What does it mean to be neurodiversity affirmative?

Thanks for sharing Autonomistic!

In the article there is a section on the value of disabled lives, however I don’t think that being autistic means I or any other autistic person is disabled. I prefer to use the term neurodivergent as being autistic is actually very enabling. By the way neurodivergent is a neutral term just meaning having a mind that significantly diverges from the neuromajority.

 I am aware that many of us in this autistic community have co-occurring needs/experiences and therefore may identify as disabled. What do you think about this?

Do you identify as disabled? I don’t think it is helpful to automatically assume that our autistic community identifies this way as we are literally neurologically different which naturally comes with so many benefits and to be autistic is my natural way of being.

Ausomely Autistic said:

however I don’t think that being autistic means I or any other autistic person is disabled.

I don't agree.

Being classified as disabled can bring accommodations and benefits that I would rather not go without because others see autism in a very positive light.

One needs to remember that some people (with high support needs, low functioning, level 3, whatever term you prefer) are very 'disabled' and need a lot of help directly due to autism.

People like us do not represent the whole community.

Ausomely Autistic said:

however I don’t think that being autistic means I or any other autistic person is disabled.

I don't agree.

Being classified as disabled can bring accommodations and benefits that I would rather not go without because others see autism in a very positive light.

One needs to remember that some people (with high support needs, low functioning, level 3, whatever term you prefer) are very 'disabled' and need a lot of help directly due to autism.

People like us do not represent the whole community.

Thanks for sharing your experience, I am not trying to undermine you. I was just asking a question to gain a different perspective.

Thank your for sharing your experience.

There is a case for someone like me, who has struggled with this for 6 decades, having more life experience of how disabling it can be in life's situations, than someone much younger, such as yourself.

I could tell you in great detail how my autism has held me back in life - we do live in a society made for and largely by neurotypicals so that is what we are up against, no matter how positive you want to be and how idealistic your viewpoint is.

Ausomely Autistic said:

These members of our autistic community who may describe themselves as having high support needs typically have co-occurring needs.

Even if you were able to provide clinical proof of this (which you purport to be) fact, what about the rest of us who struggle through life and would love support but there are people like you who say that everything is hunky dory, we are not disabled, in fact we are the opposite.

Don't you think that this undermines our case for us?

Thanks for sharing your perspective!

One needs to remember that some people (with high support needs, low functioning, level 3, whatever term you prefer) are very 'disabled' and need a lot of help directly due to autism.

These members of our autistic community who may describe themselves as having high support needs typically have co-occurring needs.