The internet was a blessing for me - I can communicate freely online. I don't have to look anyone in the eye, and I'm not as shy. I always knew I was different, and now I know why.

I'm relieved, happy and sad all at the same time to finally understand.

 - Asperger's (self-diagnosed) female at 45yrs old.

So my mother wishes to turn my childhood bedroom into some kind of Home-and-Garden's fantasy. I was immediately outraged, because just last month, I was in respite and whilst I was there, she tore apart my room. Literally - she even tore up my carpet. True, it was filthy. But we had a deal that I had until the end of the month to do it myself or she would help me. She broke her promise with no warning, even though she knows how sick it makes me feel whenever there is any significant enviormental change done to any part of the house - not mention my own bedroom. And I had never given her permission to ever destroy my carpet.

Now, a few months ago, I moved into the guest room because I wanted a place more mature and to make my own, in partial as trying to get my life together since I cannot yet move out of my mother's house. This may seem odd, but it seemed like a reasonable situation, considering that we never have anyone over the house.

Hi. My name is Jill. I'm 48 and just found out in 2010 that I have autism.  It was a little too much, and a lot too late.

I was wondering what other women think about this.

I do have meltdowns, though from what I read in the forums, I don't think I'm plagued with them as severely as some other Aspies.  Whenever I read or hear about meltdowns and Asperger's, the author/speaker always speaks of them in terms of how our (Aspies') brains are wired as the cause of the meltdowns.  I'm thinking that might not be entirely true.

I say this because I had an aunt, no longer living, who was born profoundly deaf.  I was acquainted with the deaf community, and I learned from them, and from life with my aunt, that deaf people are notorious for blistering meltdowns.  I used to know a woman who was in charge of concessions and the cafeteria at Gallaudet College, a college for the deaf in the U.S. I remember her telling me that the tab there for repairing and replacing vending machines was steep.  If a student inserted money and nothing came out, they would vent their full fury on the vending machine.  

This is my first time to visit AWN --- I have been dying to find such a site.... I have 2 sons with Asperger Syndrome (23 & 17) and was just recently diagnosed with PDD-NOS myself.

Having children with an autistic syndrome, you would have thought that I would have been prepared for my diagnosis, but I wasn't.  I have been reading and researching for years about such things, but is very different from the inside out...but that is not to say that I haven't had a great sense of relief knowing I wasn't just crazy (I have a couple psych diagnoses as well).  I kid around and say that I have my papers (as with pedigreed dog LOL) so people can go ahead and think I am crazy! 

I am 48, married, 3 kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats, fish....we live in Western NY.  Before I quit working almost 2 yrs ago I worked as a nurse (RN).  Had been in that field over 25 years, but it just got to be too much and I wigged out.  Now some days I just take an hour at a time...if I try to bite off too much, I often choke on it.

I am part of a wonderful new non-for-profit called Aspiritech. They employ Aspies like me in software testing and similar computer-based fields. I am currently training to be a software tester (not earning $ for that), and I think I might be the first and only female employed there right now. But none of their employees are getting much work because clients are needed and advertising costs money.

Aspiritech is in the running for the Chase Community Giving sweepstakes. The top 200 win at least $20,000! We are doing very well but we continue to need votes. This is through Facebook. Please vote today (and pass along this message for others to place their votes as well) and give this one-of-a-kind organization a chance to grow, expand, and help Aspie adults like me with meaningful employment! Thanks.

Aspiritech's voting page on Chase Community Giving:  http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/262556543-aspiritech-nfp