“…for years I thought if I tried harder I could be the same as other people my age. I thought I must have been retarded. It has taken me 21 years to realize my problems aren’t my fault. Living with autism is a good thing in some ways because even though it is not pleasant a lot of the time, you learn to appreciate life a lot more…”

                 “K.W.”

“If my husband were to go away for a month or two and come back, I know I couldn’t just go up to him or talk easily with him…or at all. I can talk and smile at people I have constant contact with… but when I no longer have constant contact, I feel really awkward around them; even brothers and sisters or best friends. Its hard to explain. I hope this makes sense.”

                “”L.C.”

“Even the most mundane and ordinary life is full of struggle, heroism, and interest. Too many of us believe that we aren’t interesting, when we are! Don’t think, ‘What’s so great about me?’ You’ve as much to say/write about as anyone else… and probably far more than the boring ‘regular’ types who surround us…the ‘DETHINKING MASSES’ as I call ‘em…Every single human life is worthwhile and full of constant daily heroism…just to get through each day is amazing.”

                “C.W.”  in part: quoting Harvey Pekar; in part: speaking for himself- Colin the artist

“Its like if I was a computer I’d have a hundred gigabyte hard drive but very little processing. You give the person extra storage but its at the expense of processing.”

            “T.G”

to Theo : “There is a soul and life in that crayon… The crayon has a real gypsy soul; if it isn’t asking too much of you, send me some of it… The people I live among have the same follies and vices as the rich, only they have their own forms of folly and vice—and they have not what are called the refinements of the rich to make their faults more bearable. It doesn’t matter much to me—I am not fond of those refinements, but some people are, and find it difficult to feel at home with such persons as have them not. As a painter I not only feel perfectly at home and contented with them, but I find in them a quality that sometimes reminds me of gypsies, at least of something as picturesque. ..There is much that I don’t like in this rough sketch. When you see this group of people together, can you understand that I feel at home with them? …You would do me a great favor by sending that crayon…”

          “Vincent Van Gogh”

“I think that a problem that’s been entirely overlooked by the community of professional health workers who deal with autism is- that the more high functioning you are, the less they have to offer…”

        “D.H.”

“If there’s a situation that really needs speech, its likely I’ll have none. I may as well be mute all the time if important things can’t be spoken of…To have NO words is scary…you’re so vulnerable…”

                  “C.W”

“Belonging weighs against exposure…Sometimes you have to go down many futile paths Kimberly. Glad you are coming out of the autie closet. Be proud, be tough, be reasonable, be on your side…”

                       “D.W.”