Is ASD really a disability?

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I feel a bit confused (which happens quite frequently )

Anyway I have started feeling that ASD isn't something to be upset about for myself. I quite like thinking differently; sure it is a pain being misunderstood and not knowing what to say to NT people. I am getting use to being ASD and rediscovering myself. The problem is that other people do think of it as a disability and this confuses me.

I have an online friend who has a low functioning boy and her hubby is AS. Her and her husband think it is a disability and this makes me sad; especially for the dh. He has AS and is an engineer so I don't understand why he would think he is disabled. I think that everyone including NT have things they can't do well. Just because someone has trouble socially, in my mind, it doesn't mean they have a disability. If someone has anger problem they go get counseling. They don't get labeled disabled. With her lad it is a bit more difficult. Is he disabled? He does have a limited vocab but could he be taught to handle his Autism then to make the most of it? I wonder whether my friend is seeing the cup is half empty rather than half full.

Would love to work this out. It is puzzling me.

A simple case of majority rules.

ASDs express themselves in different ways in different people. Some of these ways are more directly disabling (outside a social context) - cognitive function, attention, sensory overload. Of course some people just have a negative 'cant do' attitude, but its difficult to fairly identify the level of positivity/disability in other aspies for the same reasons as NTs - Its extremely difficult to concieve of & appreciate neurological changes that you havent experienced yourself.

Last edited by psych on 18 Aug 2007, 6:12 am, edited 1 time in total.

No,its a neurological difference/variation but its not yet accepted as that by the medical and legal establishment,maybe in another decade or so it will be...

You're disabled when all you feel like doing is dropping yourself when you're in the presence of people due to the overwhelming mental pain.

Not many people with autistic disorder reach any common milestones; those with Asperger’s can, but they still have it harder than “normal” people do. I've probably got a decent vocabulary compared to my level of academic achievement (I think). However, it does nothing to improve my level of inability to socialize and work with people I don't know (which is basically everyone).

Hmmm very interesting. I guess it is hard to know because I don't know how other ASD's minds work. I suppose it is more disabling behaviour than anything else. Just a way of looking at it, ie a blind person is disabled because they can't see things around them rather than that their eyes don't work.

Recently I have been relaxing and just being my ASD self and gosh my mind is on fire. I have to be careful though, it is a bit overwhelming. Over the years I have developed coping mechanisms to handle this by turn some of it off. I have the feeling that before I knew what it was I was shutting it out as much as possible. Not a pleasant time; I felt unhappy and a bit depressed. I now also know why I get so many headaches especially after going to really busy places. I wonder is it possible for most ASD's to do the same? Sometimes I think that lower functioning autistics just have further to climb on the ASD ladder or more to learn to function in society? But I guess getting through to them does get difficult. I do wonder whether HFA's and AS could get through to them where NT have trouble.

Anyway I don't know whether this makes much sense or whether anyone understands this.

Perhaps in the future there will be some developments that might help autistics to reach milestones. It also depends on what those milestones are. Does it matter if some people don't want people around them? I guess it depends on the extent. Could you work from home or perhaps on something that doesn't involve interacting with people. It must be difficult but surely there is a way around it. Are there things that you are good at even if they are not the conventional maths, english, etc. An area of interest maybe? You don't need to answer if you don't want to. I am probably being nosey

Oh btw my daughter is high functioning autistic and has trouble with the whole socialising/talking thing, she gets upset when other kids don't want to play with her (she is nearly 5) Though she has an aptitude for science. Not sure how much yet but seems really bright in this area.

I think you can describe it less as a disability and more a dysability (as in, it's not technically a handicap in the conventional sense of the word, but something that works while still not being quite right - like the way a dysfunctional family works, for instance).

Confuses me as well. Disability or not, it puts you in the same position as the NTs: you have to work really hard to make anything of your life, and there are times that it's going to be difficult. You're going to experience setbacks and struggles, and you're going to spend most of your time unsure as to who you are or where you're going. I guess the NTs are disabled, also. We can't all be disabled, though. Maybe we should be more strict as to what we consider a disability, then.

