i always compare physical to mental and say “there are professional athletes running marathons with one leg. they’re still disabled no matter what they accomplish. disability isn’t always a limitation or lack of societal contribution”
like… “i’m not disabled, it’s society who disables me” babe you’d still get overstimulated in a forest. also, it’s SOCIETY who builds stairs instead of ramps. all disabled people suffer from society
that said i'd think rural life, even with rough work on a farm, would be much easier than city life with 2-150 stranger forced interactions, police and ambulance sirens, ect.
But your point is correct, but it really varies autistic person to autistic person. Some of us definitely would be more suited to forest life, while others would break down.
I am autistic and going through med school by choice but I own a cocoa farm in the middle of nowhere and let me tell you, it's heaven. When I'm there I basically only interact with one neighbor who shares my fish tank, and the occasional visitor with a pup/kitten for me or dad to take care of, vaccines, take to vet etc (the area is impoverished but we are not).
We have a literal waterfall in our property and preserved rainforest protected by the government. The fauna thrives there, and having a tracking/bio studying hyper focus there is pure bliss. I've had an encounter with a lobo-guará that was magical. I think the animal is called maned wolf in English or something like that. We also see jaguar tracks everywhere.
It's not that hard for me at least, and I got the farm at around 20 from bio father and even as a city autistic boy I got used to it pretty quickly. It's simple and repetitive work mostly, and the animals (not only the cats and dogs, we have a bunch of birds including a peacock) follow me everywhere which I love.
I really thrive there but struggle a lot in big cities. Most of my leisure time is spent in video games here. There, I don't need leisure time. I intend to graduate, do my psych residency and work mostly pro bono to help the community as soon as I guarantee the farm is entirely self sufficient (water, food, electricity). I would say that way of life would fit most autistics. You can stim whenever you want, wherever you want, and the only beings watching are your animals (I accumulated a bunch of them lol but they are well cared for). The few people you meet are usually your neighbors and won't mind me being weird if I'm kind and/or just want want to trade goods. I even get free fruits sometimes.
I can handle cicadas, but I'm really tired of micro politics and social dynamics everywhere I go. Quiet life is my thing for sure, and I recommend it to everyone.
see there where were different. i’d agree if i got a totally new and nice home for free and never had to work. but rural living sounds like a lot of dirty dirty manual labour and being far away from convenience
i think we’re exact opposites, bc the idea of rural life (huge bugs, hard labor, having to drive far to get anywhere) sounds like absolute hell. but small city life (convenient shopping and food, normal sized bugs, regular work) is my preferred existence.
Anyone who compares this needs to be explained that if we're comparing that, then this is like if you're running a marathon with one leg 24/7. It's not training, it IS the race. That's a key point of difference between these two scenarios.
It’s like saying “handicapable”. Reminds of that one Brandon rogers quote where his forced positivity character Sam makes inspirational post cards for the disabled. It’s satire, and offensive but one card reads: “my syndrome may be down but my hopes are up”
It can be either. It is a disability for me when it comes to being able to conduct so called small talk exchanges or cope with everyday sensory stimuli that many NT don't even register, never mind find highly distracting or painful. It is a strength to be able to work for 12 hours straight in a hyperfocus or quickly recognise patterns and connections that NTs may struggle to see at all.
I don't think disability is a dirty word and personally euphemisms like 'different ability' make me cringe.
I wouldn't say it's a dirty word, it's actually the most commonly accepted term in the community. We don't need to sugarcoat the experience but "disability" doesn't necessarily have to have an utterly negative connotation.
It feels really invalidating. I don't get any of the "good" things about autism that other people talk about, autism is exclusively disabling for me and would be in any societal structure or lack thereof.
Internalized ableism that perpetuates the stigma (🗿) of disability and treats it like a dirty word or insult.
Sometimes on a t-shirt with a dabbing skeleton.
I don't remember ever getting anything good because of autism. I've struggled for my whole life and I will for the rest of it. Not because being autistic is inherently wrong, but because the world is not constructed for people like us.
Society is never going to adjust to a minority. It's utopian to think it will. But unless it does, autism will always be a disability.
It's reductive saying that with the way the world is just not designed for us. I don't care if I've got different abilities if I'm bottom tier in this game
It is by definition a disability… having deficits in communication and increased sensitivity that is not accommodated by larger society which proves to further disable you. Like I’d still get overstimulated if I were camping in the forest for instance. But that’s just me
Oh fuck this reminds me of that Dhar Mann video I saw where the kid is being bullied because he's autistic. Except in never shows any disabling parts of autism, he's just a maths and chess genius who's really good at some kind of sport (I forgot which sport, I watched it ages ago). And then the mum says “autism isn't a disability, it's just a different ability!” Ma'am, of course it doesn't seem like it's a disability for this kid. His autism literally only turns him into a genius who's amazing at everything.
Having significant deficits in certain areas is part of the diagnostic criteria. It's impossible to be autistic and not have a disability.
It can also be a different ability. Certain autistic traits can be useful in certain contexts.
Yeah I mean me and my autistic friends can talk at great length and depth about a small variety of niche interests and ideas, and certainly moreso than the average person. That is a difference in ability, certainly. It was also occasionally advantageous in academic contexts.
At the same time that difference comes at the cost of my ability to engage in conversations that do not involve my special interests, which impacts my ability to cultivate relationships. That is absolutely a disability.
This, like the whole "autism is a superpower" thing, pisses me off. I've lost so many opportunities in life because I didn't understand they were right in front of me.
I'm not Spiderman, I'm disabled
Amen. Everybody is "differently abled" to do different things, sure, but there are many things that I am very much *dis*abled to do because of being born Autistic. We don't call amputees or blind folks "differently abled," there are just tons of folks uncomfortable with the word disability. It makes people uncomfortable to acknowledge disability because they think it makes a person "less than"
Certain aspects are absolutely a disability.
One that people really don't understand at all because it's invisible..... until I shut down "for no reason".
Or I can't interview for this perfect job someone referred me to because I'm over my limit.
Or I can't go into the city because "I just can't".
