ASD as minority identity

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True but autism is oftentimes just a disorder, not a disability. For me personally, I wouldn't actually require any accommodations for my disorder because I don't have any disability that would prevent me from getting a job. I went to a vocational program for autistic people years ago where I'm almost certain many of them were able to do any basic, non-specialized job anyone else could but they were still treated as though they lacked job skills (almost no job skills were taught there regardless, we mostly played board games, drew pictures and were talked to like we were five year olds, despite the average age being 25. They then paid employers to hire us and said "see, you're qualified to work now, you just got a job! We helped you!" Ugh, what a joke...).

I wouldn't want to be seen as "disabled" because I'm not, but if these groups are getting ahead based on their societal status then I think that should be the case for me and others like me. But that won't happen because autism isn't a "trendy" identity that makes the workplace look more hip, cool and diverse.

That's a tough one... everyone wants to be treated differently, although it's always in a way that favors and benefits them. It's hard to accommodate everyone in that sense, especially since everyone wants someone else to be the accommodating one.

We have members on here who fall into multiple categories, such as LGBT, so let's not have any negative comments on the validity of others' identities. We are all part of a very broad spectrum. We have high functioning folk who despite their smartness find it difficult to fit into a regular workplace environment. We have those whom were referred to earlier, who need attention and assistance sometimes up to 24/7. Still others have a wide range of other co-morbidities (what a word! )

So it's very tough to find common ground. But that;s also the case among LGBT folk (huge variety there, from tough truckers to drag artistes, non binary, kink and so forth).

Because ASD is not appealing enough to those that deem what is a minority.

My intentions weren't to disparage other people's disorders or identities, I was just pointing out the false dichotomy between an identity and an actual disorder or disability, especially when disabled people (or people with something akin to what most would perceive as a disability) tend to be far more discriminated against in the workplace. You can oftentimes hide your identity (especially the none visible ones) but it's much harder to hide a visible disorder/disorder. Also, much of what you described in the LGBTQI community is related to activities you choose to partake in, not something you're born with. You can keep your kinks and fetishes to yourself but you can't keep autism to yourself.

Perhaps you underestimate how difficult it is to repress natural LGBTQI urges/traits? And autism is an often an invisible disability.

There do exist some corporations with special hiring programs for autistic people. So far, such programs tend to be primarily for tech workers, because it has become well-known that many (though by no means all) autistic people are able to excel at tech. (See my list of Resources for autistic tech job seekers. See also the Wrong Planet thread Autistic-friendly workplaces.)

To answer the more general question of why autistic people aren't more widely recognized as a minority "identity" group: Because the autistic community isn't anywhere nearly as well-organized, as a subculture, as are most ethnic minorities, the LGBTQ+ community, etc.

IMO, having a better-organized subculture would help us in lots of ways. See my Longterm visions for the autistic community and Autistic Workers Project pages.

Of course, building groups of autistic people is a big challenge, due to our social difficulties. But some of us have made some progress in doing this.