do your opinions count less if people knew you're autistic?

There is an aspect to this question, that is really relevant. Someone mentioned that autism being classed with cognitive impairment... There are autism related organisations in US that actually openly argue that autism makes autistic people ineligible to participate in conversations and make decisions about themselves and others, that basically unless they behave in a NT way they don't have any value and positive contribution to society. There are also fora that explicitly ban autistic people from participating on the basis that are autistic, don't have empathy and don't understand, have nothing relevant to add to the discussion... Views like this are not widespread in UK, but they are creeping in, especially when people rely on certain US sources for information about autism. So we need to promote the correct information.

There were attacks on Greta Thunberg's credibility specifically about her autism, arguing that she does not understand what she is doing, that she is manipulated (a 'patsy'), has no mind of her own, that her views are not relevant because she does not have empathy, because of her eyes, because she is 'chilling', because she is 'dreaded', 'monotonous' etc etc.

Human rights watch rebuff [need google translate]: https://www.hrw.org/fr/news/2019/04/18/lettre-de-human-rights-watch-lexpress-en-reponse-la-tribune-de-laurent-alexandre-sur

'Like Greta Thunberg, I am on the autism spectrum. She gives me hope'. Charlie Hancock: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/25/greta-thunberg-autism-spectrum-critics

Greta of course is the lovely Swedish autistic teenager who is the face of the Climate protest, Extinction Rebellion and the the Nobel Prize nominee. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07770t8

So Greta being the Nobel prize nominee is really helpful 

“It’s noteworthy that Thunberg has chosen to be open about being autistic, because by being openly autistic while serving in positions of leadership, autistic people can help transform how society views us, opening up opportunities for other autistic people around the world,” he says. “By being proudly autistic in our moments of excellence as well as our moments of struggle, we help to change the public image of autism and tell the world that we have much to offer.”' https://www.vox.com/first-person/2019/5/6/18531551/autism-greta-thunberg-speech?utm_campaign=vox&utm_content=entry&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Tinyexplorer said:

Views like this are not widespread in UK, but they are creeping in, especially when people rely on certain US sources for information about autism.

qwerty said:

I've been applying to jobs recently, and in the diversity survey at the end, some place ASD under cognitive impairment

I mentioned ASD is categorised as "cognitive impairment" in the diversity surveys when I was applying for jobs. I should mention that I've applied for jobs both in the US and in the UK. And in the places I applied, ASD being categorised as cognitive impairment all happened to be in places in the UK. In the US, some of the forms are just yes/no whether you have a disability, while in other forms, you pick the specific name of your disability. In the UK, all disabilities are placed in categories, some places put ASD under social/communication disability, while others it under cognitive impairment. So it seemed likely that this view originated in the UK. One of the places I applied to in the UK that put ASD under cognitive impairment also took part in the Guaranteed Interview scheme (which means they are register Disability Confident employers. Maybe you should try applying for some jobs in the UK just to take a look at their diversity survey. 

I don't 100% disagree with the categorisation, but I think it's a very long stretch to put it there, and other terms for the category names would be much more suitable. 

The logic is...

e.g., People with ASD often have difficulties with communication. Communication is a cognitive ability. Therefore people with ASD have an impairment in a cognitive ability. 

e.g., People with ASD often have difficulties with reading people's faces. Reading people's faces is a cognitive ability. Therefore people with ASD have an impairment in a cognitive ability. 

e.g., People with ASD often have difficulties with sensory integration. Sensory integration is a cognitive ability. Therefore people with ASD have an impairment in a cognitive ability. 

And since ASD has more than one impairment (e.g., triad of impairment theory https://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/asd.aspx), they just put everything under 'cognitive' impairment. 

But it's a long long stretch.... Most people with ASD who apply for the jobs I'm applying to are average or above average intelligence, so classifying someone with difficulties in communication as having a cognitive impairment overall is very degrading. 

My guess is that a lot of the forms are just very outdated, and they haven't changed it to a better format. Because according to the logic above, "every" neurological diagnosis would be classified under cognitive impairment, not just ASD, so it's a very bad categorisation. I would prefer it if the surveys just had the names of the diagnosis, and not categorising it (I guess it would make the forms longer). 

Yeah, I agree that a lot of the issues stem from us being a minority. If more people thought autistic way, certain things like communication might be a bit easier.

Yeah, I agree that a lot of the issues stem from us being a minority. If more people thought autistic way, certain things like communication might be a bit easier.