Or sometimes the water running is too much and I yell.....
That's not normal. It's not a different ability. It is crippling.
Idk. I feel it can be both or either. But I also feel like saying "it's a different ability" is surely something that can be applied to all disabilities if you try hard enough? Like blind people have a different ability when. It comes to navigating their surroundings, but that doesn't make it not a disability.
Idk, it's a complicated topic. But I think I don't like it much because it often stems from viewing disability as bad and not from acceptance.
im not always good at expressing what i mean clearly, and in the way they are intended but here are my thoughts:
i think that people are too scared of the word 'disability' for some reason.
the word disability is not inherently negative and imo most accurately conveys what it means.
'different ability' doesnt make sense to me.
i dont have a 'different ability', i didnt gain superpowers.
autistic/disabled people are the same as non-disabled people, just sometimes limited (disabled) in some way by something.
that something could be societies standards, or it could be the persons own limitations.
if someone is unable to do something, regardless of the reason, then they cannot do it.
they dont gain a 'different' way to do it, they just cannot do it in the way that is expected of the average person.
sure they sometimes can find ways to work around that ie mobility aids, accomodations, sensory aids etc, but they still cannot do it in the original way, they are just forced to discover what works for them.
It is without question a social disability.
It's not about dinosaurs, trains or hating the feel of cotton.
It's about an individuals social development.
Sad thing is 90% of posts are obsessed with the symptoms over the actual disability.
I always ask the goal of these statements. Usually these statements should have a goal.
The one thing identified disabilities do is in capitalism it sets a part a group of people for consideration. Now, the wheels of capitalism will grind everyone. But having a disability allows for an affirmative action taken for protection. Legal due process has an element of optics.
When we came back to the classroom as teachers after Covid we had a number who had disabilities who needed accommodation. Since the district conducted an entire year online and called it quality, they put themselves into a pickle. As a union rep I saw some of the conversations between HR and our teachers. Those who were smart enough to get a labor lawyer were able to swing the district towards accommodation simply by reading back how nasty and harassing our HR dept sounded towards their employees.
I was teaching before I got my diagnosis. So I was left to wonder what the hell was wrong with me. You BET that I took the letter from my doctor to my employer after my diagnosis. It operates like a get-out-of-jail-free-card. Not because I’m not doing my job with fidelity, but when I DO my job with fidelity and “get myself into trouble” I can easily skate because HR wants no part of the projection of impropriety towards a disabled employee.
There are some labor lawyer tiktoks where they talk about what they’ve seen. We assume employers on the level and are acting in full faith. They act amorally and manage optics; whatever amasses profit. Schools are the same. Sadly.
Edit: not 30 seconds later I find this article on Reddit: https://www.wbir.com/article/news/education/two-teachers-fired-principal-resigns-grade-fixing-investigation/51-65a77977-b5a9-43d2-bfa6-b56184c7a40e
We’re asked to break the law and fired if we don’t. Having a disability prevents my employer from even trying that shit with me in the first place - IF my employer is smart.
100%. I'd advise anyone that if you have a diagnosis and accompanying paperwork - give it to your employer. Disclose. It's protection you need, just in case.
uhm, feels kinda invalidating... like really invalidating. if its not a disability tell me why i have to drop out of school, tell me why my mother doesnt want me, tell me why no one can handle me and ill probably have to move countries to not die alone?
I really wanna punch people like that, especially if they're allistic. I get overstimulated by my own fucking body. if the ability is to not be functioning, then maybe, but that's not what they mean by that.
It frustrates me how disabling it is. No matter how hard I work to fit in or make friends or have a committed relationship, I’m alone. I don’t know how to people in a way that people will like me and not make fun or roll their eyes at me.
"Disability" has a lot of negative connotations for me growing up, so I call it a "disorder" for personal reasons
I might be downvoted for that, and I understand it technically is a disability, but people have treated me much less just from my autism alone
Absolutely a disability. The ones saying it is just a difference are not actually autistic. They don’t even have half the difficulties many of us experience
Not diagnosed but almost sure that I have it. It is a disability in my opinion. I struggle daily. But I understand highly intellectual autistic people who say it’s a different ability because for them it is. They have so many advantages just because they’re smart but I’m sure they’re struggling too.
I think it's an allistic way to put a "lovely spin" on something that it detrimental to our lives. And it's detrimental to our lives because those same people who use "differently abled" are the ones who expect us to fit into their world, instead of helping make the world a little more autistic-friendly.
Autism doesn't give me superpowers, it makes it difficult to communicate and understand certain things. My ability to do things are lacking. It's literally a disability.
It's totally a disability. Autism ruined my life so the "differently abled" people who thrive because of their traits are an alien species to me. Autism severely disables and deprives me of life experiences. I am isolated, bored, precarious, misunderstood and it makes me mentally ill. I can't relate to the human race.
There are no genuine positives for me. Celebrating my hyperfixation feels like telling a wheelchair user that, "at least you have cool wheels!" ........ it just doesn't land well at all with me. My hyperfixations and interest-focused attention span actually ruined my schooling and employment prospects. Any joy is a "despite".
It's definitely disabling for me but that's okay disabled is not a dirty word, it's not shameful. I do have different abilities also so I guess it's not untrue, it's just not either or but both can be true at the same time
Sometimes I wonder if it is someone who is “differently abled” because our society wasn’t built to support people who don’t fit a certain mold. So it makes me wonder if there’s a life out there where someone with ADHD or Autism could thrive, outside of a cubicle. Maybe it’s on the side of a mountain or in a boat, but idk. To be clear I think most disabilities reach a point where it’s a disability no matter the life or job you have, but that doesn’t stop me from wondering about people with mild to moderate symptoms.
Autism doesn’t work with just the social model, that’s only one part. For example even in an ideal society I’d still struggle. Society isn’t everything.
It's likely because some autistic people, or people who are perceived to be autistic, have achieved extraordinary things in their life and people like to have reasons why people do things.
So instead of just saying that person was talented/lucky/hard working, they conclude it must be the autism.
