Why Aspergers isn't even a disorder

Post Reply New Topic

I think mild/high-functioning AS is a disorder or disability because it causes so much barriers and also you're expected to function in NT society because you can't claim disability/incapacity benefits or receive the help you want because you're too ''normal''. And to function in NT society, you need social skills. I am struggling with finding employment because I don't have the required social skills employers are expecting/looking for in applicants, and also my AS is so misunderstood that I am expected to be normal. Also I have normal self-awareness to the extent of NTs so that means I feel embarrassment and fear ridicule and dread rejection, which makes me more anxious which prevents me from going out and doing tasks in public, like attending doctors appointments on my own, going into the post office on my own, and so on.

So yeah, it does hold me back and have an affect on my life, causing so many barriers.

I think socialising isn't really a necessary feature to live. Humans are just too much connected to each other. I would probable live a better life in an empty island where I could make my own rules rather than here where you have to be a part of something to survive. We aspergers are self-dependant.

Asperger's is not a "social thing". It's a fundamentally different cognitive and neurological structure. There are people with AS who socialize exactly as much as they want, are satisfied by the quality and amount of socialization they get, and are still very disabled. I would call that "having a disorder". I think that sometimes we unnecessarily entangle the idea of "this is a disorder" and "this causes distress".

But I have ask you, then, what is the biggest problem with this disability?

In reading this forum, it would seem that the biggest problem for someone with Asperger's is having to deal with neurotypical society. Moreso than any stim, meltdown, or preoccupation with a special interest. If the social aspect wasn't part of the equation, then I don't think Asperger's would be (pervasive) disability.

Many people on this forum have a much bigger problem with changes in routine, sensory sensitivities, ect.

If your ONLY problems are social, you're probably not an Aspie.

But I have ask you, then, what is the biggest problem with this disability?

In reading this forum, it would seem that the biggest problem for someone with Asperger's is having to deal with neurotypical society. Moreso than any stim, meltdown, or preoccupation with a special interest. If the social aspect wasn't part of the equation, then I don't think Asperger's would be (pervasive) disability.

My interpretation of Callista's post was that AS is a difference in cognitive and neurological structure, which -causes- issues socially, rather than being just a lack of having social skills or what not.

But what makes this cognitive and neurological difference debilitating for someone who has it?

It would seem the prime disability would be its incompatibility to the neurological norm, causing the social issues.

I agree with that - that the primary disability is social - while the other things can be debilitating, it is often how others react, to even the non-social parts of the disability, that causes issues. It's also not how the autistic person feels themselves about socialization, but rather how the NTs feel about it, that causes difficulty, and how our low socialization and social skills can cause problems with things like advancing in your field. Even in mine, music, where I am (and I really do not mean to brag at all) very gifted, I have difficulties because of how I socialize, and how much I socialize. All that should matter is the music, in my opinion, but the main thing other musicians seem to care about is how I socialize with them. Talent alone can take you only so far, but socialization can take you farther.

And this is why I was skeptical of Callista's post, because it actually seems to be trying to undermine the key problem with this disability. None of the secondary problems really, in my opinion, seem like they'd constitute a true disability. So it really is a "social thing" in terms of being disabled (or rather, not being able to mesh well with system that the "normies" abide by).

What would you say is your biggest gripe with this disability? (I guess you sort of answered this already).

EDIT: And that's also why I'm not sure of XFilesGeek's reply that if someone's only problems are social, they're probably not an Aspie, because, what other truly disabling traits are there? And I'm asking this in all seriousness, because if there is more to it than a "social thing," then what are some of these things?

Actually, for me, stims have been a big problem, as well as compulsive movements (maybe the compulsive movements is from OCD? I don't know - I've only been diagnosed with HFA and ADD). They interrupt my daily life. Sensory issues also interrupt my daily life - from an NT's perspective, I overreact to a lot of things.

Also if you consider verbal communication to not necessarily be social, than that can be an issue - there are times where I cannot talk at all. There are also times where the only thing that comes to mind to say is gibberish, or just some weird word not fitting or too vague. I also often will repeat words and such.

Also, I am diagnosed with HFA rather than Asperger's - but the two are very similar.

Similar, yes, but there must be some difference if a distinction is made between the two.

While I thank you for sharing your perspective, since you're not actually diagnosed with Asperger's, you may be projecting your own disabilities with HFA onto AS.

From what I can tell, AS itself as a disability seems to really just be the social disconnect with the neurotypicals, and all of the problems that come with that, nothing more.

I agree - that's why I included the point that I have an HFA diagnosis rather than an AS diagnosis. So I suppose I can't really know what it's like to have AS since I don't have AS but another ASD. I suppose my main point is this - for some, AS may only be disabling socially, but perhaps there are some with AS who are also disabled in other ways - someone with AS could conceivably have some of, or even just one of the same non-social issues as me, but still have AS.

Right, but that's why I don't understand why XFilesGeek and Callista seemed to imply that AS MUST be more than the social aspect. While those with AS may have other issues, the social thing is the one issue they all have in common.

Unless I'm totally mistaken and there's more to it, but neither of them seem to be around.

I would postulate that, yes, if you have these social issues, then you have Asperger's, regardless of a lack of any other "disabling" qualities.

(I) Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
(A) marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to regulate social interaction
(B) failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
(C) a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interest or achievements with other people, (e.g.. by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
(D) lack of social or emotional reciprocity

(II) Restricted repetitive & stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:

(A) encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
(B) apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
(C) stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g. hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
(D) persistent preoccupation with parts of objects


(III) The disturbance causes clinically significant impairments in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

(IV) There is no clinically significant general delay in language (E.G. single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years)

(V) There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction) and curiosity about the environment in childhood.

(VI) Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia."