Published on 12, July, 2020
I've experienced social drift (a decline in social status) as a result of my severe mental illness. It's not something I've come across with those who just have ASD without an intellectual disability. Though not from a 1% type family my upbringing was more privileged than most. Prep and public school educated. Father had a goodish though not outstanding career at the Foreign office. Good enough to have an entry in 'Who's who'.
I never had a paid job as an adult, and only did a small amount of voluntary work.Before getting social housing my late wife and I lived in private lets that accepted those on out of work benefits. The only middle class thing I've retained is my left of centre socially liberal politics. I'm nowhere near as well educated as the average middle class person,nowadays, who's been to university. For various reasons, apart from a brief attempt at a history A level correspondence course soon after my 1st hospitalisation, I've brushed aside quite a few attempts to persuade me to do a college course of some kind. Although not well educated by modern standards I'm not a stupid person. I do have the somewhat spiky cognitive profile that many with ASC/ASD have.
As an autistic person I don't identify with those who are intellectually disabled or at the other end - autistic high achievers. Autistic high achievers being a subset of highly intelligent autistic people.
For better or worse I regard myself as an outlier here. Someone demographically quite different from most participants on these forums.
I'd never heard the term social drift before, but I think I understand what you mean. Not being a very social person it's something I rarely notice, but every now and again it's something I stub my toes on. for some social class and position is really important and they don't know where to place me at all. I'm from a working class background, I have a skilled manual trade, I have a degree, but no other formal education, something was never encouraged by my parents. I'm told my voice changes depending on what I'm talking about and who I'm talking to, becoming more "middle class" when talking about history or politics, than my "normal" voice whatever that is, or my really "working class" accent that I apparently "put on", whilst I pretend to be thick.
I dont' know where I sit in these totally artificial strata and I'm not that bothered about it either, if it bothers others then its their problem, just don't bug me with it, or you'll get a working class answer with a few FFF's in it.