Autistic people are not disabled

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she over-annalyzes facial expressions, assuming someone with a neurtal expression is angry or enraged at her.

I'm finding this thread quite an interesting read, not least because I'm almost the same age as the OP (I'm 17).
The idea that autism isn't a disability is something that occurred to me quite recently, when I was thinking about the different symptoms. I won't claim to have a perfectly structured opinion, but I do quite like the idea I came up with. I believe that, as autism is a spectrum, it's possible to be on it without being disabled. I don't believe it is a disability in it's own right, but rather that the symptoms themselves are the disabilities.
For example, my Asperger's is very mild, but I still consider some of my symptoms, such as large amounts of anxiety around unfamiliar people, to be disabling. But some of the other symptoms, such as my intense focus on particular subjects, I consider an advantage, not a disability. Hence I don't consider my Asperger's as a whole to be a disability, just particular parts.
Now, as far as my thinking goes (and please, feel free to add input, I'm not claiming total knowledge), this can only apply to a spectrum. Someone with no legs is disabled because they cannot walk, and that's that. But the spectrum allows a range, from having only disabling symptoms such as crippling anxiety and an inability to recognise facial expressions (assuming you consider them disabling symptoms), to a mix of the two like me, to the extreme other end, composed entirely of positive symptoms such as intense focus (again, assuming you consider that positive). Obviously those people wouldn't be diagnosed, but then of course, they wouldn't need to be. My point is, I don't consider autism in and of itself to be inherently disabling. I just consider particular symptoms disabling.
Another point is that some autistic people are capable of achievements NTs can't do, and vice versa, so it's hard to call one disabled without then applying the same rules to the other. But that, I believe, should be a topic for a different post, this one is long enough. Sorry for any bad syntax, or structure or spelling in this, it's past 2am here at the moment. What do you guys think?

Im having a little trouble following this but it seems this has to do with personal perspective.
Some consider themselves disabled and some don't.
I dont think all ASD can necessarily be considered a disability.
Mainly in that not all people on the spectrum could or should qualify for disability assistance.
Everyone with ASD has difficulties. But difficulties are not necessarily disabilities.
I think it depends on how much ASD impedes your life to function.
For myself if there were no NT's and everyone was AS, I would still need assistance.
I would still have disabilities.

So maybe for someone ASD is merely a difficulty in regards to operating in an NT world.
For me it is a disability, no matter what way you slice it and what scenario you come up with.

I do agree with the point you're making here; it does differ from person to person, and everyone's situation is different. In saying, that I have to also agree with the OP. I think that if we were taught, and raised, in an AS world, we would be less handicapped; not that I have anything against NTs, but the theory is interesting.

I've read that many people with Aspergers struggle in childhood, more so than at adulthood. Talking with many different Aspies online has confirmed this for me. I'm not saying they don't struggle as an adult, but they can become more well adjusted; some more so than others. Some have learned to socialise better, to attempt to network, and even attend parties with NTs. Getting to this point though takes work, so it won't magically occur overnight.

I myself struggled hard as a kid. I was lost, lonely, and undiagnosed. My family moved around often, so I always attributed my poor social skills to the constant change of schools. That, and my parents weren't very involved in raising me, so I've mostly had to learn how to survive, without guidance.

It wasn't until I was in my early years of high school that I made a conscientious decision to help myself out of the dark. It's taken me decades to get the results I wanted, and I had to do it all on my own. I'm glad I did it though, and would recommend others try it too. It's hard work, but it will make your life that much richer.

Sometimes it's a curse that I can't stop thinking. Everything is complicated to me. Including the question of what is disability. Sometimes, yes, it is obvious. A lot of the time I'm really not sure and the person does deserve some freedom to decide for themselves.

I am not disabled nor would I want to be labeled as such. I don't want my child to consider herself disabled, or thought of that way. But I want her recognized and supported. And that means a label I and she have very mixed feelings about, but one which identifies her as sometimes needing to get away from the chaos of the day. And even that small accommodation is a disability and a result of a disability, even though she is incredibly able.

This morning when I finally found my lost keys in my pocket and went to go swimming, alone, because I don't have friends, even though I try, even though I'd like to, I saw a man I recognized with his friend. He looks very comfortable, swims well, and socializes periodically during his swim. I don't recognize faces, even my husband and children if they don't move or speak would be tough. I recognized him because he stares into space and not at his friend. When he gets out, he holds his friend's arm or his white cane. I have no idea what he considers himself disabled or not. I do and I don't. The world does but he may be fully employed have a family and friends.

I'm lucky and have a great deal, the man I'm describing is as well, everyone is different. And disability means different things at different times to different people.

