Introduction

Welcome to my Website on Asperger's Syndrome. 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 have recently been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. It was on the 29th August 2009, that I got a formal diagnosis, specifically that I meet the criteria for Asperger's Syndrome DSM IV. Prior to that I was fairly sure I had 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.

I have this website on line since October 2004.

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.

If you find my articles useful and would like to support my AS website, please consider shopping for AS-related books using the Amazon widgets on my various webpages. You pay exactly the same price as normal, but I receive a small referral fee which helps me keep this site up and running.

Alternatively, you can buy me a cup of coffee via PayPal! Simply click on the icon below. Once again, many thanks - your support really does allow me to continue news and articles in relation to AS.

You're probably wondering why I have a picture of myself next to a stone bridge in the Welcome page, or what's with the symbol of two concentric ellipses, with seven discs on the outer ellipse, or the background. Click on the links on the left side of the page, and the reasons will eventually become apparent.