SactoLady

If you should meet a person who seems eccentric in behavior, who looks down at the ground when speaking to you, who's speech may be a little different, who may be clumsy, who may use strange hand gestures when upset and who may not dress like you, please don't assume this person is "retarded". This person may have Asperger's Syndrome. People with Asperger's are just like you, humans with feelings, who can make very good friends, if you give them a chance.
They may be male or female, young or old. They may have an avoidance to call you on the phone, but that doesn't mean they aren't thinking of you. They just have problems with social situations. They are VERY intelligent, able to understand complex concepts but not always able to explain how they know what they know.
Both my son and I are Asperger's. I was never diagnosed because Asperger's wasn't an option back then, but most of what my son does, I, too, did. But this is not about me, it's about my son.
Joe is VERY bright. When he was in 6th grade his the school couldn't understand why he wasn't getting good grades, when he seemed so bright at times. He was tested, and scored at 2nd year of college level. 6th grade, with Knowledge of someone who had been in college for 2 years. But he was getting F's in school. He couldn't understand simple commands of more then 3 steps at once. But he could spell words I had trouble with.
He had an odd habit of NEEDING to read bus numbers. I remember once, when he was 10 or 11, driving past a bus holding station. He started yelling, "I can't read all the numbers, please turn around, I need to read the numbers". He would only wear shirts with stripes up until just recently (he's 27 now). He still can't wear jeans or tennis shoes. But he loves video games, the more complicated the better. He builds computers, understands the basics of our countries political situation. He loves to cook, and he learned to drive this year. (I didn't learn to drive until I was 48)
Why am I writing all this?
Because my son FINALLY got a girl friend, something pretty serious. She lives 50 miles from us and he visits her weekly.
Her grandmother says he seems like he's retarded and acts about 10 years old and Nichol is just using him. NO, she is not using him. He does for her from his heart. She knows he isn't retarded, because she's gotten to know him.
Please, if you know someone who is "Different" give them a chance. Don't just assume they have a low intelligence. They could turn out to be your very best friend, because, they may be seeking friendship, but not know how to go about keeping a friend.