Poll: Is ASD/Aspergers Friendly offensive

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I received some feedback from an Aspie (parent of an Aspie as well) that Aspergers Friendly (i.e. implies inferiority for those on the Spectrum) was a pejorative term. Not sure how I felt about that and wanted to check in with you all.

Don't understand what it means. What is ASD friendly? Libraries are ASD friendly, nice and quiet and no talking expected

Dunno if that is what you mean though

I think for as long as we're treat as inferior I'd rather have a place openly refer to itself as 'Asperger's Friendly' than have a place totally ignorant to Asperger's and others on the spectrum. Letting people on the spectrum know they're not going to be treat like freaks or stupid can make us feel more secure and comfortable that we can openly say if we're experiencing any problems.

Although with that said being 'Asperger's Friendly' itself is not always good, I'm being bombarded with forced support...I don't think I need it and I resent the implication that I need support just because I'm an aspie - it would be far nicer if people were accepting/tolerant of us and treated us like everyone else, nothing special, unless/until we ask for support.

Until that happens I don't think a place or group is being offensive by being pro-active in making sure we're okay.

While I remain open to hearing further arguments as to the term's offensiveness, I feel I could easily find a jucier target for my outrage. I'll prefer aware and friendly to ignorant and hostile, regardless.

I recently heard Ricky Gervais say: "Just because you're offended, doesn't make you right."

I don't see what's so offensive about it. ASD-friendly is a good term to describe places/things that are made so as not to confuse or overwhelm people with ASDs. Of course it's likely enough that any given person will still need adjustments; but the really big things--visual clutter, fluorescent lighting, unneeded noise--can still be removed.

That's not offensive to me at all. In fact, I actually kind of like that term.

Greetings, fellow catperson!

I do not find the term offensive at all. I am an Aspie and parent of a probable Aspie (she's going through the diagnostic process now), and anything that can be done to make our environment better for us is fine by me

~Kate

No, I am not offended by the term "ASD/Aspie Friendly". If it makes things easier for me, all the better.

I'm not offended by that term. I'll go for anything that will help me out.

"User friendly" design, AKA "ergonomics" is an engineering discipline that takes into account the needs of the human body when designing products. The use of the term "friendly" is not indicative of a perception, I'd say it is more a connotation of an inviting or facilitating environment.

I think I'm very ASD-friendly and I'm not the least bit offensive.

I wasn't sure what it meant. Now that I know, I do not find it offensive, nor do I understand why someone would.

I don't see how that could be interpreted as offensive, unless one considered "Asperger's" itself to be a degrading or shameful term. It's not like saying, "weirdo friendly" or something.