[mneil]

I'm a normie, and a parent. Too be completely honest I hear people say they (or their children) are on the spectrum. And, when I hear it I furrow my brow.

"What does that mean?", I wonder. I also find it odd that someone would say it when I meet them. Am I being insensitive? Maybe.

My point is a relationship/friendship is an agreement. I like you. You like me. Let's be friends. I'm not going to like you more or less because you're on the spectrum. I'm also not going to try and discern what you're thinking or why you are the way you are early in a relationship.

All this is to say, no, I don't think it's appropriate to bring up early on. You're either inviting pity or provoking disgust (or somewhere between these two extremes) in the other person. Just be who you are. Either people will like you, or they won't.

I meet a lot of people because of my kids. I'm friends with very few of them. Not everyone is going to like each other that much. And that's ok. You'll find people who really enjoy your company regardless of any medically defined condition.