Sounds easy for us Americans as we are allowed to do any of the above of our own free will in most cases (under 18 your a minor and technically can't do most things on your own yet, legally). Not everyone is equally as fortunate and/or lucky to have rights such as these. I do feel for you PB, and I don't have an answer, not knowing really how the culture defines AS, and what that means for the population.
Guys, remember in the US before the passing of laws in the 1970s, we treated people just like PB is saying they treat people with disabilities. It was not too long ago this country was no different. Given the right people in the right places, changes can be made.