Aspies, autistic or not?

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I don't see why you'd think there was legit cause to be angry with me.

Things have names and you have to call them by those names. An Aspie IS autistic, with only the language difference resulting in there being an additional term, a sub-catagory.

Why would you get angry with me telling it like it is?

Is it that I mentioned a little fact you don't like to think about?

Look at my avatar. Notice how I fall on the spectrum. Look at my signature. I'm betwixt and between. Autistic enough to absolutely NOT be neurotypical, and yet so close to the edge of the spectrum I slipped thru the cracks for years and nobody quite got the point. I finally figured it out when I was in my 20s and it took YEARS after that before a therapist caught on and got my doctor's motor running. I have a name for what's made me DIFFERENT all this time.

Even at this point in my life, with the coping mechanisms I've developed and the things I've learned, I know for a fact I am absolutely on the spectrum. Originally, all I'd sensed was the "social gap" and that I was lacking in thought processes and skills others have naturally. I could see it was autism.

AFTER the therapist saw the light (on his own I might add, I'd said nothing) I learned more about HFA tendencies, and kept saying "Oh good grief! THAT's an indicator too?!?!?!" These things have shown me there IS a reason why I'm "so close and yet so far", there IS a reason why I am the way I am.

I want a name to call this by, and that's because it's something real and has to be recognized by me and, at times, those interacting with me.

Refuse to recognize that and you risk damaging yourself and others.

You really shouldn't be upset with what I said. I'm saying "Accept reality. It's good for you."

As large as the Autistic Spectrum is, I have little problem with Asperger's being included in it. That said, I think if we do not have a separate disorder from Autism, it might be a good idea to have Asperger's as a way to distinguish it from other forms (as well as titles for other distinguishably different forms within the Autism spectrum in general). The definition of Autism now encompasses a wide a range of disabilities and I think that it should receive distinctions within the spectrum.

I personally prefer the term autistic because I found people are much more accepting of that. I got diagnosed with high functioning autism/asperger syndrome and found when I used the term aspie, people would see that as a quirk and not understand then when I had difficulty in certain situations. Like leaving social occasions because of anxiety and sensory issues.

RubyWings91, I aggree, but they took away the distinctions because there were too many of them and too much overlap. The scientific classifications blurred, - but wait a while, and you will soon see a new forest of distinctions. Personally I have no problem with "autistic".

If it were up to me I would do away with the term Aspergers all together. It should be autism.

Well, to many, and to myself at start, "autist" still implies a very handicapped and secluded person. "Asperger" is ok, until that old picture has faded.

I use both, my diagnosis is 'Autism Spectrum Disorder' technically, but I just use both interchangably.