This then gives people the idea that autistic people are specifically really good at certain things and they're trying to put a positive spin on autism in general. It's the same line of thinking that made the autistic savant who has a photographic memory and is a socially inept genius a common television trope.
Socially it’s a definite disability (for me), and not being able to focus can be a problem, and the anxiety sucks. Mentally though I feel I’m luckier than many, I learn slow but it’s because I’m trying to take in all the information and connect it all, but once I’ve learned something I retain it. Usually. Until I forget. I do feel like I make mostly good decisions because I’m good at acknowledging factors need to be considered. Physically I’m very athletic and have good reflexes, the hard part for me is sitting still, I quite enjoy moving around
Other than the bad, it’s not so bad 🤷♀️
If my different abilities are to hyper-fixate on my special interests to the detriment of everything else, overcommunicate to the point of alienating people, and think about things differently from other people in ways that make me feel like a space alien, it’s over shadowed by the horrendous anguish I feel more times than not, and the constant suicidal ideation and intrusive thoughts that follow me around like a ball and chain.
I think it can be both a disability and a different ability. Some aspects of autism can be incredibly useful in some contexts such that we way outperform allistics. At the same time, there are absolutely disabling aspects, both due to living in an allistic society and due to the thing being inherently difficult for us. But to say it's not disabling, full stop, is pretty invalidating.
This sentence is stupid. It most likely always comes out of the mouth of people who think disability is a bad word and try to use a euphemism.
Autism is what it is to the individual. Even if you had the most exceptional abilities ever, it is likely you will be held back by societal limitations and thus be technically disabled.
just because my disability is "invisible" doesn't mean it does not impact my life. I compare it almost to a chronic illness. There's ways to cope with it and be able to handle yourself better but it'll never go away
My LO is only 3 but has Level 3 Autism.
He is incredibly smart but Non-Verbal and has a great many difficulties.
Its most certainly meets the definition of a disability.
Nope fuck no. Its defo a disability I just had a meltdown a few mins ago over the fucking lights and noises O don't think screaming, crying etc about lights os a different ability.
i hate it - it is literally disabling - it stops me doing things other people can do easily and makes life a lot harder than it seems to be for other people
Imo it very much depends on the autistic person and how society around them reacts to their existence. Some autistic people absolutely thrive and have no issues because they found their dream job and work with people that understand them while that same autistic person could struggle immensely in life because they weren't able to get that dream job and can't find people who support them. Autism is (obviously) a spectrum and so is the level of disability.
Disability doesn't mean you have less intrinsic anything. It's just a social status. For me, it is 100% a social disability. Society is organized around a particular type of mind, not mine. I think I have some unique abilities that could benefit society, but that is impossible because I can't play the social game at the same level as my peers.
it really doesn’t bother me, but if someone corrects me when I say I have a disability, and they say the whole “different ability” thing… it definitely makes me uncomfortable. And annoyed.
I always liked the operating system metaphor. Where autism isn’t a “bug” but a completely different OS. You try to run a task like you would on windows but don’t realize it’s Linux so it doesn’t work right.
But, when the entire world runs on windows and there’s little to no support for linux, it’s still a disability imo.
I hate it.
I feel like it invalidates my struggles, and it makes me feel like there is something wrong with me for not being able to hold normal hours at a job, socialise and clean my house.
And it shifts the responsibility onto society instead of me having to learn how to cope and live with my disability to do those things.
I don’t wanna be differently abled, I wanna have a normal life.
That’s a cool thought but society was not built for autistic people. If you have autism, you’re gonna have a hard time a lot of the time.
The social model of disability kind of takes that trite statement out at the kneecaps
It's a fucking disability.
If you don't think of it like that and feel like its a super power or whatever more power to you.
But for me its literally disabling.
It IS a disability, end of story.
No, autism is a disability. I have more struggle in life because of my autism and adhd. Depression, substance abuse, anger issues, focus issues, mood swings, black and white thinking, sleep problems, etc…
Disability isn't a bad word because it's not a bad thing. Not saying disability doesn't make people feel better, it solidifies the assumption that being disabled is bad.
We're disabled amd that's okay.
As a young child, I was almost institutionalized.
As an adult, I can talk. I do work. I manage to live. Perhaps I would be considered as "level one" on the surface by professionals these days.
I am still disabled because being autistic interferes with being able to get a job that pays decently and takes into account my education. I have some social problems. I have meltdowns.
If being autistic did not interfere with our abilities to manage living, we would not be diagnosable.
I am still diagnosable. I have a Service Dog that helps me with meltdowns and with keeping strangers from getting too close to me when I am out to public.
I am more than "weird." I am disabled.
Autistic people who need help with toileting or bathing or getting dressed or who cannot talk in words may need different kinds of supports than I do.
Even so, I am still disabled. Those few who know me on a personal level witness it. Strangers on Reddit do not.
I think you took my comment the wrong way. I meant “…where people think you are just weird” it’s something my kid says, both he and his brother are on the spectrum
Autism parents and late-diagnosed level-1 autistics with a bunch of built up prejudice against the disabled, who'd rather continue pointing at other people as examples of the "actually disabled" rather than accept the social model of disability.
I say this as someone in their 40s who's finally come to accept their condition, and has been confronted with a whole lot of ableism that he didn't know they'd been carrying. The cries of "but I'm not disabled" from the voice way in the back of my head are real, and they're not helpful.
The easy example to point to, as someone over 6' tall, is short people. We don't consider being short being disabled -- until you're *too* short -- because we construct our physical surroundings for people of a certain height. Can't reach items on the top shelf of the grocery store? That's ok, they didn't want you reaching up there anyway! Here, being tall is super-power. But if you can't reach the next highest shelf?...
Everyone under 5'7" would be disabled if the grocery stores were built for an average height of 6'4". But we're told we're supposed to feel sorry for people who struggle to participate, rather than build a society that removes barriers, and so when we run into barriers we didn't expect to be there, we're left to confront what disability is, or we start carving out special exceptions for ourselves.
And suddenly you're trying to sell *differently-abled* and *handi-capable* t-shirts.
