How would you describe autism? - Language Research released

Interestingly, this from a thread on here, dated 1/12/2010

www.autism.org.uk/labels

Good grief! Will this labeling debate never end?

I haven't been on here for long enough to know if Longman is correct, but he's ASD so I believe him.

I'm told that this is an important piece of research, but not why, or for whom. It is of academic interest to me so I fail to see the importance at all, particularly as the debate still rages amongst professionals. As long as someone refers to me as 'aspie, ASD or on the spectrum, I will understand those terms.

Aspie is who I am, not something I've got, and the only label I need is the one that I was christened with. I find 'Aspie' to be a comfortable shorthand and easy to use, to describe the type of person that I am, although it sort of pretends that I am 'higher functioning' when even that term is rubbish. What is functionality?

I am 'On the Autistic spectrum' for general purposes, simply because it's the widest known and most descriptive way to tell people who aren't likely to know or understand the term Aspie. Whatever the label used, knowing the label doesn't mean people will also understand the condition.

I'd like to see the term Asperger's go alltogether for the same reason, it implies to those same people that somehow, the effects of Autism on me are minor compared to others, so it's misleading their consideration of us. We can keep Aspie for our own use, for the reasons I said earlier. I'd like that.

Perhaps we ASD adults should have our own global survey and decide for everybody what we'll use? Now, wouldn't THAT be empowering?

Interestingly, this from a thread on here, dated 1/12/2010

www.autism.org.uk/labels

Good grief! Will this labeling debate never end?

I haven't been on here for long enough to know if Longman is correct, but he's ASD so I believe him.

I'm told that this is an important piece of research, but not why, or for whom. It is of academic interest to me so I fail to see the importance at all, particularly as the debate still rages amongst professionals. As long as someone refers to me as 'aspie, ASD or on the spectrum, I will understand those terms.

Aspie is who I am, not something I've got, and the only label I need is the one that I was christened with. I find 'Aspie' to be a comfortable shorthand and easy to use, to describe the type of person that I am, although it sort of pretends that I am 'higher functioning' when even that term is rubbish. What is functionality?

I am 'On the Autistic spectrum' for general purposes, simply because it's the widest known and most descriptive way to tell people who aren't likely to know or understand the term Aspie. Whatever the label used, knowing the label doesn't mean people will also understand the condition.

I'd like to see the term Asperger's go alltogether for the same reason, it implies to those same people that somehow, the effects of Autism on me are minor compared to others, so it's misleading their consideration of us. We can keep Aspie for our own use, for the reasons I said earlier. I'd like that.

Perhaps we ASD adults should have our own global survey and decide for everybody what we'll use? Now, wouldn't THAT be empowering?