#i guess its kinda similar to how i dont *dislike* the word neurodivergent per se. but it sure feels like at least some people are using it

[swordsonnet]

maybe i'm missing something here, but it always confuses me when i see things like "some autistic people are disabled by their autism and some aren't" or "not everyone sees their autism as a disability". because... autism very much is a disability?! if you're autistic, then your symptoms must be present in a way that is disabling to you in your everyday life. it's literally in the diagnostic criteria. of course the extent to and areas in which you're disabled can vary greatly depending on the individual, but disability is part of the basic definition of autism, regardless of your personal feelings on the matter.

don't get me wrong, it's still much better than "autism is only a disability because of capitalism" because at least it doesn't make sweeping generalisations that aren't even remotely accurate to the lived reality of most autistic people. but it still perpetuates incorrect assumptions under the guise of personal choice, and honestly feels like an attempt to distance autism from disability in general. being disabled is nothing to be ashamed of, and i wish people wouldn't twist the meaning of autism to remove disability from it.

(and yes, that goes for level 1/low support needs autistics as well. i would be considered level 1 (though i wasn't diagnosed that way) and i'm still disabled by my autism! not to the same extent as many other people, sure, but i'm still disabled. if i wasn't, i wouldn't be autistic.)

#autism #actually autistic #actuallyautistic #what the hell. i'll put this in the main tags #i just don't understand what personal feelings have to do with this. autism literally *is* a disability thats a fact #(okay obviously the diagnostic criteria were created by humans and humans are fallible etc. #but if we extend the definition of autism so far beyond its original meaning then would autism even be a useful term anymore?) #stuff like this always leaves a bad taste in my mouth because it reeks of internalised ableism #i dont want to tell anyone how to identify. but if youre insisting that your autism isnt a disability even though by its very definition #it is - idk ive been in a similar position in my teens and finally acknowledging that i'm disabled and that doesnt make me any less worthy #as a person has made me more compassionate towards myself and others #it just worries me how autistic people on here are trying to pass off their autism as 'just quirky' or whatever #like if you genuinely are just quirky then thats fine! but if you arent disabled by it then i'm sorry but its not autism #i guess its kinda similar to how i dont *dislike* the word neurodivergent per se. but it sure feels like at least some people are using it #so they dont have to say mentally disabled #disability is not a dirty word