He'd disabled by virtue of the fact that there are a few things he can't do. If an NT wants to fly, though, is not having wings a disability?

Is there someone in his life dedicated enough to give him a chance to try?

I don't know him. I'd just reaffirm his responsibility to be a good parent, either way. I'm sure he already knows it, but it's something you have to rub people's noses in a few times to make sure it sticks. Have you considered giving him the Ugly Duckling speech? If that doesn't work, take the nominalist approach, and convince him that his head is turning into a peach.

I don't see them doing anything else in the future for individuals with autistic disorder than what they already do (in the "free" world anyway), pension, menial job placement and government housing seems to work the best for everyone involved.

Unfortunately, everything I'm interested in involves people; if I'm not interested in it I don't do it ("narrow and focused interests" to the point of insanity when it's applied to me).

Anyway, I'm working on improving my predicament; it's no mere formality, and it's never going to be easy for me if I wish to step outside my autistic shell into the hell that's called normality.

Perhaps the following will sound sobering, but it's the truth: I'm "pretty" good for an individual with autistic disorder (my psychiatrist said as much). I've achieved nothing more than what you read here academically, socially and vocationally (grade 7 education; after 7 my body was there but my mind wasn't, no social relationships post-puberty "out there" and I haven’t worked at all).

His dad is AS and thinks there is something wrong with himself.
Mum seems to do all the specialist appointments and thinks that he needs as much help as he can get to manage his disability. I don't think she really believes he can get better or perhaps is afraid to think about it in case of disappointment.

So mum is dedicated in a way but a bit negative I think but who can tell the minds of these strange creatures that are NT. I have to figure out what to say to her and I always have trouble writing particularly in stressful situations (sigh).

Probably not but one can hope and perhaps do something if possible. I know what you mean about the free world, the expensive gets really expensive. We lucked out with our daughter she is in a great early intervention school that only costs $45 for the whole year. She has improved so much since being there and is able to communicate alot better.



Ah yeah it is quite a world we live in. I wish you all the best in your improvement. Even though it is hard you might find it a bit rewarding in the end.



So you have potential, thats great You have to start somewhere. There are plenty of NT's that don't have jobs, aren't successful, etc. I use to feel like a failure, never worked anywhere important and never held down a job for more than a year and that was part time and I nearly didn't make it. I still don't have my drivers license but I am working on that atm. I like to think there is always something that people can do to improve themselves.

Why do you use the word "really" in the thread title ?
What is the difference between that and asking: "Is ASD a disability?"

Either case, the answer is "yes".

Okay... one, anyone assuming that the test of whether something is "a disability" or not is some internal factor, or whether there's something "bad" about it, probably hasn't looked too hard at what disability is in general. Disability for most disabled people is a combination of however their bodies/minds work and the environment they are having to deal with, and there are a whole lot of disabled people who have no problem with how their bodies and/or minds work other than that the environment they deal with is not built for them.

And two, most people diagnosed with autism do meet most typical milestones. In the case of a few particular milestones we often meet them late, in a different order, and/or meet them and then later lose whatever skill is involved. But most milestones (i.e. sitting up, walking, etc) are generally met on time or only slightly late compared to typical children, and most of the rest are met at some point in time.

I agree if you change the word 'disability' to 'handicapped'.
eg. someone with no functionality in their legs has a disability. But if they can get around with no problems in a wheelchair they are not handicapped. So it is a combination of mind/body and environment which determines if they are handicapped. However, the person who can't use their legs has a disability irrespective of environment.

Indeed; however, one must define "milestone": financial independence, "serious" interpersonal relationships and academic achievements are what I had in my mind. I forget the exact statistics, but I recall the number was quite low concerning these achievements in individuals with autistic disorder (less than 10 percent); it was much higher among those with Asperger’s.

Autism isn't synonymous with a delay in physical development (as you'd know), it's a delay or a total lack of social development when interacting with society "out there".