Having this diagnosis or not having it doesn't change your traits or your circumstances, but it does help with making sense of it. It also can help with knowing what to ask for so that I have a better chance of being able to function. And now I know that all the things that I struggled with really were harder for me than they are for other people, because my brain doesn't work the same way. It is validating to be able to know that what I experienced was always legitimate.

A diagnosis like asperger's is harder to understand because it isn't tangible like other disabilities can be. But as much as someone who is blind might like to have that diagnosis removed, they still would not be able to see, and if we have the characteristics or traits that we refer to as asperger's, it doesn't change anything to remove the label. We are who we are.

And we are responsible for doing our best. People with any disability might think that they are more limited or have less control than in reality, or might be tempted not to try as hard, or even might have been taught that they can't do anything because of the disability. The fact is, we can do a lot. Asperger's or autism has positive traits too, and we need to remember that and put our talents to good use. The whole point in identifying a diagnosis is to figure out what can be done to help us overcome our obstacles and live our lives the best that we can.