What is autism to you: disability or difference?

Post Reply New Topic

What is autism to you: disability or difference? Why? This is for everyone on the spectrum to answer.

Edit: when I meant difference, I meant it in a positive way. I guess I should have been more clear from the beginning. Thank you for all who answered.

It both because I don't feel disabled nor feel like I have a disability. But I know I have one because AS is a disability and I have to work harder than everyone else.

I answered both.

On a purely biological level, it is a difference.
When you factor in environment and society, it is a disability when it comes to certain activities/situations (but not all, of course).

Many people say that it is not a disability because if society was structured slightly differently, or if neurodiversity was better understood and appreciated, we would not have as much difficulty. However, it is not, and so the biological difference that we possess can be a hindrance. This is all a "disability" is to me; a condition that limits a person's ability to participate in certain activities.

To me, it's a disability.
Not in the way that hollywood or NTs think it is, but just in the way that it is disabling.

A little of both, but more than either: a solution. an answer.

I think it's only a disability because the world is not suited for us.

Consider: What if all humans were born with crippled legs? We would all be on wheelchairs, and there would be no stairs, so what if a small portion of a population were born with funtioning legs - they would have to adapt to a world not meant for legs but for wheels, no stairs, just ramps, they would obviously have some trouble with a lot of this, these fully funtioning individuals are disabled, but only in the same way all humans are disabled and hanicapped and an atmosphere without air, it doesn't mean theres something inherently wrong with them.

I certainly can't think of any of my issues that couldn't be solved by simply being an in more AS friendly world, no more bright lights and loud noises or eye contact.

It's both in my view.

Both. The difference makes it a disability.

I'm going with what hale_bopp said.

Although in my personal experience it's only an inconvenience.

I answered ''disability'', because AS is so disabling for me. I think it holds me back from doing the things I want to do. I want to socialise - I would love to go to a bar all night and chat up really cute men, maybe bring one home one night....I just want to be a confident 21 year old. But it's not that simple when you struggle a lot in social situations. It's like my heart wants to do these things, but my mind says, ''no, I can't. Too tricky! Stay away from all bars!''

Maybe it's because all my cousins are NTs, and so have all got better chance than me to do these social things, even those who are shy and don't really go to bars and clubs. All it takes is a friend to ask them to come and they will probably jump at it - you know how all NT teenagers are like, they want to have a go at social things. And it's no good someone saying to me, ''go and give it a go anyway,'' because I have given it a go and I felt like a fish out of water. And there is no point in using ''false confidence'', because sociable NTs can sense this, and so you're better off being the normal unconfident you.

I see it as both.

Personally, it's a disability. I just feel like I am constantly surrounded by stress. Humans like being around other people - I don't even like having people in the same room as me. The next step in evolution indeed. I can't even adapt to change, even as small as watching a different TV show at a certain time. Much larger change can completely render me non-functional for a few days or turn me into a cussing sailor. But then I have other disorders like ADHD, TLE, and hypoglycemia which just adds to my stress. The ADHD is stressful because I'm always changing my mind or not following through on an idea. The TLE because well it's epilepsy and leaves me with short term memory loss which is so different than having a poor working memory which I have already (thanks ADHD) and the hypoglycemia is stressful because I have to constantly watch what I eat and have to eat quite regularly. And I'm not allowed to eat any sweeties. ADHD PI symptoms can go bite me. Low energy - that's just what I want. That's the icing on the cake - which I can't eat for fear I will have a hypoglycemic reaction.

So yeah I'm one disabled person right here.

Definitely both for me. I really like where my mind runs off to - my little autistic universe where everything lines up in neat little rows. But I have to live in a world that is radically different than that place. I am definitely not operating on a level playing field in that arena.