And now I know it is perfectly natural for me not to look at someone when I talk. Those of us with Asperger's are just not comfortable doing it. In fact, I don't really understand why it's considered normal to stare at someone's eyeballs.
John Elder Robison
I have often said that our little ones (and big ones) with asperger's are at most risk for bullying. (I know Asperger's was removed from the DSM-V, but we all still use it, right?) These awesome kids really get the shit end of the stick at school. They may appear to be on the quirky side of normal to the adults. We may even find their unusual tone, and restricted behaviors endearing. As adults we smile when children behave like us. We see it as a sign of intelligence and strength. Guess how their peers see it? They see it as a weakness and it further marginalizes these children. I have written before about the danger our aspie kids face in school. They don't draw the positive attention and sympathy some of our more visably disabled kids do (this can be a problem too, I know). These children need to be protected by their teachers.