Hi, I've written a fair bit in Healthboards about this subject. Yes, it is true that in the past, Autism was probably regarded mostly as a children's condition. But in the last few years, there has been an increasing awareness of it in adults. Autism can cover quite a range and spectrum. Many adults experience an improvement in social functioning and other symptoms, but it is something which never really stops impacting upon your life.
I was first diagnosed at the age of four or five (this was nearly thirty years ago). At the time, the doctors told my parents that I would eventually grow out of it. My parents were very confused and probably a bit frightened of the diagnosis, so there was no real follow up treatment or intervention. I ended up after my teen years feeling very frustrated and confused. I grew up not even knowing about my diagnosis, and my parents seemed to forget about it. From what they can recall of the doctor's comments, however, I am pretty sure that their diagnosis was Autism. I was rediagnosed in my late twenties. At first I was very upset by all this - that I spent so long not knowing and that it was overlooked. But since then, I've been able to make my peace with it. That was just the state of awareness and the medical health system at that particular time.
Autism can cover quite a range and spectrum. (Have you heard about Asperger's? It may be worth asking a professional if maybe you fit more into that category.) We all have different needs. Many are high functioning and quite independent as adults, but still have a few quirks in their personality which can be identified as part of the condition. Increased understanding and awareness is the key. Autism in adults is a complex topic. I recommend that you stay with this forum, so that you can read the experiences of others - it's a great help and support. Unfortunately, other resources are not that common as yet. This doesn't mean that there's no need for it or interest. I recently read that Autism is one of the most popular search queries on the Internet - somewhere in the top five (at least in my country - Australia).
I have looked in my local library for reading material, but found very little. Hope that some others can provide some helpful suggestions for you.
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