Introduction

This website is an attempt to give someone an idea of what it is like to have Asperger's Syndrome. My name is Derek, and I am an afflictee of the condition, from Ireland. Although I did not get a formal diagnosis, I am fairly sure that I have the condition. I usually refer to the condition simply as "AS". In today's busy lifestyle anything is fair game for getting abbreviated, and Asperger's Syndrome is no exception.

Asperger's Syndrome is a neurobiological disorder, which is considered to be part of the "Autism spectrum". A milder, but high-functioning form of Autism, it is characterised by reduced social interaction and oral communication skills, although someone with AS would show no significant delay in acquiring language skills, and would generally have average to above-average intelligence.

As a child, my parents were told that although I was not full-blown autistic, I did have autistic tendencies. This diagnosis was made in the mid-1970s. In 2001, a former teacher of mine (who is now retired) from a special school where I spent a few years of my childhood, visited my parents, and said to them that I may have Asperger's Syndrome. Having read some articles on AS, from the Internet, it became evident that many of the characteristics that were mentioned, related to me.

The Internet also revealed some accounts of other people afflicted with AS, much of whose characteristics they described, and with which I would identify to a certain extent.

Therefore, I am not the first person with the condition to share my story, and I am fairly sure that I won't be the last.

By sharing my story, I hope to be helping both those with the condition, and psychologists alike.

By the way, before you ask, I do not play for Galway United!