Your experience with your son gives you insight most of us do not have. I am grateful you can share that with us. Thank you for your comments.

I agree. I would rather have more sub-categories, not less. In some ways it would be helpful to have a more narrow classification. There is a lot of variation on the spectrum. I think the point was that the treatment was the same regardless. Or maybe they found that people with Asperger's weren't qualifying for some ASD programs with a sparate classififcation? I don't know. But I think it's great you found the information you needed and were able to identify where you fit.

I though autism meant an inability to interact with others? How can someone be autistic and live the life you describe your friend as having?

@citronella not an inability as much as a struggle. And there are vastly different degrees. It is truly a spectrum.

He is good at what he does, but wasn't enjoying it as much. He was struggling. He was in his 50s when he was diagnosed.

Mild autism used to be called Aspergers. However, that has fallen into disfavour recently. Just a few years ago, he'd have been called as "Aspie"

I'm no expert, and there are certainly people here that are more familiar than I am, but this is my understanding.

There is a wide range on the spectrum. Everyone is affected differently. On the more severe end, people can be non verbal, and it is a struggle just to communicate with others. But most don't fall into that category. I think you wouldn't even recognize most people with ASD.

My understanding is that people on the spectrum can struggle in social situations, they sometimes have difficulties recognizing social queues. But I could totally see someone excelling at public speaking. One of the things that most of us struggle with when speaking in front of large groups is that initial fear of getting up in front of that group and thinking about how everyone in the room is looking at us and judging us. Someone with ASD wouldn't feel those same anxieties because they aren't processing how others are viewing them or thinking about them, they are thinking more internally. This could make them a fearless public speaker. My son has become the go to kid for public speaking roles for that reason. A lot of kids his age will stare at their shoes and mumble when speaking in front of large groups. But Sammy has no fear about saying what's on his mind. This actually works in his favor when it comes to public speaking.