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Separating The Self

JT

On a lot of posts on this forum we talk about autism, and us. We differentiate between those two things.

However, clearly, if we are autistic then we are also autism. So I feel as if we need to not refer to those two things separately?

It's extreme, but I sort of want to change my name to autism so people refer to me in one go.

So instead of:

'Oh so you are austistic?' ...'yes, my name is ________, and I am autistic'.

It would go:

'Oh hi there Autism' glad to see you.' 'Yes, hi there, nice to see you too. It's nice to be seen for who I am, and not a person WITH a condition you must accommodate'.

Parents

  • Thanks guys, I hear ya.

    I think perhaps it's me ranting a little tbf, but I get frustrated that NT society expect us to 'self identify'.

    Would they just meet some new and automatically just reel off all the issues they have? No. So why should we?

    It is they who aren't like me, not the other way around (a bit anarchistic I know, but society is setup in a bs way if you ask me)

  • in reply to JT

    I can understand your frustration, but although we don’t want to play into the ‘autism as defecit’ narrative, I’m not sure what alternative there is to having to state, at times, that you are autistic and have people meet you with a little more understanding. Or to say to nobody and mask in every context  or put up with unmediated environmental challenge at the cost of your energy, mental well-being, etc. 

    it must be the same for people with hidden disabilities - at times they will simply have to announce it to be accommodated, in a way a wheelchair user for instance would not. There is a trade off and balance in everything. 

  • in reply to Shardovan

    Personally, I don't identify as autistic. I only say I'm neurodiverse, and leave it at that.

    I'm also disabled with an invisible condition. That is also nobodies business either.

    Only ever reference either on application forms sometimes.

    I also don't identify my race or relationship preferences. Why on earth should I!?

    I enjoy being a private person, it's my world, and if I let you in then you are blessed, and usually quite exclusive! Slight smile

  • in reply to JT

    NeuroDIVERSE refers to a group of people with different neuro characteristics. 

    It's more accurate to say that you are neuroDIVERGENT.  

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