Why be proud of having an ASD or any disability?

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I'm officially diagnosed at 41yrs. I'm noticing all these articles, blogs, videos, people I know in person who are proud to be autistic. Having it for me is another diagnoses of my disabilities which I will not be proud of any of them. I live & cope with them. Being proud of oneself should not include any mental or physical disability. I honestly don't understand this autism pride. I'm ashamed of all the relationships I ruined with it. About how confusing I come across & lack of communication skills has had very significant negative effects upon my life. Am I supposed to be proud to be depressed with neuroticism?

I'm not proud of it at all. I was diagnosed at 8 years old and I hated it then and I hate it now. It is not "who I am". It is something I have got. That's the way I see it.

Hi Joe90,
Thank you for sharing! It helps me feel less alone. I'm overwhelmed by all the "work" required to improve my life quality. Mentally & physically.

Life is what you make it. I choose to make a good life for myself by being proud of my AS. When I'm unemployed, I look for work. If I have a bad day, I laugh it off. I want to be the one who stands tall and flies high instead of slumping over and making myself invisible. Happiness is a choice. We can choose to be happy, or we can choose to be miserable. I choose happiness. I set out to prove my doubters wrong, every day of my life. I like being a fighter. It makes me feel strong.

Autism Speaks does not speak for me.

I'm not proud of it at all and even less proud of the negative things it brings. I am glad that I have a fairly good life now, with a variety of opportunities for social contact. This was not the case even five years ago. I have to concentrate on maintaining a good life and finding ways to improve.

Why should one be "proud" of something that is not their accomplishment?

I wouldn't use the word "proud" but I'm open with my quirks. If we install escalators for wheelchairs and sound signals at traffic lights, why shouldn't I demand some acceptance to my shortcomings? They cost even less, I sometimes need solitude and silence, sensory control and not to be pushed for conversations and eye contact.
I don't want to be invisible. I want the society to know that people like me exist and that we are valid members of the said society.

I am not proud of having AS but I am proud of being able to live with it. It can be considered quite an accomplishment, don't you think? Many people would just give up if they were me and to be honest I was about to give up many times in my life. The fact I am still alive means I am strong. And being strong is something to be proud of. Keep on living with AS is like winning a fight every day.

Yep...pretty much what Kiriae said.

"Proud" to be able to live with it. Neutral about "having" it.

I feel being "ashamed" for having autism is absurd. You're not doing harm to anybody by having autism. You are not morally decrepit for having autism.

Because any way you look at it, life is better than death. I'm glad my mum didn't abort me.

BECAUSE IT MAKES PEOPLE HAPPY DESPITE HOW PAINFUL IT TRULY IS

"Proud" isn't a word I use often. When I accomplish something, I'm excited and happy, especially if it is something unexpected. It gives me confidence to move on to my next goal. Unfortunately, I think I have hit a plateau in terms of life accomplishments. I am working on moving forward with my life.

I did not create my ASD I was born with it so no reason to be proud or ashamed of it. I am proud of things I have accomplished dispite the disadvantages both from being a minority and the traits. I am ashamed of some decisions I made that my Aspie traits steered me towered but the I knew better not to follow but did anyway.

Being an Aspie has its benefits and drawbacks. I hesitate to say I'm proud of being one - if anything, I'm in two minds about it. But I don't let it get me down.

I'm not proud, and I'm not ashamed. I am frustrated because of my autism. I can't cope with anything: My ex-boyfriend used to call me a "Trigger-fest".

I am made of glass and full of fire. I want to live a normal, peaceful life but I can't cope with my chronic, debilitating anxiety and hysterical, violent meltdowns and the guilt that comes with them, afterwards. ("Oh God, what have I done?" is my catchphrase.)





I can relate to the above. ^^

Edit: Okay, maybe I am ashamed. Horrified at what I do when I lose control.