Is autism a disability?

My council had autism on the application form and didn't specify it had to be a certain level in order to be registered disabled with them.

This site refers to autism as a developmental disability:

www.autism.org.uk/.../what-is-autism

This link regarding discrimination throws autism being classed generally (ie unqualified) as a disability into doubt.

I find this rather confusing:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/discrimination/check-if-youre-protected-from-discrimination/what-counts-as-disability/

'The definition is set out in section 6 of the Equality Act 2010. It says you’re disabled if:

  • you have a physical or mental impairment
  • that impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities'

Is it a variable thing then according to what you are trying use the disability definition to achieve?

Is this because we are on a spectrum with varying degrees of functionality?

Parents
  • For General Information:

    From:  House Of Commons Library:

               Disability Discrimination --- https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9061/CBP-9061.pdf

                                               

    extracted from above link --- Types of Discrimination:

    It is unlawful to discriminate against any person “because of” the protected characteristic of disability. This can extend to protect people associated with disabled people (e.g. carers).

    It is also unlawful indirectly to discriminate against disabled people. Indirect discrimination occurs when, for example, a policy is applied generally but it unjustifiably puts disabled people at a particular disadvantage.

    Additionally, if a disabled person is treated unfavorably because of something arising in consequence of their disability (rather than their disability itself) and this cannot be justified, it will be unlawful.

Reply
  • For General Information:

    From:  House Of Commons Library:

               Disability Discrimination --- https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9061/CBP-9061.pdf

                                               

    extracted from above link --- Types of Discrimination:

    It is unlawful to discriminate against any person “because of” the protected characteristic of disability. This can extend to protect people associated with disabled people (e.g. carers).

    It is also unlawful indirectly to discriminate against disabled people. Indirect discrimination occurs when, for example, a policy is applied generally but it unjustifiably puts disabled people at a particular disadvantage.

    Additionally, if a disabled person is treated unfavorably because of something arising in consequence of their disability (rather than their disability itself) and this cannot be justified, it will be unlawful.

Children
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