| Due to the complexity of autism, there are many | | | | symptoms of autism or autistic-spectrum |
| facets of sociology that need to be considered | | | | disorder. Biographers, personal physicians and |
| when discussing it, such as the culture which has | | | | media journalists continually investigate these |
| evolved from autistic persons connecting and | | | | rumors, but some say that the claims are actually |
| communicating with one another. In addition, there | | | | libellous of their character as public figures, being |
| are several subgroups forming within the autistic | | | | singled out as "odd" or "nerdy" people. |
| community, sometimes in strong opposition to | | | | Autistic adults |
| one another. | | | | Communication and social problems often cause |
| Community and politics | | | | difficulties in many areas of the autistic's life. A |
| Curing autism is a very highly controversial and | | | | much smaller proportion of adult autistics marry |
| politicized issue. What some call the "autistic | | | | or have children than the general population. Even |
| community" has splintered into several strands. | | | | when they do marry, some argue, it is more likely |
| Some seek a cure for autism - sometimes | | | | to end in divorce than the norm, although further |
| dubbed by pro-cure. Others do not desire a | | | | research should perhaps be made. Nevertheless, |
| "cure", because they point out that autism is a | | | | as more social groups form, progressively more |
| way of life rather than a "disease", and as such | | | | diagnosed adults are forming relationships with |
| resist it. They are sometimes dubbed anti-cure. | | | | others on the spectrum. |
| Many more may have views between these two. | | | | A small proportion of autistic adults, usually those |
| Recently, with scientists learning more about | | | | with high-functioning autism or Asperger's |
| autism and possibly coming closer to effective | | | | syndrome, are able to work successfully in |
| remedies, some members of the "anti-cure" | | | | mainstream jobs, although frequently far below |
| movement sent a letter to the United Nations | | | | their actual level of skills and qualification. Some |
| demanding to be treated as a minority group | | | | have managed to gain self-employment. |
| rather than a group with a mental disability or | | | | Others are employed in sheltered workshops |
| disease. | | | | under the supervision of managers trained in |
| There are many resources available for autistic | | | | working with persons with disabilities. A nurturing |
| people. Because many autistics find it easier to | | | | environment at home, at school, and later in job |
| communicate online than in person, a large number | | | | training and at work, helps autistic people continue |
| of these resources are online. In addition, | | | | to learn and to develop throughout their lives. |
| successful autistic adults, using their own | | | | It is often said that the Internet, since it is almost |
| experience in developing coping strategies and/or | | | | devoid of the non-verbal cues that autistics find |
| interacting with society, are often involved at the | | | | so hard to interact with, has given some autistic |
| community level with children with autism, using | | | | individuals an environment in which they can, and |
| their own experience in developing coping | | | | do, communicate and form online communities. |
| strategies and/or interacting with society. | | | | The internet has also provided the option of |
| The year 2002 was declared Autism Awareness | | | | occupations such as, teleworking and independent |
| Year in the United Kingdom (see Autistic | | | | consulting, which, in general, do not require much |
| Community article). | | | | human interaction offline. |
| Culture | | | | Under the public law, in the United States, the |
| With the recent increases in autism recognition | | | | public schools' responsibility for providing services |
| and new approaches to educating and socializing | | | | ends when the autistic person is 21 years of age. |
| autistics, an autistic culture has begun to develop. | | | | The autistic person and their family are then |
| Similar to deaf culture, autistic culture is based on | | | | faced with the challenge of finding living |
| a more accepting belief that autism is a unique | | | | arrangements and employment to match their |
| way of being and not a disorder to be cured. | | | | particular needs, as well as the programs and |
| There are some commonalities which are specific | | | | facilities that can provide support services to |
| to autism in general as a culture, not just "autistic | | | | achieve these goals. |
| culture". | | | | Many parents of autistic children also face financial |
| It is a common misperception that autistic people | | | | difficulties as they must often pay for essential |
| do not marry; many do seek out close | | | | support and therapeutic services. Furthermore, |
| relationships and marry. Often, they marry | | | | autism is often linked to poverty because autistics |
| another autistic, although this is not always the | | | | who might qualify for financial assistance in one |
| case. Autistic people are often attracted to other | | | | country are not eligible in another, because some |
| autistic people due to shared interests or | | | | nations do not recognize autism as a disability. |
| obsessions, but more often than not the | | | | Terminology |
| attraction is due to simple compatibility with | | | | When referring to someone who is diagnosed |
| personality types, the same as for non-autistics. | | | | with autism, the term "autistic" is often used. |
| Autistics who communicate have explained that | | | | Alternatively, many prefer to use the person-first |
| companionship is as important to autistics as it is | | | | terminology "person with autism" or "person who |
| to anyone else. | | | | experiences autism." However, it has been noted |
| It is also a common misperception that autistic | | | | that members of the autistic community generally |
| people live away from other people, such as in a | | | | prefer "autistic person" for reasons that are fairly |
| rural area rather than an urban area; many | | | | controversial. This article uses both terminologies. |
| autistics do happily live in a suburb or large city. | | | | Autistic savants |
| However, a metropolitan area can provide more | | | | The autistic savant phenomenon is sometimes |
| opportunities for cultural and personal conflicts, | | | | seen in autistic people. Savant syndrome occurs in |
| requiring greater needs for adjustment. | | | | about 10% of autistic people and in about 1% of |
| In schools it is commonplace for autistics to be | | | | non-autistic people. The term "autistic savant" is |
| singled out by teachers and students as "unruly," | | | | used to describe a person who is autistic and has |
| though an autistic student may not understand | | | | extreme talent in one or more areas of study |
| why his or her actions are considered | | | | (the incidence of multiple skills tend to occur more |
| inappropriate, especially when the student has a | | | | often in autistic savants than non-autistic savants). |
| logical explanation for his or her behavior. | | | | Although there is a common association between |
| The interests of autistic people and so-called | | | | savants and autism (an association made |
| "geeks" or "nerds" can often overlap as autistic | | | | especially popular by the 1988 film Rain Man), |
| people can sometimes become preoccupied with | | | | most autistic people are not savants and |
| certain subjects, much like anyone else. However, | | | | savantism is not unique to autistic people, though |
| in practice many autistic people have difficulty | | | | there does seem to be some relation. Mental |
| with working in groups, which impairs them even | | | | calculators and fast computer programming skills |
| in the most 'geeky' of situations. The connection | | | | are the most common form. A well known |
| of autism with so-called geek or nerd behavior | | | | example is Daniel Tammet, the subject of the |
| has received attention in the popular press, but is | | | | documentary film The Brain Man (Kim Peek, one |
| still controversial within these groups.[96] | | | | of the inspirations for Dustin Hoffman's character |
| Speculation arises over famous people and | | | | in the film Rain Man, is not autistic). Bright Splinters |
| celebrities who are now suspected, but | | | | of the Mind by Beate Hermelin is a book that |
| unconfirmed, of having autism and Asperger's | | | | explores this issue further. |
| syndrome. They are rumored to have most | | | | |