Hollywood movies rarely deal with disability - except for autism, when characters are typically shown as having special intelligence. Why do we like to think everyone with autism is especially gifted?

Read more at BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | Autistic impressions

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I have no idea on this one. Probably because of the movie, Rain Man, where Dustin Hoffman portrayed a savant. He just happened to have autism, too. A savant can have any disorder, but they excel at certain things. In Hoffman's/Rain Man's case- math.

My daughter seems to have a great capability to mimic music. She's high functioning (which does not mean less stress, trust me) and love music. She'll pick up a tune of a song and remember it forever. I need to get her into classes for some sort of instrument, she's been wanting a horn.

No, not sure what kind of horn, she just says' "Horn"

As for everything else, it's like caring for a very bright two or three year old. She's 7 and a half...and her development is all over the place. So, no genius or prodigy.

My son is also 7 and a half--he has Asperger's syndrome. Like your daughter, AutismMom, his development is varied as well. In some instances, he's beyond his age level (gifted in math, has a great memory) and in other ways (socially) he is behind for his age.

My sister is on the spectrum as well, and she excels in art and music.

Our 11 year old's speech teacher told me (last year) that our son displayed the characteristics of someone with Asperger's. My husband has refused to get him tested so we don't know if he has it or not. I think he may have a mild form of it...he spins constantly and thinks out loud (which people think is odd). I asked him why he does that and he says it helps him make sense of everything. Kids think he's odd and is VERY behind socially. People think he's "stupid."
But he's actually a very bright child and has excelled in math, science,reading, and music. His reading and math were tested in 1st grade and he scored higher than 6th grade level.

He is not very mechanical (he's clumsy). He is also very slow when he does things. It'll take him 20 minutes to put on his shoes, or when I ask him to do something that will only take 5 minutes to do, it'll take him 30 minutes.

AutismMom, it sounds like our sons are very similar. My little boy was diagnosed with Asperger's when he was 5. He also "thinks out loud" often and says things that other kids think are odd. Fortunately, his teachers are really trying to encourage him socially.