"Aspergers" - Should the name be changed?

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I hate when they change the names of things all the time . Just because some immature people make dumb jokes about the name is no reason to change it. Its a pet peeve of mine. We Aspies are know for not liking change after all.

Twice this year, when the word was mentioned in one of my classes, students made ass-burgers jokes. I bit my lips to blood. I'm just glad they're not able to identify me.

I Think I may be seconding that thought about the name Asperger's. I just remembered I had the same problem with people making jokes about it, as well. I remember when i would tell younger people that I know baout my Asperger's would constantly make jokes. So I think they should call it
"Hansperger's Syndrome". The name is hans Asperger's name combined. I do not think anyone would make a joke there. Also, it does not sound to clinical and/or have any suffixes like ism,nia or anything that would make us sound crazy and/or scary.

I don't really know if it "should" or "shouldn't," but here are some... musings, if you will. Just what came to mind.

1. I don't typically tell people who don't need to know about my diagnosis. I guess they can tell that something's different, but I don't think they guess autism, right away. My original dx was Asperger's though, and I thought that the name itself was what bothered me, meaning the horrible joke that would come from it. I thought that if I could just say that I had autism, it would be much better. Then, when it got changed to autistic disorder... it didn't get any easier!

2. The whole disability thing. I've never been called "disabled" until recently, with the OVR and health insurance. Now, I am considered a "disabled" or "handicapped" adult. It frustrates me greatly. Am I disabled when it comes to the world of professional social interaction? You bet. But hey, want to go for a run or read a book or take a test on just about anything? I can whoop your butt. Now who's the "disabled" one? Point being, it depends entirely on the context.

lita101, to me personally, I'm not bothered by a name change you could say yet, I'll admit I'd not wished to be referred to as being mentally-retarded in some vastly inaccurate manner therefore, I simply see myself as being unorthodox in style of how I go about doing things in my daily life..


ProfessorX