For those who see autism as a difference and not a disorder:

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I've been studiously reading up on the history of the DSM manuals and an important cultural aspect note from DSMIII onwards is that impairment in the context of a western society does not equate directly to social impairment in non-western societies.

Western societies are basically "individualistic" where independence is encouraged and reliance on others is discouraged. In this environment people on the spectrum struggle without help.

In contrast Asian and African societies tend to be "collectivist" and developmental disorders may be (perhaps) be better accommodated under the protective umbrella of the extended family?

In my opinion it is a difference, a rare and exceptionally valuable one. They have found a way to narrowly classify this. I think when a certain aspect of aspieness is taken to an extreme it becomes a disorder. Maybe something wired in the brain is outright cut or something like that it becomes full blown autism. Really you could probably take any aspect to an extreme or outright shut it off and it will cause a major malfunction. I think everyone (NT's) could be classified as having some kind of syndrome, just no ones figured out how to do it yet.
Maybe because aspies are rare the is no built in social coping mechanism like NT's have.

Autism is a difference, and the difference can be a disorder.

sMeow.

I think it's both as Callista has said. But I think it's a difference for high functioning people (people high functioning like Temple Grandin) but it's still a disorder too for them.

A disorder is scary and a difference is challenging.
Its good to have a balance of both I think.

Autism is a disorder and a difference, by definition.
A difference that doesn't cause a disorder, is not Autism. That's the way I understood DSM. Otherwise, I should have a diagnosis too, since I'm sure I'm not normal. My son has a diagnosis because his difference causes a disorder.