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How do you prefer to define it?

odd.avocaddo

Hi everyone, I've been doing some research about autism during a few weeks now and I developed a question.

I've read that in some places they define it as a "neurodevelopmental disorder" and others say, as for example this organization, it's "a lifelong developmental disability...".  How do you feel regarding the word disability? Do you prefer to call it a disorder or a disability? And why? Do you prefer another way of calling it? I would genuinely love to know. 

My hope is to gather information as realistic as it can be so I can start advocating for autism in the near future. Thanks to all of you. You're great humans!

 

Parents

  • I believe that, in the UK, autism (ASD) is classed as a disability under anti-discriminatory law, but, in order to gain disability benefits from the government, further assessment is required. So autism is a disability, but in practice may not be assessed as such in all cases. An autism diagnosis does not automatically give disabled status, except in the realm of discrimination.

    Personally, I prefer the concept of autism as a condition, rather than a disorder, Given the extreme effort that most autistics make to ensure their world is as ordered as possible, calling us 'disordered' is something of a misnomer, if not an insult. As regards disability, again personally, I do not feel disabled. My autism has impaired my natural ability to do certain things, but I have used my intellect and some bloody hard work to cope with my impairments, if not overcome them. As a result my autism has not disabled me from achieving the things I really wanted to achieve.This has come at a price. I have had more difficulties, more exhaustion, more anxiety, and had to force myself into enduring many more deeply uncomfortable situations than the vast majority of allistics ever experience.

  • in reply to Martin
    Martin said:
    I have had more difficulties, more exhaustion, more anxiety, and had to force myself into enduring many more deeply uncomfortable situations than the vast majority of allistics ever experience.

    I may steal these words and reuse them at work next week.

    Learning to understand this about ourselves and forgive ourselves for it is such a big personal development moment.

Reply
  • in reply to Martin
    Martin said:
    I have had more difficulties, more exhaustion, more anxiety, and had to force myself into enduring many more deeply uncomfortable situations than the vast majority of allistics ever experience.

    I may steal these words and reuse them at work next week.

    Learning to understand this about ourselves and forgive ourselves for it is such a big personal development moment.

Children
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