Developing an autistic character - critiques appreciated!

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Terrance Carlisle is a 26-year old man who is fascinated by the existence of an alternate dimension and in particular the "Guildsmen" who inhabit it. He has recently become the first person to successfully design a device capable of transporting masses between dimensions almost at will, a contraption known as the "timepiece". He is believed to be the first human to visit the Straits for almost a century.

Since dropping out of a history degree at university to better study a series of scrolls he discovered on the subject of the Straits, Terrance has been unemployed, living with his sister Laura Carlisle, a journalist. Due to his reclusive nature, Terrance and Laura interact fairly little in day to day life. Terrance has a closer relationship with his mother, whom he phones weekly to talk to (Laura does not get on well with their mother). Most of Terrance's other human contact comes in the form of other people around the world researching the myths and evidence behind the Straits' existence: he also occasionally visits contacts around the country (much to Laura's chagrin, as she usually has to foot the bill), although this is usually only to examine specific evidence, as Terrance prefers to communicate using email.

Terrance suffers from Type 1 diabetes; as such he has to take special precautions in his diet and daily routines. He was diagnosed at an early age, and is used to living with the condition, around which he organises his weekly schedule. He also takes regular insulin injections. Perhaps in part due to his diabetes, Terrance is a decent cook, generally taking care of his sister's diet as well as his own.

Although he showed heightened curiosity and cognitive skills as a child, Terrance's speech development was significantly delayed, leading to an early diagnosis of autism. Terrance still struggles somewhat with colloquial language, tone and body language, although time and practice has made it easier for him to engage in casual conversation. He still dislikes small-talk, and will quickly lose interest in anyone who doesn't have anything specific to say. He is now generally aware of situations that make him seriously uncomfortable (large crowds and other situations in which strangers touch him, fireworks events, etc) and knows how to avoid them.

Terrance has always shown dedication both in his work and to the things and people he cares about; he always tries to finish what he's started (even if that's a bad idea) and refuses to give up even in the face of all evidence. He learns very quickly - his brain is like a sponge - and has a very long memory. He is very hard working, and finds immense satisfaction in a job well done, although conversely this gives him a tendency to forgo work that needs to be done if he wants to do something more interesting. The exceptions to this are food, sleep and hygiene, the routines of which he has grown used to over the years. Terrance is equally loyal to his friends, family and beliefs, although his dedication to the latter can made him somewhat morally inflexible.
Although he takes little interest in politics, Terrance's attitudes are largely conservative: he has a high respect for authority (and little time for anyone who doesn't), reacts badly to change, and defends personal responsibility above social responsibility. He has a strong sense of justice and hates being treated unfairly (or whatever he considers unfair, anyway). He finds it hard to make exceptions for people's actions in light of their circumstances, which can lead to him being somewhat hypocritical towards other people.
Although he will drop an argument if he is losing, he may still hold grudges - often for a very long time. He also has a tendency to take his poor humours out on other people (usually his sister), as he has a rather hot temper. He also loses interest in people very quickly if he finds them boring; when he was younger he struggled to appreciate why others do the same if he begins to ramble about his own interests, but nowadays he understands his and other people's behaviours better and is more forgiving.
Terrance has always had difficulty socialising and making friends, although once he has formed a close relationship with someone, he sticks to it. He absolutely abhors disloyalty and betrayal, above almost anything else. Since finding an interest in Edafous Kainero, Terrance has made several friends on the internet, where he finds it easier to talk to people. He visits his online friends occasionally (much to Laura's chagrin, as she has to foot the bill) but prefers to communicate via email. He dislikes making small talk, although practise and experience has made it less difficult for him; he uses a strategy of stock questions and answers to get through situations where casual conversation is inescapable.
Terrance is very aware that he is a coward. He knows what he dislikes and will go to great lengths to avoid situations where he feels uncomfortable or afraid, sometimes even if it means abandoning his principles. He will back down very quickly from an argument if threats become physical. He hates being touched by people he doesn't know, and is extremely uncomfortable in crowds (although he can rationalise himself into busy places if he knows he needs to), but once he feels familiar with a person he can be more tactile. Under extreme duress, he may fully "shut down", but now he has entered adulthood this happens very rarely.

It definitely sounds like something you can build from. I like it. I guess this wont actually go on the story? Is it for your reference?

If you write the book, you should maybe only include a small selection of the information in your biography into the story itself, I could imagine that too many concrete informations which don't necessarily support the story could easily bore the reader, but if you use it for yourself to better empathize with your character and make it more believeable I consider this a very good idea, as long as you won't tend to mention them too much.

I think to create an independent character with autistic traits it wouldn't appear natural if it is based on written informations about autists, but to me it seems, the most important aspect of my slight autism is, that I never assimilate to any thoughts, social behaviours, cultural things and also never go precast ways of achieving targets. I don't expect the already given ways to necessarily be the best and therefore independently consider what is the most productive, quick and economic myself.
I wish you success.