Published on 12, July, 2020
sayings like , "autism is a superpower" or "autism isn't a disability, it is a different ability" worry me sometimesI feel like this invalidates people who aren't quite comfortable with being Autistic or Autistic people who feel as though their ASD has more negative than positive impacts or those who feel as though their diagnosis has an equal amount of positive and negative effects. I understand these sayings have positive intentions and are meant to empower Autistic people, but it just kinda comes off as inspirational stuff to me. Again this is good.
But two thirds of autistic people are in the mid and severe ends of the spectrum and so will probably never/rarely be in this forum or have their voice/opinions heard.
I am lucky to be the way I am. But there are days I wish I could swallow a pill and my autism would be gone.
I am equal amounts of positive and negative with shrinking negatives.
But I always think about those who are really suffering on the spectrum.
Do you feel Autism is a real downer for you ? how bad is it ? and most importantly ,,,,,,,,,What can be done to help or change things for you?
Let's not forget that it wasn't too long ago that the accepted term for people with a disability was an 'invalid'. There are people who find being labelled as 'dis-abled' just as victimising as being labelled as 'in-valid'.
But invalid had been around for a few hundred years - the original is from not strong, feeble, inadequate - which of course for historic disabilities made sense (loss of limbs in war etc.). The term worked less and less as it was used for a broader spectrum of things.
Autism is a particularly difficult one- because of course we're not actually lacking anything unless compared to the norm. We're just wired differently - and one 'operating system' isn't necessarily better or worse.
I'll take that as "I see myself as disabled"