Hi-Introducing myself
Hi I guess I need to formally introduce myself. My name is Katie. I use Diamond Dragon on most online forums. Diamond is my birthstone and Dragon is my Chinese Zodiac animal.
I'm in my 30s and I have Asperger's. I'm from the Chicago area in the USA. I'm getting ready to graduate from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago in May 2010 with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies.
I was officially diagnosed in 2005 with Asperger's. Before that I had been diagnosed with everything from ADD/ADHD, OCD, Depression, Anxiety, Borderline, Bipolar, and even general "Emotional Problems". I was in and out of Special Education, but usually told I was "too smart and too well-behaved" for a special classroom.
I started a meetup group because I couldn't find any resources for adults on the spectrum in the Chicago area. That was in March 2006. That one group grew into a network of groups now run by a variety of people. One of the groups I co-lead with a friend of mine, and is just for women on the spectrum 16 and over. Most of the groups we have attended over the months and years as part of CASPAN (Chicago Autism SPectrum Adult (and teen) Network) were dominantly male, and women felt uncomfortable talking about their more unique issues with being female, on the spectrum and living in IL (which is notorius for being at the bottom as far as resources for people with disabilities, especially adults and teens). We meet every other month and have had some extremely productive discussions.
I have the majority of your typical Aspie issues-sensory, processing, lack of social skills, unitasking, getting ovwerwhelmed, etc. I live on my own, in part because of the complications of my family situation. My father passed away unexpectedly when I was 16, and my mom's mental illness have made our relationship turbulent and unpredictable over the years.
I have artwork posted on the art page and I hope to post some of my photography soon.
CASPAN: http://www.meetup.com/CASPAN
CASPAN on FB (Fan Page): http://www.facebook.com/pages/CASPAN-Chicago-Autism-SPectrum-Adult-and-t...
Hi, Katie
. I like the Diamond Dragon name.
hello, Im new too. I would be aquamarine sheep, which quite depresses me lol, your very lucky to have an exciting zodiac animal!
Hi there Diamond Dragon,
Congratulations on creating new resources for yourself and others! Good for you. That's truly impressive! 
I've admired the CASPAN forums, and dearly wish we had something, well, really anything like that for adults with Aspergers here. I live about 5 and a 1/2 hours southwest of you, in what I like to think of as the linty hip pocket of Illinois, where there are zero resources for adults with Aspergers.
Welcome, Katie! Nice to meet you.
Hi Diamond Dragon! I guess that would make me Ruby Tiger.
I've been to Chicago twice and enjoyed the city very much. Sorry to read that there are few services and resources there. It's great that you were the impetus behind all those people getting together.
Also sorry about your dad's passing and your mom's challenges. That must be hard on you.
I'm looking forward to seeing your artwork and photography.
Glad you're here!