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

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Does this mean I have to punch you ?????

Only joking

You could.

RE: disabled,

In theory, if you aren't disabled to some extent, you can't receive a diagnosis of AS by those who use the DSM-IV-TR.

I picked 'other'.

My preferred term is 'box'. As in, 'some part of me is in the Asperger's Box'.

Yeah, I'd go with that. The way that the wider society treats people with ASD could certainly be improved, but not all the problems that ASDs cause involve other people. If everyone in the world was a perfect model of tolerance and understanding, it still wouldn't make "everything all right." If there was some way to gain the benefits - such as they are - of being on the AS, without the drawbacks, then it would not be a disability, in my view.

I still feel I am able in my way and have many challenges with society as it is, and that the D "disability" should be D for "disadvantaged"

How I see that:

I'm not disadvantaged compared to my peers; sure, some things are harder or impossible for me that they can do, but that's just how the cookie crumbled. There's some things I can do what are hard or even impossible for them, it's just that they aren't in areas that human society really focuses on.

Disadvantaged would equate to not having the same chance as my peers; I have a chance to do the same things as them, it's just the whole "disabled" thing gets in the way.

RE: disabled,

Danielismyname's quote:
In theory, if you aren't disabled to some extent, you can't receive a diagnosis of AS by those who use the DSM-IV-TR.[/quote]


I read through the line of discussion leading up to this. Though I still perceive my AS as a difference (or even a condition), I do admit to agreeing with Danielismyname's line of reasoning here in that one is "disabled to some extent" according the DSM-IV-TR guidelines. I was diagnosed with AS based on the DSM-IV and another (the Gillberg?). It was determined that I had social deficits in my life (from early childhood to the present). If someone were to ask me how many true friends I have I would have to respond with "0." Sure, there have been plenty of opportunities for me---but it just doesn't work. I do not fit in. I am eccentric. I am different. For some, this social deficit is a frustration. For me, I have accepted it and actually prefer the more lonely existence. I do have family though. I consider my family my friends.

What I am saying is---yes, there is a deficit here for me. You could perceive that as "disabled" because it would be a disability for many (autistics and NTs alike), but for me I don't consider myself "disabled" because I do not seek this socialization. But...there are times I find myself irritated because of people trying to interact with me (like at assemblies, in the hallway at work, at church, etc.) and I just cannot easily interact. I also don't like people slapping me on the back or arm, etc. So...perhaps it is a disability for me too. As the great British comedian Benny Hill used to say, I'm "learning all the time."

I'm on the fence with this one.... I'd like to call it a difference, but at the same time I think that a difference is something that can be changed if, or even chosen. There are some areas of my life that AS does indeed disable me, and there are many others that struggle far more than I do. There are some that cannot live completely independently, and they need accommodations. Minimizing the help that they need by calling it a difference is less than helpful when they go to apply for those accommodations. I think society needs to get away from the idea that 'disability' equals 'less than'. There should be no shame in claiming that one has a disability, but as of now, the word itself seems to come with an attached dinginess (for lack of a better word) that makes people want to hide it. It's almost a stigma, or taboo, something we don't talk about. Nobody would say that those with MR are just different, no they're disabled. They have a cognitive disability. It's a label that we use to describe others, but no one really wants to own. It's kind of like saying that it's wrong to call OUR group a certain label, but that group over there.... yeah, they're the ones that need that label. And, of course, if we're talking the whole entire spectrum here I have a son that will possibly never be potty trained, will probably never live on his own, and at this point has been mentally stuck at about the 9-12 month old level despite his age being 5 1/2. In my view, he has a disability.

Ask me after I've just had a horrible social mishap, almost had a panic attack because I'm trying to deal with too many things at once, or in a new environment and feel like puking, and I would say a disorder.

Ask me when I've just scored really high on a science assignment or finished writing a scifi novel within a few weeks due to hyperfocusing all the time, and I would say a difference.

