How do you prefer to define it?

odd.avocaddo said:

How do you feel regarding the word disability? Do you prefer to call it a disorder or a disability?

It is both a disorder (ie it means out brains developed and didn't develop the input filters NTs have) and a disability (at least a diagnosis is primarily to give you the categorisation as disabled so you can seek help accordingly.

Hi Lain, thank you for answering. That's something I wasn't aware of.

Do you know if the level of ASD you have influences in the categorisation as disabled? I know it's a spectrum but I'm not sure if that matters. 

odd.avocaddo said:

Do you know if the level of ASD you have influences in the categorisation as disabled?

If you are diagnosed as autistic then you are disabled by definition (ie when they test you it is to see if it impacts you severely enough to be disabled).

The levels are to describe what level of support you need with 1 being the lowest support needs and 3 the highest. It is described in detail here:

https://www.autismspeaks.org/levels-of-autism

odd.avocaddo said:

Do you know if the level of ASD you have influences in the categorisation as disabled?

If you are diagnosed as autistic then you are disabled by definition (ie when they test you it is to see if it impacts you severely enough to be disabled).

The levels are to describe what level of support you need with 1 being the lowest support needs and 3 the highest. It is described in detail here:

https://www.autismspeaks.org/levels-of-autism

From what I've found in the eucap (European Council of Autistic People) in Spain disabilities are not recognised based on a diagnosis. As it says: "Instead of that, autistic people must pass a second evaluation of their disabilities and most of them don’t fit into any of the disability cases. Consequently, the autistic community must deal with their working life by themselves, without any help, support, or reasonable adjustments." 

So it seems in the UK are more advanced than in here. 

I'm from Spain. I will look it up, but I'm not sure of how it works.

odd.avocaddo said:

I think in my country works in a different way

What country arey you in?

I believe the US and most of europe will use similar equality laws now, although I hear Germany has some non progressive approaches to it.

I didn't know about Equality Act as I'm not from the UK and I think in my country works in a different way, but I appreciated it. 

As what you said

Iain said:

There is a saying that goes something like "when you have met one autist, you have met just one autist".

this is so true. I can also endure very hard environments and/or situations as I've been masking all my life, but obviously end up in burnout. Anyway, this has been so helpful to know. 

As an aside, even if you are classed as disabled it does not mean you are automatically unable to work, function in society etc.

There is a huge range of abilities and capabilities we have that mean there is no simple pidgeon hole to put us in.

I have developed coping mechanisms through my life and can endure huge amounts of distress and discomfort  that many other autists would struggle with, but that is just one person.

Some struggle with even the most basic of social interactions, any noisy / bright environments or other sensory rich environments but we are all still autists.

There is a saying that goes something like "when you have met one autist, you have met just one autist". It comes from us having a range of autistic traits at various levels (from the spectrum as you point out) so trying to find any generic categorisation for us will be very hard to do.

odd.avocaddo said:

But I didn't think I would as I'm ASD level 1,

If you are diagnosed as autistic of any level then you are confirmed as disabled under the Equality Act.

One member of my family has a recognised disability because he has ASD level 3, which requires substantial support. But I didn't think I would as I'm ASD level 1, and even though I've struggled, in comparison it seemed very little. Thank you so much.