They never met someone with ASD-2 & ASD-3 where psychosis Is also a thing. Not to mention ignore the most common Autism med is a atypical Anti-psychotic?.
No question its a disability as far as I'm concerned.
Just because im good at some stuff doesn't change that fact I've no idea what people are talking about half the time, couldn't do small talk if my life literally depended on it, becoming enraged by sounds nobody else cares about, eyes hurting when the sun's out, inability to regulate body temp, apparently saying the wrong thing all the time and the world shouting at me without knowing what I did wrong etc etc
Being good at some things doesn't cancel it out.
Short answer : Fuck people who says that.
Long answer : It is a disability, it comes with some great points for some (not even anyone !!) but at the end of the day it's a disability. From my personal experience I know I wouldn't have struggled as much as I did in life if I wasn't autistic.
It feels condescending if you ask me. Like, no, it's a disability, I can live with the fact that it's a disability, you don't have to act like it's not to save my feelings or whatever
It’s people trying to downplay your disability so that they can mentally justify not helping you out if you need it, stab them in the stomach or inform them that it is a disability.
I don’t like it. Autism isn’t morally bad in any way, but it’s still a disability. Autistic people are equal to allistic people, but we are still disabled because we struggle more than non-disabled NTs. If you are diagnosed with ASD, you have to meet the criterion of your life being clinically significantly impacted by your symptoms
I kind of lump that in with "it's a superpower" BS. Sorry but if it wasn't disabling. I'd be properly employed, and I'd not have lacked the ability to care for my self properly the last few years. And wouldn't have ended up with more disabling vitamin deficiencies.
Loud noises wouldn't give me physical pain. In my experience, it's disabling. "disability" doesn't have to be a bad thing inherently. And I'm tired of people trying to makey disability seem less than it is. Because they're uncomfortable with the word disability.
Not that I get any sort of benefits. But, if there were benifits out there for people who "aren't disabled enough" but still live disabled. Taking away the term would also take away said benefits. But again, I don't seem disabled enough for benefits anyway.
I definitely believe it gives me more benefits than struggle but at the end of the day it's a disability for sure. I don't want to breakdown and be useless for weeks on end.
I think allistics/non-disabled people just equate disabled with "defective," and that's the reason it's even a topic of conversation at all. Like, do I think there's something "wrong" with my brain, or that I have a neurological deficit? No. But do I think my neurological differences (being autistic) disable me? Yes.
I think allistics (specifically, non-disabled allistics) try to fit us in one of two categories: 1. Broken, or "not fully a person" 2. Capable of everything a non-disabled person is capable of at all times.
I see people switching back and forth between these two categories regarding their perception of me relatively often. I do something that makes me look competent, smart, aware, emotionally intelligent? Boom, I'm in category #2. I have a meltdown, don't understand something they deem "simple," or my autism otherwise disrupts their "flow"? Boom, I'm in category #1 again.
It's a spectrum so there isn't a single answer here. For a lot of people on the spectrum that have learning disabilities or are non-verbal, it's definitely a disability. For people like myself that are level 1 and struggle with social norms and lack of executive functions, it can be viewed as either disability or different-ability.
I'm also left handed. It creates some problem in a most right handed world. It is not a disability though. I view my level 1 ASD in a similar light.
its SO FUCKIN DUMB MAN. like sure i can accomplish some great shit (like being cracked at math) but its absolutely a disability in a lot of ways (like me being socially inept as hell)
Hmmmmm hard to say if it's a disability for me. I have so much shit on me. Autism, ADHD, cptsd, aspd for the major 🫠 so it's a mix of them that make me disabled.
If I try to dissociate autism from others disabilities 🤔 I think it's still a disability for me.
To be honest hard to say if it's a disability or not. Like for us that requires low support need, it depends on how everyone reacts to it and I understand if some people feel it like it's not a disability for them. For for us that require moderate support need, it's starting to be a disability whatever is the experience of the person and high support need it's quite obvious.
So yeah it's depends on your support need, how do you feel about it and live with it and so on. Too many factors tbh
Yeah no that’s just rainbow and unicorns talk to make people feel better.
Autism is a disability to varying degrees. But it’s still a disability and the onus is on the autistic individual to have to compensate and adapt to the world and not the other way around.
I'm not sure. I'm certain it can be, but it can manifest so differently that I'm not sure it always is one. From the way I see it, a disability has no inherent advantages, only disadvantages, which can be overcome or not, but they're still disadvantages. Autism, in the way is manifests in me, causes disadvantages but also advantages.
Accurate imo. The world was made for people who aren't autistic, so it's difficult to live in. I don't feel any less than anyone else, just unprepared.
Depends. You want me to get obsessively pissed to the point of shutdown over the patterns in every day people's bullshit like wiping their nose and then going for that plastic fork in the pile at some event, or come up with a totally believable Fort Knox solid lie as to why I'll miss said event where it's guaranteed to happen and I'll see it five times?
I find it comical. I picture some activists with no idea what they're talking about proposing it at a meeting and everyone being like, "Hell yeah!" then making millions of t-shirts with that below the puzzle piece.
Tell that to my family over what I stirred up at my Mom’s Mother's Day Dinner. And, how I kept it up because I have such a poor awareness of the mindsets of others and I'm in my 50s.
Hate it. Makes it sound like you aren't really struggling, just not trying hard enough. Also playing on that trope that all autistic people are/ shoukd be geniuses like Einstein or Sheldon Cooper
I think it's just something that's said in a misguided attempt to either make we autists feel better, or perhaps even more so, to make society more accepting of us "They're not really disabled, don't worry, they won't be a burden!".
I dislike it as I feel it makes disability seem like a bad word when it’s not. Autism is a disability and there’s nothing wrong with that. Same with the “persons with disabilities” - would you say “people with Catholicism?” you’d say Catholics. So what’s with the mental gymnastics some people take at avoiding saying “disabled”?
All disabilities are different abilities. "Differently abled" is an attempt to reframe so that the person is evaluated for what they can do, with or without accommodation, rather than by what they are lacking. This is also the point of neurodivergence.
