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 taxpayer-funded special education, or for other reasons; see reliability of AS diagnosis.

Contents 1 Asperger syndrome 1.1 High-functioning autism 2 Autism spectrum 3 Not on the autism spectrum 4 Notable parents with children on the autism spectrum 5 See also 6 References

[edit] Asperger syndrome

• Phillipa "Pip" Brown (aka Ladyhawke), pop musician.^[1]
• William Cottrell, student sentenced for fire-bombing SUV dealerships.^[2]
• Robert Durst, American murderer^[3]
• Tim Ellis, Australian magician and author.^[4]
• Peter Howson, Scottish painter.^[5]
• Luke Jackson, author.^[6]
• Heather Kuzmich, fashion model and reality show contestant on America's Next Top Model.^[7]
• Clay Marzo, American professional surfer.^[8]
• Gary McKinnon, British computer hacker.^[9]
• Robert Napper, British murderer^[10]
• Jerry Newport, American author and mathematical savant, basis of the film Mozart and the Whale.^[11]
• Craig Nicholls, frontman of the Australian garage rock band, The Vines.^[12]
• Gary Numan, British singer and songwriter.^[13]
• Tim Page, Pulitzer Prize-winning critic and author.^[14]
• Dawn Prince-Hughes, PhD, primate anthropologist, ethologist, and author.^[15]
• Nicky Reilly, British terrorist^[16]
• John Elder Robison, author of Look Me in the Eye.
• Vernon L. Smith, Nobel Laureate in economics.^[17]
• Carl Söderholm, speaker in neuropsychiatric disorders^[18]
• Satoshi Tajiri, creator and designer of Pokémon.^[19]
• Raymond Thompson, New Zealand scriptwriter and TV producer.^[20]
• Liane Holliday Willey, author.^[21]

[edit] 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.^[22]
• Temple Grandin, food animal handling systems designer and author.^[23]
• Caiseal Mór author, musician, and artist.^[24]
• Hikari Ōe, Japanese composer.^[25]
• Dylan Scott Pierce, wildlife illustrator.^[26]
• Jim Sinclair, autism rights activist.^[27]
• Donna Williams, Australian author; this diagnosis is controversial.^[28]

[edit] Autism spectrum

• Amanda Baggs, advocate of rights for autistic people.^[29]
• Lucy Blackman, university educated author.^[30]
• Alonzo Clemons, American clay sculptor.^[31]
• Tony DeBlois, blind American musician.^[32]
• Jonathan Jayne, contestant on American Idol.^[33]
• Christopher Knowles, American poet.^[34]
• Leslie Lemke, blind American musician.^[35]
• Jonathan Lerman, American artist.^[36]
• Jason McElwain, high school basketball player.^[37]
• Thristan Mendoza, Filipino marimba prodigy.^[38]
• Tito Mukhopadhyay, author, poet, and philosopher.^[39]
• Derek Paravicini, blind British musician.^[40]
• James Henry Pullen, gifted British carpenter.^[41]
• Matt Savage, U.S. autistic jazz prodigy.^[42]
• Birger Sellin, German author.^[43]
• Henriett Seth-F., Hungarian autistic savant, poet, writer and artist.^[44]
• Daniel Tammet, British autistic savant.^[45]
• Richard Wawro, Scottish artist.^[35]
• Stephen Wiltshire, British architectural artist.^[46]

[edit] Not on the autism spectrum

• Kim Peek, the basis for the movie Rain Man,^[35][47] was once thought to be autistic, but his diagnosis has now changed.^[48] A 2008 study concluded that Peek probably has 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).^[49]

[edit] Notable parents with children on the autism spectrum

• Burt Bacharach, composer and Angie Dickinson, actress.^[50]
• Ernie Els, golfer.^[51][52]
• Doug Flutie, founder of the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. ^[53]
• Jenny McCarthy, entertainer and John Mallory Asher, actor/director^[54]
• Karen McCarron, physician.^[55]
• John Travolta and Kelly Preston, actors.^[56]
• Dan Marino, football player^[57]
• Gary Cole and Teddi Siddall, actors.^[58]
• Sylvester Stallone, actor.

[edit] See also

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

[edit] References

v • d • e Pervasive developmental disorders and autism spectrum Main Causes · Comorbid conditions · Epidemiology · Heritability · Sociological and cultural aspects · Therapies Diagnoses Asperger syndrome · Autism · Childhood disintegrative disorder · PDD-NOS · Rett syndrome Related conditions ADHD · Anxiety disorder · Epilepsy · Fragile X syndrome · High-functioning autism · Mental retardation Controversies Autism rights movement · Autistic enterocolitis · MMR vaccine · Thiomersal (Chelation) Lists Autism-related topics · Fictional characters · People · Speculated historical figures