Published on 12, July, 2020
(from a discussion I joined in Reddit)
I have been noticing a trend of people who claim that autism is not an disability, I think there were even some people who were asking to remove it from the classification. Do these people not realise the harm they are making to other autistic people, and themselves, just because they have a prejudice against the "disability" designation?
Last year I got my ASD diagnosis, after my social life was ruined by burnouts and horrible blunders.
It is taking all that is in me to admit to myself that I can not do certain things, it is taking all that it is in my self to cope that can not fight my social awkwardness and that this is the only way I can keep socialising with the people. In the best case scenario I end up looking like the "weird one" or the "clown friend" again, it is taking all in me to accept that I have this disability and that I need some accessibility for things.
And yet people keep working to feed this prejudice that many of us have to work against in ourselves.
Every time that I feel I can not express the way I feel or think, it honestly feels like my body is a trap sometimes.
I cannot read body language and vocal cues. Dogs can. I am less functional than a goddamn dog. That's not the fault of society for not being accommodating enough.
I cannot drive at night, bright lights give me an headache and trigger a meltdown. That's not the fault of society for not being accommodating enough.
I cannot stand loud TV or radio. Everybody else can. That's not the fault of society for not being accommodating enough.
I cannot read a map or find my way around an unfamiliar place. That's not the fault of society for not being accommodating enough.
I have poor fine motor control skills. That's not the fault of society for not being accommodating enough.
Something *is* wrong with my brain. I *am* disabled. I need accommodations to function comfortably, and that's okay. It's nothing to be ashamed of because it's not my fault. I did no wrong; I just have a brain that didn't develop correctly. We need to get rid of "AuTiSM Iz MaGiKaL SupErPoWeR". It is not. It's an horrible disability, and my only hope is that someday there will be a way to prevent it.
To be honest, I think that those people saying that ASD is not a disability are either subscribing to the social theory of disability (total lunacy), deluded, or they have such a mild form of ASD that ASD is not a disability for them. I call them the "TikTok autistics"!
I have been autistic my entire life with moderate level 2. It sure is only a disability. I cannot see any benefits from it. Only thing my memory remembers is car plates, where things are in the store. All the noise makes my sensory system run full every day. I use earplugs all day, same with too strong light, noting details yes, but what the benefit with that? none I have use of.Wonder a bit how come late diagnosis is rising so much but not my business I had problems and severe problems my entire life. To be autistic is certainly NO superpower as some say. I have none I only see the problems sadly
...and I'd got to 67!
Ben
Me too and I'd got to 60.
I do not care is somebody in the internet says bad things about me. I just wanted to protect my brain from asinine remarks. I already have to suffer a lot of fools in my day job, give me a break.
I did not expect this thread to blow up so much. Just to be clear: I hate people that claim that ASD is not a disability, because it is.
I hate those TikTokers that pretend to have ASD to get more followers and visualizations. The shrink at psychiatryUK said that I am extremely high functioning, and ASD for me has always been horrible. I wish I could [edited by moderator], and then ask them if they still want to prance in front of a camera.
I hate those Redditors that say that stating that ASD is a disability is "ableist". It is not.
I hate those Redditors that say that stating that ASD shows different symptoms in males and females is "sexist". It is not.
I hate those people that try to show the "positive factors" of ASD by showing only the top 2% of people with ASD. Try to show the life of a low-functioning, non-verbal one and try to find some "magikal superpower" of ASD, I dare you.
No, I’m all out of spoons. Early night tonight I think.
No spoons tonight
Yup, my optimism level varies throughout the day and from day to day. On Tuesday I was super optimistic. Today, having been in the office for the first time in a couple of weeks, I’m just drained, and I have tinnitus too which I can mostly ignore but am now 100% aware of
I'm trying to re-birth that enthusiasm which I felt during those first heady months of dazzled excitement of "knowing."
I'm think I'm steering a wobbly mid-course between optimism and realism......but always with a background rubble of doooom!
....or maybe that's the tinnitus and/or creaking joints...
I read a whole plethora of Guardian articles this year saying Autistic people can work. Often written by Autist's who like work and feel comfortable in that environment. If I was in the labour market right now it would be disaster for me and for the company that employed me.
Autonomistic said:I went through a stage of hope and increased optimism in the months following diagnosis. Unfortunately it didn't last but I genuinely wish that yours proves to be long-lasting
Oh, I’m a sceptical bugger and I don’t really have feelings so much as intellectual experiences, so I have an extremely realistic view of how much improvement, if any, can really happen.
Autonomistic said:It wasn't until later, from watching Aucademy videos, that I learned about the existence of the social model of autism and neurodivergence
I am glad Aucademy has given you a different perspective on your autistic experience. Aucademy is brilliant, I love it!
I too have felt different since first encountering other children at nursery school aged 3. I did not know why until finally diagnosed autistic just over 3 years ago.
I was specifically informed that autism was classed as a disability at my diagnosis appointment. I accepted that at face value and saw no reason not to. Again that could be a generational thing, I was always led to believe that medical professionals were to be believed and trusted.
Up until that point I had not thought of myself as disabled but looking back through my new found autistic lens there were many examples of situations when I had been 'disabled' by being autistic. If I'd had earlier knowledge of that and been given suitable accommodations life could have been less of a struggle perhaps.
It wasn't until later, from watching Aucademy videos, that I learned about the existence of the social model of autism and neurodivergence.
I went through a stage of hope and increased optimism in the months following diagnosis. Unfortunately it didn't last but I genuinely wish that yours proves to be long-lasting. I don't think I am suddenly less able, perhaps gradually so, but I am certainly less inclined to want to waste valuable resources masking any more.
Thank you, Martin. Yes, this is what I was getting at- as I said in my original comment, I know there are aspects of my autism that wouldn't be helped by societal changes, just that a world with more flexibility, understanding, and patience would make life easier.
Incidentally, I am also physically disabled due to multiple chronic pain conditions, so I understand very well that the social model doesn't account for every disability or symptom. I have endometriosis, and it's extremely painful- that can be treated, but as I know from my current (supportive) working situation, I still have that condition and a change in attitudes won't make that pain go away. The social model isn't saying that I would miraculously be cured of my endometriosis now that I work remotely and have flexible hours to accommodate my hospital appointments- it's saying that I'm less disadvantaged by being unwell now than I was when I had to do a 9-5 in person every day.
no i don't think that's a fair assumption to make. There certainly are autistic people who genuinly belive there is no upside to autism. I think they are wrong but I don't doubt some belive it. I so no reason to asume this thread is a 'troll.'
Autonomistic said:From the replies here and in previous discussions it is my observation that this could be a generational difference.
You are definitely right Autonomistic!
I can honestly say that if the DWP were under the illusion that I am a genius, I think I would be worried. Genius is not a word that applies to me, so I think they would be fighting a losing battle trying to exploit something I know I'm not.
Amerantin (former member) said:But I have felt “different” since pre-school.
Ditto! Very well conveyed!
I may be an exception to this. I was diagnosed this year at the age of 52 but have never thought of myself as disabled. But I have felt “different” since pre-school.
All my diagnosis has done is explain why I’m different. I don’t feel as I’ve suddenly become less able. Possibly the opposite in fact as I have some hope that I may now be able to mitigate some of my problems.
I just want to make sure that my social security still comes and I am not forced out into the workplace ,because people see me as some sort of genius that they can exploit.
Autonomistic, I think you have quite possibly hit the nail on the head... that there is a generational difference.
Yep, I can relate to what you say about feeling jaded and cynical after a lifetime of struggles and having less energy to mask.