@lisalucier Thank you for tagging me in this thread. I don't have insight to this disorder, but also suffer from a very rare disease, and must say I am tickled to hear you have resources and support groups! My disease has less than 50 diagnosed worldwide, and probably no one else in the U.S.

Autism sometimes is used as an umbrella term, and indeed presents a wide variety of symptoms, the combination seemingly individual to each person. In my case, while daily functioning and care is no issue, and the ability to hold a full time job that required a variety of intelligence, my personal interactions with others was an insurmountable wall. I see things black-and-white, with little space for gray. My senses are hyper, as in I feel deeply on physical and emotional planes, and have little tolerance for what my mind perceives as false. On the same hand, I am very empathetic and helpful. It's quite the conundrum!

Good for you, @illinoismom and others, for championing for your loved ones!
Ginger
p.s. I tried twice last night to post but was unsuccessful