First off, thank you. That really means a lot to me!

Second, I think that’s important to note. Autism spectrum disorders aren’t always obvious. Most people who meet me will never assume that there is something “off” about me. Often when you talk to people with an ASD you’d never know because they’re still a person with independent thoughts and feelings just like you.

And I think it’s important to remember that an Autism spectrum disorder (of any kind) doesn’t define that person. Just like I don’t let Aspergers define me :)

Could you email me about this? I need to get your signed permission for it to be legal.

Here’s some tips:

• Be patient with them. Sometimes it can take us a lot longer to answer questions or do tasks because we’re thinking in more detail about it than most people normally would.
   
• Try to be careful not to create too much unexpected change. Sudden change can make us very anxious because we won’t know what to do because we haven’t mentally prepared for what’s happening.
   
• Ask them detailed questions about things they’re interested in. If they really love airplanes, for example, you could ask them what is the most expensive airplane ever built. 
  
  
• Don’t get frustrated if they won’t look at you or make eye contact. They most likely are giving you their full attention. We just tend to not look at people while talking because it makes it easier to concentrate on what we’re saying/hearing.
   
• Always remember that if you meet a person with Aspergers, then you’ve met one person with Aspergers. Autism spectrum disorders are very diverse and they effect people in many different ways. For example, one child might absolutely love surprises while another could be completely terrified of them. 

These some basics, but really the most important thing is to just treat them like you would treat any other kid their age: like a human being with independent thoughts and feelings.

Hope this helps!