When to tell people about your Asperger's/autism?

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When do you guys think it is appropriate to tell people about your Asperger's/autism? I have only recently found out within the past few months that I have Asperger's, and I have told my family and some of my friends, but I don't know when I should explain it to people. Unfortunately I have a hard time faking being NT. I do okay when I first get around people, but when I start talking it becomes quite obvious, especially if I get relaxed with the person, or am under stress. I'm afraid that if someone meets me on a day when I'm having trouble acting "normal" that they will think I have a mental disability, IE that my intellegence is on the level of Forrest Gump, which is absolutely not true.

Also, I am blind and use our public transportation system, such as it is, and go around town independently. I have to get assistance from workers at the stores where I shop due to not being able to see. Shopping is a very stressful activity for me, and always has been *I flippin' hate shopping*, and I have a lot of issues with all the noise and crowds pressing in on me that normal people don't have. I'm not sure whether to let the store workers know that I have Asperger's or just let it go.

My sister told me the other day that "normal people" just overcome the problems they have and don't go around explaining that they have Asperger's. I'm really not sure when to explain. I don't want to walk up to people and go, "Hi. I'm Jessie and I have Asperger's", but also I feel that they may be more understanding and better able to assist me if they knew about it,, especially if I'm needing assistance. How can you know when it's appropriate to explain about your disability?

Also, I'm about to go to a high school reunion next month. Do you guys think i should explain to the people I had classes with that the reason I did a lot of the socially awkward crap I did back then was because of Asperger's, or should I only confide it to close friends?

I really only tell people if I feel like it's going to be important (e.g for getting help at work), or if I feel like I'm going to be spending a lot of time with this person. As far as the store assistants go, you may just be able to explain that you're uncomfortable with crowds and noise, and ask if they can help you avoid them; they'll probably just associate it with your being blind. Unless you plan on reconnecting with the people at your high school graduation, I probably wouldn't bother to tell them; it's unlikely that they'll understand fully, or even care very much, especially if you didn't have a lot of interactions with them while you were at school together.

As far as the people at school, I'm friends with some of them...and a lot of them I'd be happy if they'd just crawl in a hole somewhere. I went to a very small school, and we have a reunion every year for everyone who graduated from there, not just the ones from my year. I love going to it because I like hanging out and playing with all of the musicians. I don't talk that much with the ***s who used to bully me, but I see them sometimes. It's a whole weekend, and everybody stays in the dorms. It is a blast, but when I see the bullies it brings back all kinds of flashbacks.

The reason I've thought about telling them is because otherwise they see me as a bad blindness stereotype. One girl in particular is really nice to my face, but she will be making fun of me behind my back...or all over Facebook. Then when I meet her again she is really nice, so I think she has matured and relax around her. I know I'll be relaxed, so my Asperger's will probably be showing in its full glory, but I guess the ones who like me are used to it. I certainly don't want to have to walk around explaining it, but I may feel I have to because I'm so flippin' paranoid that people will think I'm just a horrible weirdo. Blast I hate being paranoid. I wish I could be one of those people who didn't give a big whoop what people thought, but I really struggle with feeling bad about myself among blind people because those of them who are NT can be the most judgmental little straighties you could ever ask to meet against people who are not NT.

I play it by ear. With sophisticated people who would likely understand it, I may be more likely to explain it. Depending on the person, I may not even mention that I have it (even if they ask why I started this website) because I know it would take too long to explain it to them. With friends that I've known for a while, I'm obviously more willing to discuss it.

I have no qualms telling my family about it. Pretty sure they all know anyways. And I tell my friends once I'm sure our friendship is secure. I try to be open about it because if someone is going to have a problem with it, I'd rather find out before I get attached to the person.

It is just due, perhaps, to my perfect score of bad experiences with people, but I tend not to explain anything.
Like explaining that I'm trans, I find that explaining to people that I'm autistic doesn't translate into them making anything easier for me or being understanding - it translates to prejudice, discrimination, stereotyping and social exclusion. The only time I'd explain, or even mention, being autistic to NTs (or trans to cis people) is either if they are already accepting of me in a friendship sense, or there is a work-related problem that is due to autism and a supervisor needs to be informed of the reason for the problem.
I guess it might be different for you with a visual impairment, though.

Up until a few weeks ago (thanks to a blog launch), my basic policy was only to tell people if:

1) You both like them and trust them.
2) They actually need to know.
3) It would improve something if they knew.

One of those reasons would do, rather than all three. But obviously, it depends entirely on the individuals concerned.