I feel that Asperger's Syndrome is a disability but that it can be helpful in some aspects, depending on it's severity.
People with autism have sensory issues and trouble interpreting social cues. We have trouble dealing with disruptions in our routines. not to mention the meltdowns. No matter how you slice it, this is a problem. It interferes with our ability to function in day to day life. There are jobs that I refused to consider simply because I knew my disability would interfere with my performance.
That is not to say that there can't be any advantages for having it advantages. That very sensory sensitivity might play a role in you noticing things that others don't or encourage you to take an interest in sensory related activities, such as music or art. Your focus on interests may lead you to being extremely knowledgeable in a useful field. The need for organization and intense focus can lead to you being able to perform major organization related tasks better than most people are capable of.
If someone are high functioning enough, they might also be able to come up with ways to minimize the disabling factors of it as well. I think a major reason that boys are diagnosed more often than girls is because girls often develop behaviors that naturally mitigate many of the issues of Asperger's Syndrome related to social challenges. They can mask their problems enough to hide.
10 Dec 2023, 8:00 pm
