The "D" word for autism?

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OK. So I've just seen myself called dysfunctional. I find that offensive. In fact, I find most of these labels offensive.

I'll not surprise anyone by saying that my own vote goes to "difference".

My second choice would be "disability". I do find that my Asperger's syndrome is disabling, to an extent, as society currently doesn't accommodate some of my differences particularly well (as I found out last week, when the National Autistic Society flashed images in my eyes for an hour, without thinking it might destroy my concentration).

I really would like people to stop calling me diseased or disordered.

Last edited by lau on 09 Apr 2008, 8:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I like the word, deviance, because it reminds me of X Men.

I like Lau found most of the words quite offensive.

I assume that distiction is supposed to be distinction?

If there were specifics suggesting that ASDs were in any way specific, I might lean towards that as a second choice.

As it is, I chose "difference"... but I lean on changing the D to an S and prefer to use "situation".

Ah well, so mt spell check didn'y seem yo pick up on yhay one. "Disyincyion" now has iys full complemeny of "n"s. I reallt yhoughy I had yried hard yo proof read iy all, buy yhere alwats will be yhe odd ket cap yhay dodges sidewats, jusy as tou go yo ytpe iy.

smaryalec! lol

difference / disability / distinction

It is many different things, and it affects people differently. We're all different, but we experience varying degrees of disability and distinction.

To many, we are deviant. But deviance is usually in the eye of the beholder, not the so-called deviant.

difference

I like "distinction." The other I am not fond of too much.

Dracula.

Deviance

How about diaspora?

It is a dysfunction.

That's the first result for define:dysfunction.

This is my dictionary's definition of it:

The DSM-IV-TR has "disorder" and "disability". The former is the name for the ASD umbrella, as well as the specific disorders; the latter is used in relation to the effects.

I don't find the above two offensive at all as they explain the difficulties one will experience.

I prefer the word different, my generally honest nature made me vote disability since Aspergers has taken more from me than it has given.

The word "pathological" is also worth looking up.

Also, as usual, who defines "normal"?


I liked that one, but as I don't believe that the proportion of autistic individuals has been significantly different throughout history, I don't think it works, after all. OTOH, it is true that the awareness is spreading.


I find that one rather interesting. Do we have any idea why the DSM attempted (in 1994) to change Asperger's from a syndrome to a disorder?

Again, from the OED:
then

I.e. for some reason (standardisation?) in 1994, after 23 years of aspies and auties having collections of symptoms, the DSM changed them to being disordered people.

(Symptom is a term I'm happy with. A runny nose is a symptom of a cold - or it could be a symptom of peeling onions. Intelligent speech is a symptom of an active mind)

The dictionary.



Normal is average, normal is mediocre.