I have to say I have meoments when i seriously want to punch a stranger. I work in a preschool. And every year when I get a new grop of kiddos I tell the parents about my son who has autism and that he will also be coming to my class after school but he will usually sit at my desk and play on the computer. One parent actually said I am so sorry. I just looked at her and asked sorry for??? She said that you have a child with autism. She was like I just can't imagine how awful that could be. I was speechless and pretty pissed but I kept my cool. We went into my office and talked a little more. My son was on my computer and we was on youtube. Then he closed out some of my files I had up and saved various papers that I had typed. She said that kid is pretty good with a computer, how old is he? I said he's 8 and he's my son. Yea he's my son, he's 8, has autism, taught himself how to use a computer, and the best thing?? His thing is befriend people without trying. He has this magnatism that just pulls people to him. :)

sometimes people make a comment that is easy to take offense to. if we would know in what context the speaker is speaking in, it may not be offensive at all

people that say "sorry" when hearing about your son could be thinking that in your situation they would not be as well off as you are. not everyone can handle difficult situations everyday and come out on the other end smelling like roses

i guarantee i guarantte that if they are interested, you could educate them. if not, their sentiments are not worth stressing over for one second (bulldog double guarantee - patent pending)

Noone has anything bad to say about my girl these days. But when she was younger things were way different. She was so loud and outspoken I dreaded taking her in public. She would just insult people for the fun of it and I would have to apologize & bolt.