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Autism is a real disability to some,,,,,,, are you such a person ?

aidie

sayings like , "autism is a superpower" or "autism isn't a disability, it is a different ability" worry me sometimes

I 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?

  • I think I'm disabled.  Much of my struggle came from not actually realising that I was because I just kept on redoubling my efforts to be "normal".  Totally exhausting and very often futile. 

  • Yes, autism is a disability for me. I appear "high functioning" because I am articulate and "well put together" but only on the surface. In reality my autism has been a disability all my life. I got bullied a lot in school, I couldn't tie my shoelaces until I was like 14, I struggled with uni and I could never hold down a job for long. It took me 10 years to get a diagnosis - I kept going to doctors who fobbed me off, and I only got diagnosed at age 30. I spent most of my life being misunderstood and not supported. These days I am on benefits, I barely leave the house and have few friends. 

  • I feel like it lately , though it’s primarily circumstance

    i made a full ride scholarship with housing food expences everything in a better country than my own and thought that i could achieve things, that i wasnt limited by this disability beyond socially and with sensory issues, everything else id been able to “cope with” and mask and utilise well enough... and then covid hit and i got sent back to my abusive home from when i was a minor and then had to attend my countries school system which i cant cope with as well and suddenly everything crumbled, and as of now i see no way out.

    the statistics interms of abuse and poverty and graduation rates and everything.... for disability, gender, and all that other intersectional stuff combined and i feel liking im falling right through. I was about to have a life nicer than quite a few neurotypical people, having done EVERYTHING right, and then through circumstances beyond my control, have found myself in a situation that perpetually threatens my life and my access to housing and security i haven’t  even gotten to my 20th birthday and yet i still feel so helpless lol

  • in reply to Ladybird

    But that's the whole point - you're made to feel worthless and guilty for not joining the rat race and burning yourself out with a heart attack at 35.   The media is pumping out unrealistic life expectations to everyone.

    A study I read where teenagers were asked what lifestyle they were expecting and what car and house they would have when they were working universally found they would need to earn at least 3x what their actual earning would be to achieve their dreams - disappointment is bred into us these days.

    If you lived on an island with no tv, you would have no idea that you were ;failing'.    It's only when you measure it against the advertised values.    Just look at TOWIE etc. Setting a living standard that nobody can reach.

  • in reply to Plastic

    So the choice is... playing the game and failing or not playing (and ending up in the same place) I get that comparing myself to other people won’t make me happy but I have to go and interact with them and see them overtaking me and being praised when I rot away alone. I don’t have any “superpowers” but I have anxiety and maybe a bit of depression and I can refuse to play the game but I have to earn money. True, I can clean toilets for the rest of my life, hardly talking to anyone and keep telling myself that it’s what I’ve chosen and that I’m above it all because I’m refusing to play their game. But the thought doesn’t make me any happier. Maybe I’m just not in the best place mentally at the moment. And the blame is on me again for not seeing the good side, not being optimistic enough. Game over.

  • Surely it's only a disability when you're reality clashes with your unrealistic life plan.    But I don't see that as much different to most people.    They all dream of a Ferrari and huge house in the country but their actual abilities mean a terrace & 15-year old Mondeo is their peak..

    People are cheated by the whole consumer lifestyle - almost all will fail to measure up and will fall short of their predicted trajectory.

    The trick of life if knowing that and either accepting it or not playing the game in the first place..

  • For me it was a downer that took the first half of my life ,just so much hurt and confusion.

    Late 70's early 80's nobody mentioned autism.

    Things are so much better ,at least we have the chance to be excepted for who we are. If not by everyone at least by each other.

    What can be done for me ,better education system for my kids ,more understanding  of there amazing talents,