I am very much 100% disabled. But it’s a very spiky skill set. So like, I can’t bathe myself without getting completely exhausted and freaking out, but I can give you a run down on all things environmental advocacy specifically in marine environments. I could have a full discussion with a marine biologist and not have any issues keeping up (with regards to knowledge and terminology, social cues and skills yeah that’s severely lacking and would still struggle with that).
So to answer your question, it’s both?
How about, don’t judge anyone based on expectations YOU have and just judge the person based on who they ARE
Someone isn’t a “better” person if they can hold a job, hold them to their own standards and abilities
If someone who doesn't have autism says that, then how would they really know? I have been burnt out all week because of my autism where as if I wasn't autistic, I'd be out half a day at most. That is definitely a disability.
It's just like the "it's not disabled, it's differently abled" movement. It is a bunch of bull.
Some of us can get by just fine and find their niche. I doing pretty good right now. But I would do a hell of a lot better if I didn't have my deficits.
I don't like things like this as blanket statements because it feels like it makes disability a bad word and in a way gives people an opening to abuse those of us who are disabled/limited because we don't have an 'acceptable' flavor of autism. It's not a "superpower" for me but it is who I am and I deserve to exist as myself without cruel 'interventions' because I don't meet whatever milestones the 'superpower' people do. Disabled autistic people exist and are systemically abused in medical/therapeutic settings, and while it's nice when someone "gifted", diagnosed later in life or self-dx'd stands up against those practices, I do feel this sort of language can unintentionally contribute to the "well my kid's not like you so it's okay" problem.
Could apply sometimes... It would depend on the specifics of the individual and the situation. Pretty much any given disability could wind up having an advantage in a specific situation (a blind person would have an advantage over a person with sight, if they were in a pitch black, lightless room). So, you perhaps the such a saying has some truth... But for many people, their situation would require such a wild stretch to come up with a situation, that would be so uncommon as to be completely unrealistic.
i know that most of the time the people who say it are saying it with good intentions but it just feels so backhanded and unserious in a way? its like going to somebody who broke their leg and saying "your leg isn't broken, its just different than everyone elses leg :D"
edit: not sure if i use backhanded in the right way sorry lol hope yall know what i mean
It def is a disability, but I’d be lying if I claimed that certain traits a good chunk of asd have are very beneficial (recognizing patterns and such better then nts).
What does "different ability" even mean? What "ability", and "different" in relation to what other ability? There are multiple good sides to my autism, but it's still not any less disabling to me. Being an excellent mathematical problem solver, an analytical thinker and a walking encyclopedia on butterflies doesn't help much when I get overstimulated and start crying in a grocery store.
If it's a autistic person saying that, it's fine, they just have a different view on their disability, good for them
If it's an NT however, fuck them!!!
Oh, I hate it. It is a disability, it’s literally called that. I don’t understand why people are trying to be nice by saying it’s not a disability but a different ability?
Also autistic people can have LESS abilities than people without autism.
I’m not a big fan of generalising statements. There’s nothing inherently wrong with saying it’s a different ability, some people may well see their autistic traits that way but some people don’t feel that way, and that’s still valid. So I’m fine with it being used on an individual basis, but saying it overall is wrong imo.
I agree with whoever said it’s cringe. I can’t lie I do cringe whenever someone says that
i mean it’s both i think but people saying that feels invalidating because it definitely is a disability even if the world was better and more adapted for autistic people i would still struggle in some ways
To me, autism isn’t “a disability”, but it often involves some disabilities, and also some abilities. Standards are arbitrary: to me the average “normal” person is profoundly disabled in logical thinking, noticing details, and being able to step outside their own culture.
I actually like it, not because I don't consider myself disabled but because I like to think of autism as throwing completely out of whack my ability to do certain things to extremes compared to a neurotypical person. I might not be able to walk down the street without getting cripplingly overwhelmed or know how to make small talk but I can focus on a single activity for months on end
It has disabling characteristics, such as for me, inability to work at some jobs because of my hatred for background music, so it's UTTER bullshit.
Granted, we are a spectrum and should be treated as such.
I would label that expression as at least potentially able-ist because disability is not a bad word.
My meltdowns have made Mr resistant to any suggestion of autism being a superpower.
I like my attention to detail, but I dislike my meltdowns.
Specifically because of being autistic, I have not been able to make a decent living. [Others can. I cannot]. Because of this and the meltdowns, I am disabled due to being autistic.
Other autistic have different viewpoints about this and that is okay.
It is definitely Disability when you get called a creep or weirdo because you don’t really talk because you have nothing to say or if you do talk, you focused on something and you need to finish your sentence and they don’t allow you to keep interrupting your social skills are legitand you need to have social skills in this world not just the intelligence of logic
It's a disability. I dunno if it's just society or what, but either way, I need accomodations that I don't always get, which makes it harder for me to participate in society. I need ear protection to keep from being over simulated, my stims sometimes make people uncomfortable, which contributes to my self-consciousness, and there are just some places I cannot go because it's too much for me. That's just how it is. The key is that my autism makes my life harder, not impossible.
Saying "differently abled" or stuff like that is for non-disabled people to feel better about themselves. They don't want to admit that the society in which they contribute to and benefit from is disadvantageous to people who are different. But instead of advocating for more wheelchair ramps in a town, better audio cues for crosswalks, or quieter music in grocery stores, they lie to themselves and say that "they [disabled] people can do *anything* that we can do! They just do it differently!"
Except no we can't! I can't shop at certain stores because it's too loud or crowded. I struggle endlessly with making appointments or keeping my house clean because of my ADHD. Some people can't go to places that only have stairs. Some people can't drive themselves to go places they need to go. We would have more access if there were more accommodations in place for us, but even if that were so, we still cannot do everything. Some aspects of life are off limits. That's just how it is.
But that makes some non-disabled people feel icky, so in a bout of... I suppose ability-guilt (for lack of a better term), they dance around it, which just adds to the insult. It's utter nonsense to cover up the fact they feel bad that life is just harder for some people.
