The "D" word for autism?

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I voted for different, my slowness and clumsiness only become an issue if I am in situations that require some sort of
physical excellence. My social ineptitude only becomes an issue if I'm in certain situations that require diplomacy, tact or
some form of social skill. I have managed to survive and prosper somewhat without getting into situations that require
physical or social excellence.

Yeah different here because I used that on myself a bit.

The one I would have voted for is not on the list, “discrimination”

bookwormde

I would have said 'difference' but I like 'distinction' better. It conveys a truth about Asperger's - different and good, both.

I never liked the words "disability" and "disorder", although I could see how at times "disability" could be used to describe Asperger's, there aren't many things I am completely unable to do as a result of it. I also have Tourette's Syndrome, and there isn't one single thing that I am completely unable to do as a result of it, so I don't call that a disability at all.

As for Disorder, I can't stand that term. "Dis" meaning "without", disorder means essentially the same as "Out of order", like a broken vending machine. Does AS mean that my brain is broken since it is not in order? I don't think so.

I also have ADD, which stands for "Attention Deficit Disorder", Attention Deficit means "without attention", or more literally "can't pay attention", so it's out of order. Essentially, the way that sounds, I would almost say that a vending machine with a broken selection button has ADD since it can't pay attention to your input and is thus out of order.

disease is the most wrong one.

and i have to find books about asperger/autism in the
"diseases" section in my "public library" and that would
give people the wrong ideas on us.

The World Health Organization defined disability in 1976 as,

“an existing difficulty in performing one or more activities which, in accordance with a person’s age, sex, and normative social role, are generally accepted as essential components of daily living, such as self-care, social relations, and economic activity"

I think the key phrase here is 'normative social role'. Given that part of an Asperger's diagnosis is clinically significant social impairment, I suspect that disability is the best word to use here. Asperger's is also linked to higher risk for depression and anxiety, if I am recalling correctly, which is consistent with research findings for physical disability.

I think it's important to keep in mind that disability is not in this context suggesting an inability to function, but rather greater difficulty in doing so that would be normatively expected. These very difficulties constitute many of the topics for discussion on this board, do they not?


Oh, and three cheers for sociology!

I chose 'deviant' (because I like the word). If I had to add my own label, I'd make it 'delightfully deranged'...

debility - too serious a word for the great majority of people with an AS diagnosis
deviance - makes me feel like such a rebel for something I had no control over. When people refer to homosexuals as "sexual deviants" I think there's a manipulative undercurrent at work that masks the real story. Similarly with people who are born with AS, which is everyone with AS
difference - doesn't serve to explain what makes me different
disease - misleading for a few obvious reasons
distinction - makes it seem like I should get some award for having AS. Flattering, but not terribly honest
disturbance - strikes me as being the consequence of a traumatic event, which is untrue
deficiency/disability/disorder/dysfunction - maybe

i call it a disability caus it is.

I voted disability, but it is also a difference, so ideally I would've voted for both. There are those on the spectrum who don't consider themselves disabled based upon honest perception of themselves, so difference seems more widely applicable. But, disability is particularly descriptive of the kinds of issues we face in the society at large.

I picked Distinction. After all, it isn't necessarily a bragging term. Something can be distinctly bad. And I liked it better than "difference" because that's so overused.

Although I appreciate the honesty of those who admit the disability part of it. Sometimes it's seriously frustrating.