Disability does not necessarily mean inability

Post Reply New Topic

I think this is a concept that some people need to understand especially some people who received an autism diagnoses at a young age. As a medical diagnosis the autism diagnosis is by definition is about what is wrong. Impairments the word used in the DSM is not equivalent to unable. It often means that certain things are going to be harder and often much harder for us then those same things are for most people.

This post is not about the you can do anything if you put your mind to it BS that is so rampant. Sorry motivational speakers of the world, sometimes disability does mean inability.

What this is about is my feeling that for way too many people around here the combination of legitimate frustrations and the label telling them what is wrong with them do end up thinking they can’t and never will do things they can making the never will aspect come true unnecessarily.

It certainly doesn't mean "inability." I don't care if that's a cliche. It must be drummed into people.

That's why I feel like a term like "ableist" is sort of a misnomer.

People who are "disabled" are actually "able" in many ways.

I see my AS as a disability, but I don't see myself as a useless eater. There are many things that I'm able to do that a lot of people can't do. I'm a very good artist. I'm also good at loom knitting.

I can not drive because of my Aspergers.
I can not work in retail or fast food or some other job that requires talking to strangers and pretending to be happy. Disability has its limitations and it restricts a person on what he/she can do.
You can not magically think disability away and it is not just attitude.