@Gideon
Legal Definition of Disablity that those with Autism fall under for the Americans with Disability Act "ADA":
Quote:
Statutory Definition -- With respect to an individual, the term "disability" means
(A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual;
(B) a record of such an impairment; or
(C) being regarded as having such an impairment.
Having an impairment that substantially limits ones ability to Socially Interact, is why Autism is considered legally as a disability. The ability to socially interact is a major life activity.
Does this mean a person with Autism is broken. A broken man can mean many things: an unhappy man, a depressed man, an unemployed man, a man no longer able to function, etc.
While all people diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum are considered to have a legal disability because they have an impairment that limits a major life activity, whether or not an Autistic person is broken is a subjective judgement.
I could call a person with Autism broken because they have an impairment; but it is meaningless if they are happy with the way they function.
I could also call a person with Autism an individual with a legal disability; if I had proof of that diagnosis; but it would still be up to that person, to psychologically accept it as a disability or even minor impairment.
And, if a person is happy with the way they function and it doesn't impair any major life activities, from the perspective of a psychiatrist, they would not meet the criteria that is required for a diagnosis of Autism. In this case they wouldn't meet the ADA legal definition of disability, either.
There is nothing wrong with a person defending the value they see in their self as a unique individual; just trying to provide the most objective definitions I am aware of to clarify the difference between broken and disabled.
If a person is in the working world and is diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum, the ADA law can help that individual avoid discrimination in the workplace. It can make a difference in having a job and not having a job.
Even if an individual with Autism perceives that they get along well with their fellow employees; a perception, otherwise, by a supervisor, without the backing of the ADA, could lead to an individual's termination.