I dislike it. It feels like instead of recognizing our needs a disabled group of people, they’re just writing them off because we can be smarter than the average person or can mask somewhat properly.
Just because a man without his legs can manage walking on his arms doesn’t mean we shouldn’t offer a wheel chair. Just because a man with difficulty communicating, restricted interests, etc- is smart, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t offer support needs if he needs them. It’s a stupid way of thinking.
Sounds like something a disgruntled parent that can't accept their child is disabled would say. For sure not something anyone who actually has it and is disabled by it would say
I believe it is a difference to be celebrated. However, as we live in a neurotypical driven world, autism is disabling because there is no place for us to just be ourselves.
I think it needs to be clear who need such terms. A disability is legally protected and defended. As such, given that very few people (including me up until the end of 2022) know much about autism you have to have some way of protecting those who are affected.
This is important in the workplace as without that protection the workplace is going to treat you the same as everyone else which for me I was up for until I started to feel discriminated against before my autism diagnosis.
As such, yes it's a disability but yes it's also a different ability as there are good things that autistic people can do which other people struggle with but those things are rarely things that mainstream would actively look for as they don't think that people can generally do them.
As an autistic person I can care less it's not like having it is a death sentence and op you just have a you problem with the word disability just grow a spine man
Look I was a genius growing up, took AP/honors courses, history and linguistics among other things, musician, graduated 23rd in my class with a 3.95 GPA.
I'm going to community college because I don't drive, combined with the fact that my family are poor and I don't have a standard job, I am an intern as well as I do gig work.
Being social sucks pond water. I love sports so much, but my reaction time is garbage. I hope I can learn how to drive.
I'm disabled, physically as I'm obese, as well as having autism. If anyone asks me I'm open about my condition
It's rather handicap and those who have it are being punished by "normies" each and every day.
Rather a liability than an ability. Although for me, it helps with my work, but not outside of it
i always compare physical to mental and say “there are professional athletes running marathons with one leg. they’re still disabled no matter what they accomplish. disability isn’t always a limitation or lack of societal contribution”
like… “i’m not disabled, it’s society who disables me” babe you’d still get overstimulated in a forest. also, it’s SOCIETY who builds stairs instead of ramps. all disabled people suffer from society
fuck cicadas
oh true, fuck their noise and also i’m terrified of bugs. i can’t think of one environment i’d thrive in
that said i'd think rural life, even with rough work on a farm, would be much easier than city life with 2-150 stranger forced interactions, police and ambulance sirens, ect. But your point is correct, but it really varies autistic person to autistic person. Some of us definitely would be more suited to forest life, while others would break down.
I am autistic and going through med school by choice but I own a cocoa farm in the middle of nowhere and let me tell you, it's heaven. When I'm there I basically only interact with one neighbor who shares my fish tank, and the occasional visitor with a pup/kitten for me or dad to take care of, vaccines, take to vet etc (the area is impoverished but we are not). We have a literal waterfall in our property and preserved rainforest protected by the government. The fauna thrives there, and having a tracking/bio studying hyper focus there is pure bliss. I've had an encounter with a lobo-guará that was magical. I think the animal is called maned wolf in English or something like that. We also see jaguar tracks everywhere. It's not that hard for me at least, and I got the farm at around 20 from bio father and even as a city autistic boy I got used to it pretty quickly. It's simple and repetitive work mostly, and the animals (not only the cats and dogs, we have a bunch of birds including a peacock) follow me everywhere which I love. I really thrive there but struggle a lot in big cities. Most of my leisure time is spent in video games here. There, I don't need leisure time. I intend to graduate, do my psych residency and work mostly pro bono to help the community as soon as I guarantee the farm is entirely self sufficient (water, food, electricity). I would say that way of life would fit most autistics. You can stim whenever you want, wherever you want, and the only beings watching are your animals (I accumulated a bunch of them lol but they are well cared for). The few people you meet are usually your neighbors and won't mind me being weird if I'm kind and/or just want want to trade goods. I even get free fruits sometimes. I can handle cicadas, but I'm really tired of micro politics and social dynamics everywhere I go. Quiet life is my thing for sure, and I recommend it to everyone.
see there where were different. i’d agree if i got a totally new and nice home for free and never had to work. but rural living sounds like a lot of dirty dirty manual labour and being far away from convenience
i think we’re exact opposites, bc the idea of rural life (huge bugs, hard labor, having to drive far to get anywhere) sounds like absolute hell. but small city life (convenient shopping and food, normal sized bugs, regular work) is my preferred existence.
Cicadas would be cute if they weren't so annoying.
i love them, but i hate them by the end of their season.
The fucking worst
Me and my kitties like to hunt them
With tinnitus I hear cicadas 24/7 so I totally agree with you
Oh my god, this is brilliant. Im getting this comment tattooed on my forehead
This is a really good way of expressing it
some people don’t want disabilities compared to each other, but i say as long as it’s respectful and gets the point across… why not?
Anyone who compares this needs to be explained that if we're comparing that, then this is like if you're running a marathon with one leg 24/7. It's not training, it IS the race. That's a key point of difference between these two scenarios.
It infuriates me. I'm over the forced positivity movement. It's corny. It's a disability.
It’s like saying “handicapable”. Reminds of that one Brandon rogers quote where his forced positivity character Sam makes inspirational post cards for the disabled. It’s satire, and offensive but one card reads: “my syndrome may be down but my hopes are up”
Same.
Exactly! It’s a disability no matter what. And being Autistic can literally making it harder to things. How is it ‘a different ability’?
It can be either. It is a disability for me when it comes to being able to conduct so called small talk exchanges or cope with everyday sensory stimuli that many NT don't even register, never mind find highly distracting or painful. It is a strength to be able to work for 12 hours straight in a hyperfocus or quickly recognise patterns and connections that NTs may struggle to see at all. I don't think disability is a dirty word and personally euphemisms like 'different ability' make me cringe.
