text: i want to know about special subcultures on disabled, and mentally ill?   check out autistic subculture.  the fascinating part of this, and what should make it more accessible to you, is that most of autistic subculture exists on the internet. with face-to-face communication difficult, we find it much more easy to communicate in writing via message boards.  the majority of these autistics are high-functioning; but there is quite a showing of nonverbal autistics who communicate only by writing.  here's one site, from which you should be able to follow links to quite a few others: http://www.aspiesforfreedom.com/  one warning: don't pity these people or look down on them. the older ones just ignore it and make you feel awkward. the younger ones might even flame you; they've had to take enough of it in school already.