AS - disability, disorder, condition, difference, other!

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It's all of those named in the list.

Am classed by doctors and the government as severely disabled by own autism [LFA],but do not see 'disability' as a bad word,neither does it mean cannot do anything,people should not let it rule them.
disability means different things depending on whether use the medical or social model.

the medical model of disability is the condition creating the impairments,the social model is disability caused by limitations created by others,and removing those limitations removes the impairment.

Am believe it's different depending where lie on the spectrum or severity scale.
-a mixture of both models if are closer to or on the severe side of the spectrum.
-social model on hf and milder end-removing the limitations caused by others would remove their impairment.

Impairment, always.

And can be a disability sometimes when people and environments disable a person.

And that means it's always a difference too.

When it comes to this, autism the same as with most other popular impairments really such as Down's, AD(H)D, MR whatever. Whatever they are autism is too.

I'd go with Einstein's Syndrome.

I can't believe those "experts" and "professionals" who are supposedly on our side would think anything but harm could possibly come from having people who are universally subjected to disrespect, bullying, and ridicule being officially labeled as "Ass Burgers."

Most people never heard of Aspergers, and most of the people who have think that I memorize bus schedules for fun and I can't understand jokes.

Don't know about anybody else, but the fact that I'm different from other people is about as subtle as a third arm growing out of the top of my head. It isn't something I can keep people from noticing.

I find myself using the term "difference" in describing my AS. My second preference would be "condition." I know a lot of people use the term "disorder" because of the challenges many of us face---but, NTs experiece challenges too---and we don't call "NT" a "disorder."

I say condition usually I like the way it sounds, I find "disability" or "disorder" has a very harsh negative sound, but difference is too unrealistic because for those more LF types it's more than just difference and they need caring for alot.

So I pick condition because it's neutral between positive and negative and I just like the sound of the word.

I would say difference and/or condition. That is because with aspergers,with mine anyway, I can get a job, go to school, and live independently without any supports what so ever. Basically aspergers is not a disabling condition nor a disability because a disability is anything that would prevent and/or limits a person from being able to live a full life.Even though there are people who can live the full life that are disabled, but they actually need supports like staff, supervision, agencies, job coaches, and/or other supportive people to help them, so that would constitue a disability since they need those supports in order to get by in life. Since with aspergers I am able to live the full life without any of these supports, I can not call it a disability.
I am kind of on the borderline between condition and difference though. That is because even though I can live a full life, work, school, live independently without any supports, but because of the social-emotional relations problems and sensory issues I need adjustments not supports. The difference is that supports involve other people,services, and/or agencies and adjustments do not involve anyone but myself.
I can work but I have to find a job that does not involve environments and/or situations that I can not handle due to aspergers. Also I am able to find a job independently without the help from other people to get me that job. Which means that when I get that perfect job, I am able to work like everyone else. Since I do not need any supports from other people, agencies, and/or services to help me get that job and/or to help me at the job, I can not say I am disabled. If someone was disabled,in my eyes, when they got that job, they would actually need "support" services in order to keep and to be able to do find job and since I can find and perform at that job independently, I do not consider aspergers a disability.
As for independent living, I can do that completely on my own without any supports.
I do say condition because it interferes with my friendships and/or not being able to have any emotional connection with others including my own family. I can have regular conversations, as long as the conversation is not on an emotional and/or deep level. I can have friendships and love my family, but I can not handle and/or provide any emotional and/or other supports. But since this condition does not interfere with living my life to the fullest, as in be able survive on my own, I just consider it a condition. Just like if an NT had an illness and/or other conditions, where they are fully independent where they live a normal life, they may just need therapy and/or medications that's all, not agencies, supports, and anything that would "hinder" their independence.
Unfortunately, at the time of my diagnosis(1999) aspergers was considered the same as autism and with my overprotective and overly concern parents and autism agency, I was stuck in the "supportive' life, getting supports that I did not need( I never needed any supports, help or anything). Now they are realizing that they made a big mistake and that is why I am getting out. I would get out sooner, but since I am stuck here until I get into a section 8 where I would be by myself with no supports( and I have no place to go, since my parents house is a very stressful environment to be in because of the drama and my dad has Alzheimer's which is a big stress on me to be with).

I appreciate your reasoning there MONKEY. That does make sense. I don't see "condition" as negative sounding at all---so it does seem to be a valid choice because it also accounts for the challenges some of us face.

Given the amount of grief, setbacks, disappointment, and abuse I've lived through because of my "condition" of Asperger's, I think I've earned the right to label it as a disability. AS has resulted in profound differences in my life that put me at a disadvantage vis-a-vis others, so I feel calling it a disability is fully warranted.

N

It is an explanation.

Like red-green color deficiency. One with the condition can learn subtleties to differentiate red from green; but it will be work, and there will be errors, for what is easy for others. And there are some occupations best avoided e.g. sea captain.

We choose for ourselves how we respond to it.
Therein lies our responsibility --- and our power.

For some it will be a disability.
For some it will be a difference.
For some it will explain the whys of their lives.

I have given this a lot of thought recently, and I'm starting to think that I consider all "disabilities" to be more of a difference. If you decide to let any aspect of yourself be disabling to your life, then you are disabling yourself, not your condition. Even people who have lost their legs can live a very normal life where their bodies are just different as opposed to disabling. I have lousy social skills. But I can draw a pretty picture which is something many people cannot do. I would never call someone disabled because they lack artistic abilities.

Now I have no idea how I truly feel about people with severe cases in their mind such as severe schizophrenia, vegetative states, and even your severe auties. I just never really knew anyone like that. Closest thing is my father right before he died he was in a pretty vegetative state for a good couple weeks. Of course, he wasn't really living like that, so his situation was really disabling but at the same time, it wasn't. It was like he chose when he wanted to die. For someone who couldn't do anything but lay there, he managed to accomplish more than most people.

It's a difference in how we develop. It sometmes causes extreme disability or if you're lucky like me, awesome rote memory and math skills. It does cause impaired social skills as a rule though. If you don't have that, then you're not on the spectrum, but that's a disability which isn't autism as a whole.

I grew up KNOWING I was different but never understood why. I was diagnosed late because when I was kid people didn't know about AS. I think that because of this I will always view myself as having a difference not a disability. In fact if anyone were to call me disabled I would probably punch them. I have achieved so much with my life despite or perhaps because I'm different.
I like being different and even NTs have areas where they struggle. I just view it as all part of lifes rich tapestry.

You're disabled if you're diagnosed.

A nice way of putting it and I agree, thats why it is important the saying "nothing about us without us" I guess have ask this question as many like to label without really understanding the core of who we are. I of course as you say can only generalize for myself. To be honest to me its not about the label that I feel is important but understanding self. But I have found often our misunderstood difference gets seen as a disability and at times this is because of lack of real awareness, ignorance of true meaning or understanding...

I guess if I had to choose I would say difference, as we are all in fact different on or off the autism spectrum, everyone person has strengths and challenges in life's journey... but I so agree we should be the ones deciding how we preceive ourselves, not our others see us!

I'm down with this...

Also, calling einsteinitis a disability is like telling someone who cannot precisely map things out in their head or manipulate 3d objects with ease in their mind (as I can) that they need a social worker. Silliness!

So, I don't always get exchanges in a group situation... if someone would call me disabled, I have a few challenges for them. Don't try this at home type stuff (risk of severe headaches and overthinking fatigue).