A thougth about the diference vs. disorder

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I wonder if the people who think that AS should be considered a difference instead of a disorder/disabilitie/disease are not trying to "break an open door" - after all, in practice this already is the status quo.

Why I say that - because probably most aspies are undiagnosed (and probably a big share of aspies never heard about anything called AS) and are considered by others simply as "differents", "eccentrics", "nerds/geeks", etc.

Then, we already live in a world were AS is seen as a difference instead of a disorder (or, at least, where aspies are seen as "differents" instead of "disordereds").

As a high-functioning aspie I think I see myself as having a "difference" about 80% of the time and a "disorder" about 20% of the time.

The only problem with calling it a "difference" is that it encourages NTs to think we choose to act/think/talk/feel the way we do and that we can change if we want to.

Actually, another problem with calling it a "difference" is that it pisses off the ever-vigilant defenders of the low-functioning AS folk. We might get accused of high-functioning AS supremacy and pretending low-functioning auties don't exist or something.

Good answer. ^^

From my own perspective, it is clearly a difference, AND a disorder. Which "parts" of my AS that are differences, and which parts constitute a "disorder" might be different from you or anyone else with AS. Every case is different. Som get along just fine by thinking of it only as a difference. I do not, simply because, for reasons too lengthy to get into here, I KNOW that certain aspects of my AS, I have no control over, and others I do have some control over.

To lose the "right" to call it a disorder because some in the AS community don't care for the term, would be detrimental to me and many others for whom it IS a disorder.

For some of us, AS causes such severe problems with daily life it IS a disorder, because that is what a disorder is.

It would not be fair for a few, or even the majority to determine for others whether what they have qualifies as a disorder. AS differs so much from individual to individual, making a blanket statement such as "It is always a disorder," or "It is only a difference," would not be fair to either side of this issue.

Sometimes it is a disorder, sometimes it's just a difference. Most of the time, it's both.

I view it as a disability, more than a difference.

I find a lot of things difficult, but not because I'm different. It's just lack of confidence what I can't seem to build up, simply because of having an AS brain which disallows me to build it up to the level of the average person, therefore it's a disability to me. But I'm not trying to convince everyone else to think of it the same as me because it all depends on how you feel as an individual. Some people on the spectrum might feel that they are confident and intelligent but still a bit different to others, whereas others on the spectrum might feel that they just struggle at a lot of things but can still keep up with NT society and not feel any different to anyone else. I always thought I was different at high school, but since I've left and came into the adult world, I've met a lot of quirky people who seem quite different to other NTs but also different to me aswell.

But high-functioning doesn't even necessarily mean less disabled. The fact that I have a college degree and live with my boyfriend doesn't change that my day to day life is a struggle. The fact that others view me as taking care of myself and only a geek and a nerd doesn't change that so much as leaving my apartment is actually a huge deal.

The problem with calling it just a difference in the high functioning cases is that there are even high-functioning people who have a lot to deal with and are strong disabled.

I agree with Tuttle. No matter where you are on the spectrum, it can still be a struggle to live your life. While I'm "highly functional," there are some parts of my life that are clearly not functional. If it wasn't for family & friends, I'd probably be even less functional. It's certainly more than a difference.

After reading your posts, I do think its both a difference and disability. See theirs adverse affects to people, even yourself thinking that its just a difference or just a disability

If people just think its a difference, they think like you said that we're choosing to act a certain way and we know mostly what we're doing and the fact is we're dont always know what we're doing. We dont always choose to act a certain way. And people just think your a jerk.

But if people think its completely a disability then people feel really sorry for you. I think this has happened to my mom we're she was starting to become desperate for a solution and wishing I didnt have this. In her head she probably blames all my stubbornness and other aspects that come into my personality on the aspergers.

Sometimes is very hard to draw the line between disability and personality. Ive learned to incorporate my aspergers into my personality to make things fun. I used to have a friend that laughed at all the "off" things I said and I thought it was fun so I just went with it. Now, many friends thing its deliberate and a lot of times it really is. I know now, you dont say certain things unless people know you or its a joke.

Theres sometimes when I say I dont want to be treated any differently. Then theres other times when I wish people would stop misjudging me and giving me either sympathy treatments or being mean towards me cause Im standoffish. But then its not black and white, ahh another aspie challenge.

Ok I came up with this one. I wish people would know that I have some challenges interacting but just get to know me in a normal fashion. I dont need excess sympathy or mothering. To know that there isnt anything wrong, just have some interaction difficulties thats it.