What determines disability in ASD?

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I have been wondering what it is that determines how badly someone is disabled by ASD. There are no questions in my mind that there are many good qualities and characteristics in ASD but what are the particular issues that are problematic and interfere with successful life function?

I need to find a way that I can be more functional in a financial sense so that I am able to be more independent. I'm not that fussed about whether I have contact with other people - although I know i 'should' have more contact - as if its a measure of success in life.

How can I find a purpose in life that allows me to use more of what I've got and that doesn't wipe me out?

Read through the DSM. It seems to be more complete than I would have expected. You DO have to read a LITTLE into it, but THIS site can help with that. Anyway, you will likely NOT have all the problems listed there(actually, I don't think it is possible). You MAY, however, find things you have never really considered, that are listed as problems.

It's an interesting question: why is it that someone who has a normal cognitive pattern unable to work due to their PDD? We know that the majority of individuals with HFA/AS don't work (outcome), but there's not much out there that's related to the why.

I can speak for myself:

-I'm unable to stand in the presence of people (I cannot function in the presence of people)
-My narrow and focused interest takes up all of my time
-I have zero motivation to do anything but study the above narrow interest; as long as I have the "basics" to live, I'm a pig in mud
-I cannot take orders from people, so minute stacking tasks are out of the question
-I have no motivation to find self-employment so I can earn wealth/material objects because I don't care for money, as long as I have my books, I'm good to go
-Naturally, if I couldn't afford my books, I'd then have motivation to earn money somehow to buy said books, but I can now, so I have no need to work

Social impairment and repetitive behavior defines "disability" to me. Which is exactly what autism is. All of the above is due to my AS/AD, and I'm not a unique case for someone who has it.

Alice:
for the math, if it's not theoretical math you're interested, try an adding machine. They don't make mistakes. For the "what are you going to do for the rest of your life?" sit down and make a list, then go through it and figure out what your nerves can take and where your interests lie. If you aren't interested in anything, still, get out there and try several things. Don't invest an emotional committment to any given interest until you prove to yourself that you really enjoy it.

Best,
Btdt

People with ASDs have a "triad of difficulties" to various degrees:

1. Social difficulties (Ranging from complete social unawareness and aloofness at one end of the scale, to social awareness, but also social awkwardness, on the other.)
2. Communication difficulties (Ranging from being completely non-verbal to not understanding the social nuances of conversation even though one possesses a good vocabulary.)
3. Presence of ritualistic, repetitive interests and activities (Preoccupation with objects or parts of objects on the more severe end of the scale, to the presence of special interests in certain subjects for people with Asperger's.)

That's more because professionals decided to divide it into three to make a nice-sounding number, than because it really divides that neatly into threes. There's a lot of aspects of being autistic, even some more central ones than anything listed, that are not on there, and that can cause other difficulties that are not listed in that triad as well.

alot of things im shure. i couldnt keep a job, had no motivation and loved rocks and sportscards over anything else

On top of the topics!

9catmom mentioned a fascination/preoccupation? for objects and parts of objects sd one of three Autism Spectrum Traits.

I know. I like looking at the avatars, especially the moving ones.

As a child I had fascination for numerous objects and parts of objects, especially when they moved or I could make them move.

I like unclebeere's spinning top the best, so far. Sometimes looking at the moving emoticons is all right. I feel empathy with the crying face. Maybe this emoticon will feel better later.

What ever is preventing me from gainful employment at this point may well be some of my Aspie traits, but I am not going to change. I do not ask NTs to change and I am sure if I did they would not understand anyway.

I hope this is a satisfactory answer. I have tried my best.