CNN.com assignment producer Michael Ryan recently opened up about his Asperger 's syndrome , saying , `` For the most part , I am just like you , just a bit quirky . All right , a lot quirky . '' Like Ryan , CNN 's readers are worried about the unsubstantiated connection being made between autism and violence in the wake of the Connecticut school shooting . They posted more than 700 comments in support of Ryan and their loved ones with Asperger 's . Here are some of the most popular comments . Some have been edited for clarity and space . Zena Kitty : My son had no friends . No one stood up for him . Children and adults alike were very cruel to him and would even take a step or two backwards when they first met him , as if they could catch Asperger 's from him . They shunned him , refused to allow him to participate in social groups , and taunted him mercilessly . In the end , he killed himself . I miss my son . He was my hero and my best friend . Luis Hernandez : To this day these conditions ( Aspergers , autism , OCD , depression , Tourette syndrome , etc . ) are not understood . The social problems continue to this day and our children are at the mercy of cruel , ignorant children and adults who have little empathy for anyone who is `` different . '' Nothing has changed . David Scott : I , too , have a son with a disability . He has cerebral palsy . Most people try to pretend he is n't really in the room . He is bright and fully understands his situation and what is going on around him , but nobody treats him that way in public . They stare , smile at us and keep walking by . Even friends do n't know how to talk to him . It 's up to us to teach them that he is capable of a relationship and wants to be normal . James Butler : One of my best friends has Asperger 's , and he is one of the most marvelous and amazing human beings that ever set foot on this earth . Sheryll Thomson : I 'm not happy with the word `` disorder . '' ... Psychiatrists come from the medical profession and , thus , tend to look through `` medical model '' eyes . Meaning that they look for pathology , not for the strengths , creativity , quirkiness , as delight parts of the character . Disorder sounds like something that is needed to be solved , ordered , healed or recovered from . I think of it as a style -- more , a set of traps and talents which one can learn from . Always Hesed : This will be my fourth Christmas without my son . He too had his issues . ... He took his own life at school in front of a couple hundred students . I have a daughter as well who is now diagnosed bipolar , and two other children with Asperger 's symptoms . It can be exhausting dealing with all the social fallout and rejection they have all experienced . ... If it was n't for my faith in Jesus Christ , I can honestly say that I would probably not be here . Rebecca Batchelor : Autistic people are also more likely to be the victim of bullying and violence , rather than be the perpetrators of it . Parsons_project : I , too , have Asperger 's . ... I think that the main thing people need to understand is that Asperger's/autism is not a mental disorder . It does not mean that we can not process thoughts or understand consequences . Truth is , we generally overanalyze thoughts and consequences . Carla Hurst-Chandler : My Aspie son , now an adult , and I were discussing the multitude of new Aspie diagnoses -- seemingly more each year -- and he stopped for a minute and pondered , `` Did you ever think that what they are calling Asperger 's is really just a new stage of human evolution -- the enhancements ? '' The ability to focus so intently and learn . It is worth a thought . SMFDS : Like you , I learned about my Asperger 's as an adult . Like you , I learned how to behave through mimicking others , and like you , I still have challenges but ( am ) finding my own way . And I have encouraged my children to do the same . Stoshu Grandstaff : As someone with Asperger 's myself , the idea that we use it as a cop-out is disturbing . Often Asperger 's means we put more work into a single few words then most people do during an entire conversation . Tuckerfan : My youngest has Asperger 's ; he 's in his 20s now and blooming . Like the author he has turned his `` quirks '' into advantages . In his case he is a phenomenal cook -- because he is so focused that he turns out phenomenal and artful plates , every time . Twylight999 : My younger brother has Asperger 's . He is 17 , and he is my best friend . ... Because of him I have learned to be understanding and to listen . He can not tell a lie ; his mind does not understand them . He is the must trustworthy person I know . He would help anyone in a heartbeat . Tara : This is wonderful that someone would be so unashamedly brave and honest . It 's also sad that it 's `` brave '' to say that we have Asperger 's . It should n't be taboo , and it should n't be labeled as directly connected to violence . I am very grateful to this journalist . May we all be so courageous ; then one day , other autistic people wo n't have to be . DLKirkwood ( Boone ) : These kids are NOT disabled , they are NOT special education . They think and learn by hands-on , visual and auditory methods -- they want to know the hows and whys -- and do poorly ( usually ) with the sit still and memorize fact-on-fact methods . The kids usually have high IQ 's -- they just learn in a different way . Disqus_868zf2CcLd : Now that I know I have Asperger 's , life is so much better . Knowing does not make it easier for me to make a phone call or answer one , but at least I now know that there is a reason I have such a hard time with something so simple .
Readers post more than 700 comments about loved ones with Asperger 's . Experts say there 's no evidence of a link between autism disorders and violence . `` Kindness and empathy must be taught , '' Mocking Bird posted about bullies .