I know someone online (a member of a forum I visit rather than a friend) who is diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID) (formerly mulitple personality disorder). And, I'm realizing as far as how she interacts with others, she has distinctly autistic/aspie traits.
Which gets me thinking... is she actually on the spectrum... that is, would she have those traits without the DID? What would it look like is someone had both? (I do think it's possible to have both, though I think DID is rare among aspies just as it's rare in general.)
Which, as far as the original question in this thread, could perhaps DID sometimes look like autism or Asperger's? If the presenting personality is disconnected from the skills/traits that those on the spectrum lack or are weak in, then it seems to me it could, without really being true Autism (or Asperger's).
Although, as far as how to interact with her, I don't think it makes a difference. Whether her way of interacting comes from an innate neurological difference or DID, either way, she has the traits she has. It's not like I'm a therapist coming up with a treatment plan.