Finding love when you have autism isn’t always an easy task. Whether you struggle under the pressure of dating situations, or if you simply find it hard to approach strangers, anyone with autism will tell you you’re not alone.
And that might be why two young sufferers took their search for love online.
Nico Morales and Latoya Jolly both have Asperger’s syndrome, a type of autism which impacts on the ability to interact socially.
After several unsuccessful relationships, they both signed up to online dating website autisticdating.net. And it was there that they found each other.
Speaking to American news channel CNN, 19-year-old Mr Morales said: “Honestly when I first met Latoya, my first thought was ‘be still my beating heart’. That is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life, she just looks so amazing.
“Her glasses were reflecting the moonlight like a disco ball, she had the prettiest smile, her cheeks were so rosy, as rosy as they could possibly be.
“I honestly don’t know what I did to deserve such an amazing woman like Latoya in my life. But who am I to question a good thing?”
Speaking about autism and relationships, Paige M. Siper, chief psychologist at the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, said: “When two individuals with autism are in a relationship, they can relate to one another based on those interests.
“They can kind of connect on that common ground. And sometimes, it’s around these areas of preoccupation.”
Autism affects around one in every 100 people in the UK, representing about 700,000 people across the country.