Some people say that Autism Spectrum Disorder is not a developmental delay, but w neurological difference. It's confusing!

It used to be that Asperger's was basically the autism criteria, but without speech or cognitive developmental delay. Albeit there are significant differences in the manner of development or use of language etc.

My language development was very early, but used functionally rather than socially, for instance and learned by echolalia. 

Some skills can develop later than NT kids, or not at all, some might even be earlier, but they are always qualitatively different. 

So, yes it's just a different brain wiring.

You raise an important point about the use of the word "disorder". That does sort pathologise us, as though something went wrong and we're not normal. In fact, it's more like being born left handed - something is different in the neurology, but that doesn't mean we are "disordered". We are normal autistic people, not defective neurotypicals.

It used to be that Asperger's was basically the autism criteria, but without speech or cognitive developmental delay. Albeit there are significant differences in the manner of development or use of language etc.

My language development was very early, but used functionally rather than socially, for instance and learned by echolalia. 

Some skills can develop later than NT kids, or not at all, some might even be earlier, but they are always qualitatively different. 

So, yes it's just a different brain wiring.

You raise an important point about the use of the word "disorder". That does sort pathologise us, as though something went wrong and we're not normal. In fact, it's more like being born left handed - something is different in the neurology, but that doesn't mean we are "disordered". We are normal autistic people, not defective neurotypicals.