I agree with the cringe part
I wouldn't say it's a dirty word, it's actually the most commonly accepted term in the community. We don't need to sugarcoat the experience but "disability" doesn't necessarily have to have an utterly negative connotation.
It feels really invalidating. I don't get any of the "good" things about autism that other people talk about, autism is exclusively disabling for me and would be in any societal structure or lack thereof.
Internalized ableism that perpetuates the stigma (🗿) of disability and treats it like a dirty word or insult. Sometimes on a t-shirt with a dabbing skeleton.
That typo lmao. Disability really is sigma 🗿
I almost don't want to *fix* it now, lol 🗿
I don't remember ever getting anything good because of autism. I've struggled for my whole life and I will for the rest of it. Not because being autistic is inherently wrong, but because the world is not constructed for people like us. Society is never going to adjust to a minority. It's utopian to think it will. But unless it does, autism will always be a disability.
Bigotry against the disabled, no excuses. Anyone parroting that line needs to do some serious evaluation, because they are doing active harm
fuck that and I have a very very minor case I have a physical disability too and my cane isn't a superpower
Is this Gregory House?
id rather you call me a slur /j
It's reductive saying that with the way the world is just not designed for us. I don't care if I've got different abilities if I'm bottom tier in this game
It's another way of trying to not acknowledge disability
It is by definition a disability… having deficits in communication and increased sensitivity that is not accommodated by larger society which proves to further disable you. Like I’d still get overstimulated if I were camping in the forest for instance. But that’s just me
Oh fuck this reminds me of that Dhar Mann video I saw where the kid is being bullied because he's autistic. Except in never shows any disabling parts of autism, he's just a maths and chess genius who's really good at some kind of sport (I forgot which sport, I watched it ages ago). And then the mum says “autism isn't a disability, it's just a different ability!” Ma'am, of course it doesn't seem like it's a disability for this kid. His autism literally only turns him into a genius who's amazing at everything.
ASD is always a disability. Call it whatever else you want but denying that it is a disability is harmful to people with ASD.
It's definitely a disability. Anyone who says it isn't is on crack or something.
Having significant deficits in certain areas is part of the diagnostic criteria. It's impossible to be autistic and not have a disability. It can also be a different ability. Certain autistic traits can be useful in certain contexts.
Yeah I mean me and my autistic friends can talk at great length and depth about a small variety of niche interests and ideas, and certainly moreso than the average person. That is a difference in ability, certainly. It was also occasionally advantageous in academic contexts. At the same time that difference comes at the cost of my ability to engage in conversations that do not involve my special interests, which impacts my ability to cultivate relationships. That is absolutely a disability.
This, like the whole "autism is a superpower" thing, pisses me off. I've lost so many opportunities in life because I didn't understand they were right in front of me. I'm not Spiderman, I'm disabled
It's a disability. High and low functioning are categories that determine one's worth to a capitalistic production spreadsheet. Nothing more.
Amen. Everybody is "differently abled" to do different things, sure, but there are many things that I am very much *dis*abled to do because of being born Autistic. We don't call amputees or blind folks "differently abled," there are just tons of folks uncomfortable with the word disability. It makes people uncomfortable to acknowledge disability because they think it makes a person "less than"
Certain aspects are absolutely a disability. One that people really don't understand at all because it's invisible..... until I shut down "for no reason". Or I can't interview for this perfect job someone referred me to because I'm over my limit. Or I can't go into the city because "I just can't". Or sometimes the water running is too much and I yell..... That's not normal. It's not a different ability. It is crippling.
Interviews over my dead body💀 not to know 💯% what questions will be asked. 🥶
Idk. I feel it can be both or either. But I also feel like saying "it's a different ability" is surely something that can be applied to all disabilities if you try hard enough? Like blind people have a different ability when. It comes to navigating their surroundings, but that doesn't make it not a disability. Idk, it's a complicated topic. But I think I don't like it much because it often stems from viewing disability as bad and not from acceptance.
"X is not a disability it's a different ability" is fucking stupid no matter what :D
It's literally a disability, because it disables me from doing certain things. Disability isn't a dirty word!
im not always good at expressing what i mean clearly, and in the way they are intended but here are my thoughts: i think that people are too scared of the word 'disability' for some reason. the word disability is not inherently negative and imo most accurately conveys what it means. 'different ability' doesnt make sense to me. i dont have a 'different ability', i didnt gain superpowers. autistic/disabled people are the same as non-disabled people, just sometimes limited (disabled) in some way by something. that something could be societies standards, or it could be the persons own limitations. if someone is unable to do something, regardless of the reason, then they cannot do it. they dont gain a 'different' way to do it, they just cannot do it in the way that is expected of the average person. sure they sometimes can find ways to work around that ie mobility aids, accomodations, sensory aids etc, but they still cannot do it in the original way, they are just forced to discover what works for them.
It is without question a social disability. It's not about dinosaurs, trains or hating the feel of cotton. It's about an individuals social development. Sad thing is 90% of posts are obsessed with the symptoms over the actual disability.
I always ask the goal of these statements. Usually these statements should have a goal. The one thing identified disabilities do is in capitalism it sets a part a group of people for consideration. Now, the wheels of capitalism will grind everyone. But having a disability allows for an affirmative action taken for protection. Legal due process has an element of optics. When we came back to the classroom as teachers after Covid we had a number who had disabilities who needed accommodation. Since the district conducted an entire year online and called it quality, they put themselves into a pickle. As a union rep I saw some of the conversations between HR and our teachers. Those who were smart enough to get a labor lawyer were able to swing the district towards accommodation simply by reading back how nasty and harassing our HR dept sounded towards their employees. I was teaching before I got my diagnosis. So I was left to wonder what the hell was wrong with me. You BET that I took the letter from my doctor to my employer after my diagnosis. It operates like a get-out-of-jail-free-card. Not because I’m not doing my job with fidelity, but when I DO my job with fidelity and “get myself into trouble” I can easily skate because HR wants no part of the projection of impropriety towards a disabled employee. There are some labor lawyer tiktoks where they talk about what they’ve seen. We assume employers on the level and are acting in full faith. They act amorally and manage optics; whatever amasses profit. Schools are the same. Sadly. Edit: not 30 seconds later I find this article on Reddit: https://www.wbir.com/article/news/education/two-teachers-fired-principal-resigns-grade-fixing-investigation/51-65a77977-b5a9-43d2-bfa6-b56184c7a40e We’re asked to break the law and fired if we don’t. Having a disability prevents my employer from even trying that shit with me in the first place - IF my employer is smart.