Hi Serenity. I do so understand where your coming form but I know the disability is not to you as know how you embrace your child, so if its to society who is it a disability to or is he just challenged in some areas and able in others... I guess I am trying to see the able form the disable the positive in so often the negative
who to say any difference is right or wrong

A difference...that is accompanied by certain dysfunctions....

disorder.

Literally, there are things out-of-order upstairs. That's how I experience it.

Disability to who I ask myself, not me
Disorder seems to follow where ever I go
Condition I have many associated ones
Difference like each and every one of us
Other a "fruit salad mix" Donna Williams

But I am just me, spent a life time of pretending and guess use to all the labels and names,
but I am simply a autistic individual call me what you will

I don't know.

In employment, at a good job I don't want to lose, I might prefer the label "disabled" because it would protect my job.

In social situations, I might prefer "disorder" or "condition."

"Difference" is just politically correct garbage. A black person is "different." AS is something more than just a variety of homo sapien based on what gene pair you were given for skin color or eye color.

I feel that AS is a difference and a disability. Only a few months ago, I would have been adamant that AS is simply a difference, period. But having gotten half-way up to speed on some vitally necessary research, I now feel otherwise.

IMO Aspergers is a gift gone to curse--due to the fact that our society has become increasingly corrupt, noisy, toxic and frantic. Greed and profit do trump common sense, health, and environmental safety. Only tiny pockets of sanity remain in an otherwise insane world. Since a good proportion of us are unable to conform [to the socially sanctioned insanity], it is held against us. As a result, we are seen to have a disorder, syndrome, condition, etc. Some NTs think we are weird for not fitting in to a social structure colluding with the poisoning and destruction of our beautiful planet, including all life thereon--with corporate greed at the helm. I believe it is this toxic greed, more than anything else, which is so damaging to Aspies ...even more than being perpetually bullied and misunderstood..

The fight we all need to be fighting or at least supporting and cognizant of--is to demand our freedom, human rights and dignity. But this will probably have to be done one step at a time and not all at once.

Stubbornly adhering to the fact that we are merely different may not be our best first step in that direction. I believe that embracing our disability, as well as our difference, will be the best approach enabling the highest quality treatment for those on the spectrum.

****


It will be to our advantage to employ terms [like disability and accessibility] with which the general public is already familiar and equates with special needs. We require special accommodation----called accessibility. Accessibility is a word often used in context with the handicapped and disabled. We need to fully comprehend that we are handicapped with reference to our society--which may as well have been intentionally and totally engineered against us. Many of us will never fit in. Claiming our rights and especially our protections-- is tantamount in our struggle for fair treatment....with the eventual goal of having our unique skills appreciated for the true gifts that they are.

But one step at a time. First we desperately need the protections afforded to us under the classification of being disabled. And I say this with much sadness because it has so little chance of happening---We need to unite with everyone on the spectrum against being forcibly subjected to damaging treatments due to perceived co-morbids. The hour is late. And the laws are bad. Really bad.

Some of you may know that--in the U.S. at least--the mentally ill and mentally handicapped [low end of the spectrum and those diagnosed with co-morbids].....are being legally and forcibly subjected to many different kinds of invasive and liberty depriving treatments including ECT, permanently injuring neuroleptics, and behavior modification. The laws are controversial but the suffering is real.

According to the United Nations, many people around the world, including in the U.S., are being subjected to treatments which have been determined to be torture when administered to prisoners. It seems to me that our primary form of protection against such forced treatment, is to claim that as disabled persons we have human rights not to be subjected against our will to what the U.N. has labeled torture when administered to prisoners.

How about just "thing"?
Yeah, I've.. just sort of got a thing, that's it.

"Condition" is pretty good. I mean, I condition my hair. It's not a threatening word. It's just the same as "difference" but doesn't sound so... sickeningly politically correct. LOL, sorry. I don't care what people call it, really.