Global News

March 8, 2014

What It's Like on the Autism Spectrum

Intense stories of family with autism spectrum disorder, as submitted by Atlantic readers
James Hamblin  |  theatlantic.com


In The Atlantic print magazine this month, Hanna Rosin tells the story of her son Jacob's diagnosis with Asperger syndrome, in the context of the psychiatric community's recent change in the definition of the disorder to part of what's now known as autism spectrum disorder.

We received a lot of thoughtful responses from readers who have experience with the disorder in their own lives, themselves or their families, about how the diagnosis has affected them, and what the changes in definition mean to everyone. Here are excerpts from some of those stories.

I remember starting home-based behavioral therapy and that three months after... CONTINUE >

—Kammy Kramer; Eagan, Minnesota, USA

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What I still can’t comprehend is how he’ll be able to go on living in a world not designed for him.

It’s the most important thing in his life, so why is it not for everyone else?

I am used to people asking what his savant abilities are, as they assume that all people with autism must have one.

Every parent of a child on the spectrum can tell you about that play date. You watch the other kids, then you watch your kid.

That said, I am fine calling myself either thing, or nothing at all.

Our differences can indeed be key to our success. But the challenges of autism remain real.

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