For some of you this may come as a shock, others might have guessed this and will be thinking "I KNEW IT!" when they hear this, and other still might think I'm lying to excuse my more outrageous behavior, but what I am about to say is true.
I also have autism. I have been diagnosed with autism at an early age. I find it very difficult to make friends in real life, am an adult picky eater, get overwhelmed by certain sensory input (certain noises, like one persons voice or people clapping their hands to a song with loud speaker going off, hurt my ears or drive me nuts), get really attached to certain interests and take a strong interest in learning about them, etc. Occasionally, change bothers me as well. If its a change that I know in advance, like school delays or spring break, the change won't bother me. If it happens suddenly, I have trouble handling it.
Like DrCrow, I have trouble communicating at times. By that I don't mean that I can't talk, but I do have trouble explaining myself. Sometimes I feel like this is my biggest weakness. On the other side of the coin, sometimes I can't tell if people are being serious or sarcastic, which may make me easier to fool than other people if I am not knowledgeable about a thing. Ironically, sometimes I worry that in an emergency, I will refuse to do something unless I know why I should do it, like I'm worried that I would make the wrong decision because I never got the chance to think about what I am going to do.
As you have probably guessed, my life has been a struggle. I had to have occupational and physical therapy when I was 6 or 7, and unlike many other kids, never spoke much before then. I was constantly bullied for my behavior, especially in daycare (which to this day I hate with a passion don't like thinking about). Despite all the negative experiences in my life, I have tried to at least have one. As I slowly get mature each year, I hope one day to control angry impulses so I can drive (well that and not always being aware of my surroundings; not even having a permit at my age is embarrassing, admittedly.), along with learning how to be more active in social interaction. For now, I wait.....
edit: Frink, I didn't see your post until after I posted mine. I didn't know you were a father, let alone a father of a child with aspergers. I hope she is doing well.