Life on the Autism Spectrum

Overview

In this section you can find out about the experience of life on the autism spectrum, by listening to people share their personal stories on film Researchers initially travelled all around the UK to talk to 22 people (and 6 partners) in their own homes. Analysis of 17 new interviews were added in 2010 and extra interviews were added in 2016 to help keep the site up to date. Find out what people said about issues such as communication, obsessions, intimate relationships and difficulties with employment. We hope you find the information helpful and reassuring.

Life on the autism spectrum - site preview

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Debbie

I was given the formal diagnosis of Asperger syndrome. So me and my mother were really it was probably the best day of our lives because she had struggled for 35 years with me.

John
So if I'm walking around, everybody's got it but me because I've got Asperger's.

Vicky
Because people with Asperger's like people to actually be punctual, and some people can't cope if they're not there on the right time and things like that.

Mark

And it is these silly, tiny little trivial things that most normal people just completely taking their stride. Don't give a second thought to, Aspie will obsess over each and every word and exactly what it means and end up sort of freaking out, not getting things done.

Daniel
I think I've quite liked having Asperger's Syndrome. I like the, the idea of because this is maybe stereotyped Asperger's syndrome being very, very sort of logical. And, almost like a robot type thing. Yeah. Like the Terminator, but Terminator with feelings sort of. Yeah. Terminator but with feelings.

This section is based on research by The University of Oxford.

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Supported by:
The Department of Health
The Wellcome Trust

Publication date: October 2010.
Last updated: February 2020.