I wish that was the case. Both daughters have diagnoses, and both have had very difficult adolescent years. Next-level stuff that I think people don't believe me about most of the time. They have great difficulty with socialising, and that has been extremely difficult for them. Both of them rather resent the 'rain man' view of autism that they have some special talent as a payoff for their difficulties, although one is incredible in terms of research and planning. But she doesn't see that as being anything to do with autism!

> But she doesn't see that as being anything to do with autism!

Don't forget that she is also a teenager. Growing up is hard, socializing and fitting in can feel incredibly important -- but there's always an alternative cost: less time mucking about with mean girl types, more time to study the sword.

This is a blessing in disguise. The payoff will come, for that reason alone, and so will the true friends down the line. She probably wouldn't choose this now, but later on she absolutely would.

Do you think they might be inspired by the Temple Grandin lens of autism? She's accomplished so much in a field that basically didn't exist before her and against a massive amount of adversity. She's a time-worn example of how the different perspectives that autism can give you can be leveraged into a calling that is both lucrative and improves lives.

Glad to mentioned "Weaponized autism" because the original justification for Hans asperger not being forced to murder the aspie kids was their potential for those kids to develop military technology for the Reich.

Remember aspies, the world believes you are only valuable due to your ability to produce, and specifically, to produce novel things.

Ultimately, for this reason, I'd love to see a "cure" for autism as it is a debilitating disease for many of those who suffer with it