Are you proud of having AS

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I can't say that I'm proud of it, but I don't exactly think of it as a tragedy. My case is pretty mild though. I know that it has helped some people is some areas (math, science, literature, music, whatnot) and have contributed to society. Too bad I don't have those gifts . So, are you proud of having AS?

I'm not proud of things I'm born with, whats the point in being proud of something I had no choice in?

that said, i'm glad I have ASD because all though it's caused me pain, it's given me joy other people don't understand, I like that people like me are rare, I like my personality.

I'm proud of having it and I'm very proud of my obsessions and special interests.

I am very proud of it because it makes me different in a world that wants everyone to be the same.

No but I do like having ASD. The thought of being NT and wasting my time socialising and doing other pointless BS NT's occupy their time with is depressing.

Yes. Although it has caused nothing but trouble for me, I still feel very special supposedly being the only one I know (in real life) of my kind.

Proud? Nah, I don't like pride. I've finally come to like my personality after many years though, and that includes my unusual traits.

Proud? Nope.

Ashamed? No way.

It is what it is.

I agree with that... it is not something I accomplished on my own. Besides, I am not really a proud person anyhow. I am more inclined to be excited over something like a silly kid than I am to be proud.

But more on topic... I am not ashamed of it, nor am I shy about it. I am what I am and even though I frustrate myself sometimes, I would not have me any other way and my AS is one part of many things that helped to shape me into who I am.

Gay pride is used in this particular way, and it seems to me that autistic and disability pride is used similarly. People who focus on it as a kind of pride in accomplishments are missing the intended context completely:

That is to say:

* There is no reason to be ashamed of being disabled
* Pride as an affirmation of one's self and the community

Being diagnosed explained a lot about my difficulties, but I can't say I am proud to have AS.

If I were officially diagnosed with AS, I definitely would not be proud of it. It's like saying "I'm proud of being born ret*d!" which about as ridiculous as saying "I'm proud of being born smart!". What's the point of being proud of something beyond your control? I'm PROUD our solar system has a planet called Jupiter!

So true. Talking about pride is, in this contex, an attempt to counter the hatred and prejudice disabled people often encounter. It doesn't mean we're better than NT's or that many don't suffer from autism, though many autistics seem to interpret it that way. Since there is no cure for autism, we have no choice but to live with it.

I wouldn't say proud, but neither am I ashamed of it. I will be who I am whether or not people know I have it, so "pride" isn't the right word.

That said, I am very relieved to have found out about AS; it works great as a personal explanation. Too bad it doesn't work very well as an explanation to others.

True dat. I think people commonly equate aspergers syndrome to "as*hole syndrome", and it has a certain sense to it, if burgers are coming out of your as*.