AS, disability or disadvantage

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On many occasions I've seen AS people stating that they hate being AS. That they consider themselves to be mentally ill, and wish for a cure. But in their complaints I never see things like “I hate being AS because I can lock focus on something and run with it at light speed”, or “I hate being AS because I can forget to have lunch and it completely not bother me. I can be in pain or tired and when I notice it I have to tend to it, but I don't have to experience it”, or “I hate being AS because when I see a bunch of people going on and on about something that just appears neurotic, I thank god I don't have to waste time and effort to that crap.” What I see is mainly that they hate being AS because of how other people have treated them because of it.

I'm not including other conditions here. Anxiety, depression, sensory issues, etc. Not every AS person has these, and most can, and do, exist in NTs. Just the primary AS, “I think differently”.

To my mind, a disability is an inherent incapacity. If one is maltreated because of their attributes, then that is disadvantage, not disability. Being a Negro is not a disability, but a disadvantage in a predominately white society, for example. Being AS is a disadvantage in a predominately NT society, by the same.

I'm just after opinion here. Maybe others don't see it this way. This question is obvious directed at those who are AS (or ADHD or similar). If you are NT, please feel free to offer your opinions also, but please indicate that you are NT for context of viewpoint.

That's what I try to get some people to understand. D:
What they are really upset about is other people giving them problems, not themselves and their brains.
Most of my problems are completely based off of other people doing something. I don't have many problems really, but the ones that I do have are because of other people.
It's more of a disadvantage than a disability. It's also an advantage as well as a disadvantage, like many other things, but I'm not disabled to do typical things.

I guess having Asperger's can be both a disability and a disadvantage.

If you have severe autistic traits, for example, and you can't function in the normal working world, can't learn to drive, etc, then that is definitely a disability.

If you're high functioning like myself and you're awkward in meetings, find it difficult to talk on the phone and run pell mell from social gatherings, then it's a disadvantage.

Neither--what we're forgetting about is al the GOOD stuff about Asperger's that we sometimes lose sight of around here.

Just because some of us think it's a disadvantage doesn't mean that we don't also think it's an advantage.

Definitely both- So many positives, but also so many negatives, for my opposing viewpoints seem to agitate, amongst other things So I'm mute always.

I think that in many ways it is an advantage. Maybe not in relating to NTs, but who cares, I don't feel a strong desire to connect with them anyway. If you have a more severe case then there would be more disadvantages. However, I am high functioning, and I was glad when I got my diagnosis. For a long time I felt like I thought differently from others, that I was on a higher intellectual plane, but I had no evidence to back this up as I can't experience what other people are thinking or feeling, so I would then feel bad for thinking so highly of myself.

Now I know that I really am on a different intellectual plane, and I do think it is a higher one. Sure, I lack social intelligence, but I find that irrelevant anyway. My AS is great at school or at work, where I am often praised for my ability to think differently and appreciated for my detail-oriented nature. I feel like I am apart from the rest of the human race, observing them. This used to make me feel lonely, but now that I know I am Aspie and there are others of us out there, I feel like we are together, on our own separate plane of existence.

I like this, and I am thankful that I was born as me instead of into the mass of sheeple that don't "get" it.

This quote from Temple Grandin sums up my feelings pretty well:
"If you got rid of all the autism genetics, you wouldn't have science or art. All you would have is a bunch of social 'yak yaks.'"

Neither, it's both. Anyway, in certain situations it can be both a disability and an ADVANTAGE.

"It Depends" would be my best guess.

It depends on the severity of the condition, the support of friends and family, and the individual's own skills and talents.

I got "lucky", in that the AS was just severe enough to force me to find refuge in books, which led me to develop my skills in engineering and my talents in trouble-shooting. This was in spite of the lack of social support from my family and the almost utter lack of friends as I was growing up.

They give me a disability pension for having it, so... .

since i hate the new world order i don't get any jobs.... sad...
plus my autism is a result of the big pharma companies...
god humanity is ****** up....
\\stupid sheeple//

You ain't just whistlin' Dixie, my friend.

It causes disabilities and very good abilities. But it is a strong disadvantage because the areas where it causes disabilities are heavily valued by the neuromajority and the areas where it causes high abilities are either not recognized by the neuromajority or they are so drawn to and value those areas where it is a disability they miss the good traits.

Last edited by ASPartOfMe on 27 Oct 2013, 3:38 am, edited 1 time in total.

As I have a learning disability I don't see AS as a disability, not sure about disadvantage that's only what other people think usually NTs who think everyone should be exactly like them.

But what if AS means you fail at school (just picking this as it's usually what "learning disability" hinders)?

If you have an IQ of 160+ but can only focus on your special interest (which has nothing to do with schooling), then you'll be disabled compared to your peers.

Or you can't stand being at school due to social symptoms [that have nothing to do with other people].

Lots and lots of ways for AS to disable someone equally or more than other disorders.

You do have a good point I failed miserably at school in the end I went to a special school as I was being bullied at the primary school.