What disability does Sheldon have?

The character of Sheldon from the hit TV show “The Big Bang Theory” is a humourous character because of all of his quirks and habits.  He is obviously obsessive compulsive, and a certifiable genius (with an IQ of 187, two PhDs, and a job as a theoretical physicist), but looking at his behaviour makes one wonder, does Sheldon have a disability?  If he were in school, he would be a code 80 (gifted and talented) without a doubt, but would he also have another disability?

Sheldon displays many signs of being unable to conform to societal norms.  He often says inappropriate things to people, pointing out their flaws openly with no filter.  He does not understand figurative ways of speaking, slang, or things such as sarcasm.  He has a very large ego, which in part contributes to his inability to ever see his faults or when he is at fault in a situation.  He also lacks empathy, never being able to see how he or anything else can upset a person, and never relating his actions to the feelings of others around him.  He believes that everything he says is completely true, and that there can be no other solution to any situation than the one that he comes up with.

Looking at all of these things, it seems to be apparent that Sheldon does in fact have a disability according to the Alberta Coding Criteria.  Looking at his symptoms it seems that Sheldon likely has an emotional/behavioural disability (code 53).  The following definition of a code 53 is found in the Alberta Special Education Coding Critera:

EMOTIONAL/BEHAVIOURAL DISABILITY

A student/ECS child identified with a mild to moderate emotional/behavioural disability exhibits chronic and pervasive behaviours that interfere with the learning and safety of the student/child, other students/children and staff.

Typically, behaviour disabilities are characterized by a number of observable maladaptive behaviours:

1.      an inability to establish or maintain satisfactory relationships with peers or adults

2. a general mood of unhappiness or depression
3. inappropriate behaviour or feelings under ordinary conditions
4. continued difficulty in coping with the learning situation in spite of remedial intervention
5. physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems
6. difficulties in accepting the realities of personal responsibility and accountability
7. physical violence toward other persons and/or physical destructiveness toward the environment.

Although Sheldon does not possess all of these criteria of a code 53 he does possess most, and I believe if he were in an Alberta school he would likely fall under this category.  He would of course be coded as gifted/talented as well, but teachers would have to work with him in the area of social norms in order to help him socialize with other students.