Published on 12, July, 2020
All her life my daughter has fought the stigma that being Autistic was defined as, first a "learning disabilty" and now a "disability". It has destroyed her life, made her feel inferior and sapped her self confidence. Then to see the BBC describe autism as a "lifelong disability" made me furious. Then to find that the source of this bigotry is the definition on the NAS website makes me incandescent with rage. I too am Autistic. The NAS does not represent me or my daughter. The challenges which Autistic poeple face are not what we are but how we are misunderstood. For the NAS to insist on perpetuating these myths makes you part of the problem. I can only presume your definition of Autism was written and approved by a bunch of, perhaps well-meaning, poeple who suffer from Autism Deficiency Syndrome and who lack the flexibility of thought that Autism gives us and we, in turn, have given the world the technology which I am using to write this.
I have great respect for the social model of disability which is what you appear to be representing here, in that it is others lack of understanding that causes the disability, but in many cases it does not apply.
For me one of the things my autism causes is an extreme lack of introception. I do not recognise my hunger, thirst, temperature differences, needing the toilet, etc until it is causing extreme physical symptoms, and this has led to many health problems. This is disabling regardless of the social model in which I exist, and whether I am around people or not.
Your daughter may be fortunate enough that she is primarily struggling with others misunderstanding, and I am glad for her. But it does not mean that autism is not disabling for many regardless of the people they find themselves around, and removing that label removes the entitlement for support that we so deeply need.
Fibonacci Squid said:For me one of the things my autism causes is an extreme lack of introception. I do not recognise my hunger, thirst, temperature differences, needing the toilet, etc until it is causing extreme physical symptoms, and this has led to many health problems. This is disabling regardless of the social model in which I exist, and whether I am around people or not.
Yes, me too. I do feel that the social model of disability applies to some of my other autistic traits, but I'd struggle to avoid (usually fairly mild, to be fair) dehydration in any situation because I just don't realise I'm thirsty.
To be honest, I don't think it'll ever be as simple as 'autism is a disability under the medical model', or 'autism is a disability under the social model', or 'autism is not a disability'. That answer changes from one person to another, and even in the same person the answer might be different for some of their autistic traits compared with others.
When my pee turns dark and burny, then I know it's definitely time for a drink...
Can't believe I've been using alarms on my phone when I already had one installed in my bladder