List of people on the autism spectrum

This is a list of noteworthy people known or speculated to have been diagnosed with autism, Asperger syndrome (AS), or another condition on the autism spectrum. Due to the fluctuating and imprecise criteria for the diagnosis of Asperger syndrome and of autism, even a formal diagnosis cannot be taken as certain proof that a given person is on the spectrum. Speculation and doubts continue AbOUT well-known autistic figures such as Donna Williams. Also, self-diagnosis of Asperger syndrome is common, and some doctors may overdiagnose in order to enable a child to receive special education, or for other reasons; see reliability of AS diagnosis.

Asperger syndrome

• Dan Aykroyd, Canadian comedian and actor.

• Phillipa "Pip" Brown (aka Ladyhawke), indie rock musician.
• Lizzy Clark, actress and campaigner.
• William Cottrell, student sentenced for fire-bombing SUV dealerships.
• Robert Durst, American real estate developer accused of [...]
• Tim Ellis, Australian magician and author.
• Daryl Hannah, American actress.
• Peter Howson, Scottish painter.
• Luke Jackson, author.
• Heather Kuzmich, fashion model and reality show contestant on America's Next Top Model.
• Clay Marzo, American professional surfer.
• Gary McKinnon, British computer hacker.
• Robert Napper, British [...]
• Jerry Newport, American author and mathematical savant, basis of the film Mozart and the Whale.
• Craig Nicholls, frontman of the Australian garage rock band, The Vines.
• Gary Numan, British singer and songwriter.
• Tim Page, Pulitzer Prize-winning critic and author.Tim Page:
• Dawn Prince-Hughes, PhD, primate anthropologist, ethologist, and author.
• Nicky Reilly, Failed [...] bomber from Britain
• John Elder Robison, author of Look Me in the Eye.
• Vernon L. Smith, Nobel Laureate in economics.
• Carl Söderholm, speaker in neuropsychiatric disorders
• Satoshi Tajiri, creator and designer of Pokémon.
• Raymond Thompson, New Zealand scriptwriter and TV producer.
• Liane Holliday Willey, author.

High-functioning autism

High-functioning autism is an informal term, not an official diagnostic category. Compared to diagnostic criteria for the official ASDs, descriptions of HFA tend to align most closely with Asperger syndrome.

• Michelle Dawson, autism researcher and autism rights activist.
• Temple Grandin, food animal handling systems designer and author.
• Caiseal Mór author, musician, and artist.
• Hikari Ōe, Japanese composer.
• Dylan Scott Pierce, wildlife illustrator.
• Jim Sinclair, autism rights activist.
• Donna Williams, Australian author; this diagnosis is controversial.

Autism spectrum

• Amanda Baggs, advocate of rights for autistic people.Amanda Baggs:
• Gajilan, A. Chris. "Living with autism in a world made for others". CNN, February 22, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
• Gupta, Sanjay. "Behind the veil of autism". CNN, 20 February 2007. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
• Abedin, Shahreen. "Video reveals world of autistic woman". CNN, Anderson Cooper blog, 21 February 2007. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
• Lucy Blackman, university educated author.
• Alonzo Clemons, American clay sculptor.Alonzo Clemons:
• Tony DeBlois, blind American musician.
• Jonathan Jayne, contestant on American Idol.
• Christopher Knowles, American poet.
• Bhumi Jensen, grandson of Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand
• Leslie Lemke, blind American musician.
• Jonathan Lerman, American artist.Jonathan Lerman:

• Jason McElwain, high school basketball player.
• Thristan Mendoza, Filipino marimba prodigy.
• Tito Mukhopadhyay, author, poet, and philosopher.Tito Mukhopadhyay:
• Derek Paravicini, blind British musician.
• James Henry Pullen, gifted British carpenter.James Henry Pullen:
• Ward, O. Conor. "The Childhood and the Life of James Henry Pullen, the Victorian Idiot Savant (1832–1916)", Abstract of article cited at adc.bmjjournals.com Retrieved on 14 June 2006.
• Matt Savage, U.S. autistic jazz prodigy.Matt Savage:
• "The Prodigy", People magazine June 17, 2002.
• Birger Sellin, German author.
• Henriett Seth-F., Hungarian autistic savant, poet, writer and artist.
• Daniel Tammet, British autistic savant.
• Richard Wawro, Scottish artist.
• Stephen Wiltshire, British architectural artist.

Not on the autism spectrum

• Kim Peek, the basis for the movie Rain Man, was once thought to be autistic, but his diagnosis has now changed. A 2008 study concluded that Peek probably had FG syndrome, a rare genetic syndrome linked to the X chromosome which causes physical anomalies such as hypotonia (low muscle tone) and macrocephaly (abnormally large head).

Notable parents of people on the autism spectrum

• Burt Bacharach, composer and Angie Dickinson, actress.

• Gary Cole and Teddi Siddall, actors.

• Byron Dafoe, ice hockey player and co-founder of Athletes Against Autism.

• Ernie Els, golfer.

• Doug Flutie, football player and founder of the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism.

• Olaf Kolzig, ice hockey player and co-founder of Athletes Against Autism.

• Dan Marino, football player
• Jenny McCarthy, entertainer and John Mallory Asher, actor/director
• Karen McCarron, physician.
• Scott Mellanby, ice hockey player and co-founder of Athletes Against Autism.

• Emma Noble, model, actress and TV personality

• Sylvester Stallone, actor

• John Travolta and Kelly Preston, actors.

See also

• List of fictional characters on the autism spectrum
• People speculated to have been autistic

References

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