Autistic people bump into others regularly that reacted strangely to their behaviors. The reactions range from caring support all the way to even unpleasant comments. Sadly, even individuals who encourage autistic family members, co-workers, and friends may not understand autism on a level that they need to. This leads to stereotypes, which can result in hatred, embarrassment, or other unhappy situations. The only factor that can solve people's misconceptions about autism is education. If you are the parent of an autistic child, do not be afraid to instruct others how to deal with your child.

Just like normal people, autistic people are often very different. Diagnosing autism is very multifaceted. Everyone reacts differently to autism, and it really doesn't have a highly rigid set of rules in diagnosing the disorder. Most of the time, those diagnosed with autism are rated on a functional scale. The more highly functional people are able to hold down jobs and take care themselves for the most part, while the neediest ones, which are low functioning, sometimes require 24-7 care. Some of the symptoms of autism include behavioral problems, uncontrolled movements, communication problems, and problems expressing emotion. Some show all symptoms, while other show few, and still others may have most under control to the point where you cannot tell they have autism at all.

Because every person is different, no one thing can be said about autism and be true overall. The one thing that is a re-occurring theme in autistic people is that they can't express their emotions like they would like to. This does not mean that an autistic person does not feel. He or she simply cannot express this feeling. It also does not mean strong relationship bonds are not possible. On the contrary, many autistic people are happily married and in love. If not always easy for the autistic person, but with time it can happen.

Many people suppose that being autistic coincides with being a genius in some aspect. Some autistic people are amazing savants like Dustin Hoffman's character in the movie Rain Man, but more often than not this is not true. However, it is important to note that autism is not a form of mental retardation. Some autistic people are mentally retarded as well, but most are not and should not be treated as such.

If there's one idea that you need to know about autism, it is that we need to be more tolerant of those who have the condition. Patience goes a long way when dealing with people with autism. Just be sure to educate yourself about the disorder, and your encounters with them will go much more effectively. Then to share what you know with others around you about how to deal with and the more tolerant of the autistic.