Your response to your child with autism is, "Do you feel different?" because it could be what someone else has said in front of your child- you need to know this. Next, "What is making you feel different?" If you have a context in which to place where the question is coming from, it will help your decision.

While it is important to send the clear and honest message that your child is unique and we all have challenges., it is also important to offer age-appropriate information. For example, you could tell your child that he has autism, and that means XYZ. Then you could follow that up with how you and Daddy are there to support him and love him. This is a response that requires Mom and Dad to be comfortable with the diagnosis - you can't tell your child it's ok to be autistic if you cry every time it's mentioned. :)

All of my children have asked this at one point or another and none of them are even autistic. I have said and I would say.... Yes, you are different.... we are all different.... everyone of us has challenges and gifts... you are a perfect work of art placed here on this earth to do a job that only you can do.... how boring the world would be if we were all the same... if we were all the same most of us would be unneeded..... and you ARE needed desperately to fulfill the job that only YOU with your special gifts are able to do.