We are rarely I think any of us better off walking around thinking of ourselves as disabled. No matter how much we need help or how much we struggle. Having a sense of dignity and believing we are real and we matter and should have a say in what happens to us are part of our humanity and help us keep trying, and maybe learn something, maybe gain something, give something in the process.

Personally, I have no idea, but I think it was Temple Grandin who pointed out that without Asperger syndrome humans would still be living in caves yacking round the campfire.*



I agree. My own view is that the reason I'm disabled is not because I have a disability but because society is geared up for a narrow range of what it considers normal which then disables me. The problem is them not accepting difference far more than me being inherently disabled. The genetic clusters involved in autism appear to have either persisted since before the earliest splits between human population groups in Africa or have moved down the long-range trade routes a very long time ago, and then persisted. This suggests they conferred evolutionary advantage, and still do for some of us. I see no evidence that this advantage derives from us having power over others (as it does for psychopaths, for instance), which suggests to me that NTs need to be making more allowance for difference, and stop disabling us through their thoughtlessness, ignorance and outright bullying - because that is my experience of disability in their society.



*While some might think this might not be a bad idea, I have my doubts about the fire. Have you ever tried making fire from scratch? It takes intelligence and persistence in the face of repeated failure (read obsession), even when you understand the theory. These are more aspie traits than NT ones.

A further (humorous) aside - I read an evolutionary biologist recently who suggested that one of the first great revolutions occurred when someone, probably in a fit of anger, smashed one rock against another, making the first scraper. I wonder if this was also the first aspie meltdown.

Last edited by Niall on 12 Jan 2014, 10:29 am, edited 1 time in total.

I think i know why im not quite getting this thread, it is sort of abstract.

Ezra, I hope this doesn't offend you, I know I am talking like a mom. I am one, it is part of who I am and my child who is around your age was crying this morning about having inherited an autistic brain. I wish she saw herself for the capable person she is. Anyway, I think everyone is different and with the effort you have put in to learning and where you are, you are disabled and I certainly understand that. I hope someday you feel able enough in enough ways that this thread makes sense, and you know, that could happen...

Any suggestions what to say to my daughter about this from anyone?

I agree with this.

Which doesn't make sense.

The demands placed on adults far exceeds those of children -- sure, you may not have the typical schoolyard stuff as an adult (or you might; the workplace), but you "only" have the expectations of a child.

For the most part, it should be the opposite.

Unless your only problems are with peer relations, but you wouldn't have an ASD if that's all you had.

I wish I had a straight answer to this. If you are, at least from my perspective, honest with her, you can tell her how capable she is, and how her differences make her no less than almost anyone else, and might be a great advantage to her, until you are blue in the face. It might eventually sink in.

This will not change the fact that allistic society will bully her and discriminate against her every chance it gets, because that is what most stinking humans do. Until we are accepted for our differences, this seems unlikely to change.

You can't tell her it will be all right and still be honest with her. She might be one of the minority of aspies who is able to hold down employment and a relationship and avoid the closely related pitfalls of depression and anxiety but, all else being equal, it's not likely. With the best will in the world, she will never fully pass as allistic, and nor should she be expected to.

And that is why we need to change society! The majority of NTs who either bully or don't care are the problem, not her, but that will not make her life any easier!.

I'm understanding it better now that I get why it was not registering.

My suggestion is just to be honest and direct with your daughter.
I mean thats what works best with me

It's hard---I don't consider her disabled. And she isn't disabled, so long as she is accommodated. But I guess that's the problem, maybe I'm not accepting the obvious--if you need to be accommodated and are, the fact of disability stares her in the face every time she goes to the 504 room, probably averages almost an hour a school day. It's nothing to me, she is great! But right in her face there is a problem, isn't it, because she isn't normal no matter how much I want it to be so and no matter how smart, how capable, there it is. In her face.

Thank you for helping me understand.

I have always had trouble applying the word disability to me. In some aspects I do better then the average person. Yet in others, I am completely lost and useless.
A counselor once said to me that I have a situational disability. I do think that term describes me well.

I would be teaching her that being disabled is perfectly compatible with being as great as you see she is, and that you can be disabled and still have strengths, and that you can be disabled and happy, and that you can be disabled and live a fulfilling life.

From personal experience. I suffer more as an adult which is why I even sought out therapy and then got diagnosed. As a child I was "free", no expectations except for going to school everyday. I could play, wear anything I want, have my hair messy, and no one cares because you're a kid. As an adult I have a lot of expectations, college, jobs, marriage, babies, taxes , buy or rent a place, which means moving out, learning how to clean, cook food, etc. as a kid I didn't even think about that stuff.