Do you ever disclose just to spread awareness?

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I've done both (poll), though I don't do it very often. In this day and age, people tend to believe that being on the spectrum means you're 'violent' or a 'potential risk', if I see that people act that way, and I know them personally, I tell them the reality of it, but if I don't know them, I don't disclose because people like that are generally closed minded unless they find out that they know someone who's on the spectrum. It's almost like they're playing a game where they're a supposed expert simply because no-one else is there to expose their stupidity all the time.

It only helps some of the time, people that don't know me personally, or people who are just idiots (who remain in ignorance willfully, who ignore facts when they're presented with them), generally don't listen to a word on the matter, and sadly that's the majority of people online.

makes one angry, no? if that is all he/she did, to dismiss all you said based on your label, i do not know how that debate went but it could also be the case that he knew you were right, and used your label as a "straw" to grasp at. people tend to to that, in my experience when they know they are losing.
on many websites i go on "autism" is thrown around as an insult, they seem to really take it up the ass.

i have an IEP, my autism diagnosis is a pretty big part of it. my teachers are told too but they never bring it up when i talk to them.
my sister knows. my parents know, my cousins know i'm different but not necessarily that it's due to something called "autism".

i have only disclosed to a few other people, those that don't already know, that is. one asked me "...so, like what's wrong with you?"
i was somewhat bothered by the way she made it seem as though i had serious problems but it was nothing too personal, i dismissed it. she told me "i seemed normal" when i told her i had aspergers. half a year later i told her i had "autism" and she thought those two were different conditions entirely. we ended up going separate ways, i don't know why but autism is not the issue i'm sure.

the two other people i disclosed to, both girls my age. they were not very surprised, in fact one told me that "half the school knew you were autistic."

i do not disclose much at all, but when i do it is if i can benefit and accommodate (to medical professionals, for example) and to spread awareness, of how i can have this thing and function well and fit in, and i don't fit in with their sick preconceived image. i have not really observed the effects it had on those people other than that they did not care much, but one came to me recently for advice about her cousin who is also seemingly autistic, and driving her up the wall.

I've tried in the past but I think in the end, it just flies over people's heads.

^seems to be the case with me, too.

No, my mom explains who asks about me - I'm obviously special needs...(though I can say the word 'autism' very rarely).