang theory in a while.

[/quote] I don't think you have the depth of understanding required of the question to answer it as the nonchalant and belittling attitude demonstrated. [/quote]

That reads very much like trolling to me, I have reported it.

Please remember where you are posting....

The answer to your question is simple...Like anyone who is not on the autism spectrum...we mask.

Well...first things first.

First lets figure out what a "stereotypical aspie" looks like, before trying to figure out what a "nonstereotypical aspie" looks like.

So there are diagnostic traits that clinicians use to peg you as being on the ASD spectrum.

But then there may or may not be other traits on top of those traits that the public commonly supposes aspies have that are over and above the actual diagnostic traits.

So what are these commonly supposed nonclinical aspie traits? Answer that and you will know what a "stereotypeaspie is". And you will also know what a "nonstereotype aspie" is because a nonstereotype aspie would be an individual who meets the clinical criteria of being an aspie but does not have the other non clinical traits that folks commonly suppose that aspies have (whatever those may be).

(Sorry for not responding sooner, I didn't set aside time in my day to do so.)

I predicted that this would be difficult question for most to answer as it is generally easier to point out "not like me" than it is to point out "like me", however I didn't think it would be as difficult as it seems. The clinical criteria is the only criteria for the stereotypical person with autism. Any other traits imposed are personality/social/economical/experiences/intellectual differences and degree of which the person is affected by the clinical criteria.

A stereotypical "aspie" is well defined and has been for quite a while otherwise there would be no diagnostic criteria to make an autism diagnosis. If someone falls outside that criteria then they are not autistic. While someone within that criteria can range or have variance in the presentation due to the above mentioned differences.

What isn't within that range/variance or "meeting only 4 of the 5" (Actually 10 A&B are broken down into 3/4 sub criteria respectively) criteria for being diagnosed with autism. Those that fall into that category would not be considered autistic either than self identification as such. While granted some individuals whom are diagnosed may think only certain criteria fits them, the person(s) who diagnosed them found/observed all the criteria to make the diagnosis. Meaning that the person whom is diagnosed and claims they aren't stereotypical is not self aware enough to realize how others observe them as being. Not an uncommon thing for anyone under any circumstance/situation we all would rather see ourselves in a positive light rather than a negative one.

Well, as a non-stereotypical Aspie myself:-

-I wear trendy clothes that make me blend in

-I don't have an odd gait

-I can easily adapt to continuous loud noises, like music at a party or lots of people chattering

-I laugh a lot and don't have a flat effect

-I make average eye contact

-I don't go on and on about a special interest (I don't even have one)

-I hate most things some other Aspies might be into, like My Little Pony, Pokemon, Minecraft, Star Wars, World of Warcraft, anime, etc

-I don't need or use stim toys

-I am not oblivious to non-verbal language

-I sleep well

-I was early with potty-training

-When I have a meltdown I am very verbal and expressive

-I like being touched, even during a meltdown


OK I could go on forever here, but that is what a non-stereotypical Aspie could look like.

And it's posts like this that make me question if they might be a possibility I have ASD , and so the constant debate in my mind goes on , am I , aren't I , am I , aren't I.

Seriously, I'm ALWAYS questioning my diagnosis. ADHD I know I've got, and anxiety disorder too, but my Asperger's symptoms are either lacking or very, very complex. But I know that I can't have been misdiagnosed, because as a teenager I failed to fit in and have friends at school. Even the other outcasts were mean to me for reasons I didn't understand (still don't to this day).
I read somewhere that when they assess a child for an ASD diagnosis, one of the diagnostic tools is to test how much imagination the child has. Surely I couldn't have failed THAT, because I had a vast imagination and I was always making up stories and drawings, and I had a knack for creating characters and games out of anything and anywhere. I could even create countless imaginary games using a small cherry tree in an open field.
And I didn't even do too badly playing imaginary games with other children either.

I suspect that everyone on WP lacks one or more of the "typical" aspie traits.

It could be argued that "nonstereotypical" is the only kind of aspie that there is.