Can we drop the D?

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Dropping the D makes it "AS" which is already used to mean "aspergers syndrome".

You could change it to "autism spectrum condition" -rendering the acronym "ASC".

And ASC would be perfectly serviceble shorthand for it in colloguial speech.

I do admit that "condition" is a tiny bit softer than "disorder". "Disorder" makes it sound like a more chaotic thing than it is.

But yes- "disorder" is also a synonym for "condition". I dunno.

But if you make it offical then there is the practical issue in the US. If its not called a "disorder" then you dont get insurance money, or get the hiring preferences the govt. mandates for the handicapped, etc.

So you would have to alter the whole US legal system just to change the term. A huge undertaking just to get a minutely less bad name for your condition/disorder.

Not worth it iMHO.

Playboy magazine sent author Alex Haley (this was before the African American author got fame for writing Roots, but after he helped write the "Autobiography of Malcolm X") to interview the head of the American Nazi Party-the latter told Haley"we call your kind N-word". Haley replied "ive been called that before, but this time I am being paid good money to be called N-word. So go ahead. Lets get on with the interview".

Unofficially (like posting here on WP) I might go along with using "ASC" instead of "ASD". But in the official world I dont mind being called a N-word if I get paid, and get hiring preferences for it.

Why drop the D? It’s very useful for reminding everyone we’re defective humans, not suitable for being treated like real, functional adults at any rate, but only talked down to and having anything we say dismissed as not worth a real person’s time because of its so obviously unintelligent source. It serves the undeniably important purpose of highlighting that we shouldn’t have ambitions of any kind of success in life, since it’s plain as day we can’t make use of any opportunity and therefore it’s best if we have none at all. It’s also a reminder that our experiences, thoughts and feelings don’t matter, coming as they do from a diseased mind.

Again, I meant no offense; if I said or did something rude, I strongly apologize.

I did read all of the posts in this thread, but my comprehension is not very quick or very comprehensive. If there is meaning "behind the words" or "between the lines", I usually miss it. That is why I asked for more information on your thought processes and reasoning in coming up with your opinion. I was only trying to increase my own understanding on this issue; I am not trying to start any arguments. I am sorry if you felt unheard or put out.

Why are the negative connotations of the word "disorder" inappropriate? They are referring to autism, not the person; they are implying that autism is negative, not that the person is to be ashamed.

To me, autism is negative. My sensory sensitivities, perseveration, and inflexibility, are still a problem even if I am alone, living on my own terms. My communication and social skills are extremely limited, and my ability to learn or utilize them the way I want to is consistently blocked by my autistic disorder, regardless of someone else's rules or expectations.

I believe this is where we differ in our opinion. In my understanding, the definition of disorder and the implication of having one imply none of that, spiderpig:

_________________
31st of July, 2013
Diagnosed: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Auditory-Verbal Processing Speed Disorder, and Visual-Motor Processing Speed Disorder.

Weak Emerging Social Communicator (The Social Thinking-­Social Communication Profile by Michelle Garcia Winner, Pamela Crooke and Stephanie Madrigal)

"I am silently correcting your grammar."

No

I don't tend to trust motivational speakers....and I don't read self-help books.

Spiderpig just brought up something (and worded it pretty nicely) that I wanted to address.

I hope that it was ok with you, Spiderpig, that I quoted you and I hope I did it correctly; now that someone mentioned sarcasm, I am worried that I may have read it wrong.

_________________
31st of July, 2013
Diagnosed: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Auditory-Verbal Processing Speed Disorder, and Visual-Motor Processing Speed Disorder.

Weak Emerging Social Communicator (The Social Thinking-­Social Communication Profile by Michelle Garcia Winner, Pamela Crooke and Stephanie Madrigal)

"I am silently correcting your grammar."

It pains me to think so many of you stand in the way of progress and hope.