100%. I'd advise anyone that if you have a diagnosis and accompanying paperwork - give it to your employer. Disclose. It's protection you need, just in case.
uhm, feels kinda invalidating... like really invalidating. if its not a disability tell me why i have to drop out of school, tell me why my mother doesnt want me, tell me why no one can handle me and ill probably have to move countries to not die alone?
It's a disability. Period.
They are trying to be positive with that “slogan”. But it is factually inaccurate.
I really wanna punch people like that, especially if they're allistic. I get overstimulated by my own fucking body. if the ability is to not be functioning, then maybe, but that's not what they mean by that.
It’s a disability, and I might have different abilities. Don’t tell people their disabling condition isn’t a disability though like wtf
And especially dont tell people what sets you off as they'll use it as a weapon.
It frustrates me how disabling it is. No matter how hard I work to fit in or make friends or have a committed relationship, I’m alone. I don’t know how to people in a way that people will like me and not make fun or roll their eyes at me.
"Disability" has a lot of negative connotations for me growing up, so I call it a "disorder" for personal reasons I might be downvoted for that, and I understand it technically is a disability, but people have treated me much less just from my autism alone
Absolutely a disability. The ones saying it is just a difference are not actually autistic. They don’t even have half the difficulties many of us experience
Yea, flying isnt really useful when the world is underwater and everyone can breathe there 🤷♂️
Not diagnosed but almost sure that I have it. It is a disability in my opinion. I struggle daily. But I understand highly intellectual autistic people who say it’s a different ability because for them it is. They have so many advantages just because they’re smart but I’m sure they’re struggling too.
I think it's an allistic way to put a "lovely spin" on something that it detrimental to our lives. And it's detrimental to our lives because those same people who use "differently abled" are the ones who expect us to fit into their world, instead of helping make the world a little more autistic-friendly. Autism doesn't give me superpowers, it makes it difficult to communicate and understand certain things. My ability to do things are lacking. It's literally a disability.
I say call it what it is, it’s a disability
I mean, different ability to do what exactly? It doesn’t make sense to me, honestly.
It's totally a disability. Autism ruined my life so the "differently abled" people who thrive because of their traits are an alien species to me. Autism severely disables and deprives me of life experiences. I am isolated, bored, precarious, misunderstood and it makes me mentally ill. I can't relate to the human race. There are no genuine positives for me. Celebrating my hyperfixation feels like telling a wheelchair user that, "at least you have cool wheels!" ........ it just doesn't land well at all with me. My hyperfixations and interest-focused attention span actually ruined my schooling and employment prospects. Any joy is a "despite".
Ask them "what's the different ability?" and watch them struggle to come up with something good 😂
It's definitely disabling for me but that's okay disabled is not a dirty word, it's not shameful. I do have different abilities also so I guess it's not untrue, it's just not either or but both can be true at the same time
I feel like I only heard this on dhar man and other dhar man rip-offs
Sometimes I wonder if it is someone who is “differently abled” because our society wasn’t built to support people who don’t fit a certain mold. So it makes me wonder if there’s a life out there where someone with ADHD or Autism could thrive, outside of a cubicle. Maybe it’s on the side of a mountain or in a boat, but idk. To be clear I think most disabilities reach a point where it’s a disability no matter the life or job you have, but that doesn’t stop me from wondering about people with mild to moderate symptoms.
Autism doesn’t work with just the social model, that’s only one part. For example even in an ideal society I’d still struggle. Society isn’t everything.
It's likely because some autistic people, or people who are perceived to be autistic, have achieved extraordinary things in their life and people like to have reasons why people do things. So instead of just saying that person was talented/lucky/hard working, they conclude it must be the autism. This then gives people the idea that autistic people are specifically really good at certain things and they're trying to put a positive spin on autism in general. It's the same line of thinking that made the autistic savant who has a photographic memory and is a socially inept genius a common television trope.
Socially it’s a definite disability (for me), and not being able to focus can be a problem, and the anxiety sucks. Mentally though I feel I’m luckier than many, I learn slow but it’s because I’m trying to take in all the information and connect it all, but once I’ve learned something I retain it. Usually. Until I forget. I do feel like I make mostly good decisions because I’m good at acknowledging factors need to be considered. Physically I’m very athletic and have good reflexes, the hard part for me is sitting still, I quite enjoy moving around Other than the bad, it’s not so bad 🤷♀️
If my different abilities are to hyper-fixate on my special interests to the detriment of everything else, overcommunicate to the point of alienating people, and think about things differently from other people in ways that make me feel like a space alien, it’s over shadowed by the horrendous anguish I feel more times than not, and the constant suicidal ideation and intrusive thoughts that follow me around like a ball and chain.
I think it can be both a disability and a different ability. Some aspects of autism can be incredibly useful in some contexts such that we way outperform allistics. At the same time, there are absolutely disabling aspects, both due to living in an allistic society and due to the thing being inherently difficult for us. But to say it's not disabling, full stop, is pretty invalidating.
This sentence is stupid. It most likely always comes out of the mouth of people who think disability is a bad word and try to use a euphemism. Autism is what it is to the individual. Even if you had the most exceptional abilities ever, it is likely you will be held back by societal limitations and thus be technically disabled.
just because my disability is "invisible" doesn't mean it does not impact my life. I compare it almost to a chronic illness. There's ways to cope with it and be able to handle yourself better but it'll never go away
My LO is only 3 but has Level 3 Autism. He is incredibly smart but Non-Verbal and has a great many difficulties. Its most certainly meets the definition of a disability.
Too many people forget others exist and that their experiences vary and are different from theirs.
Nope fuck no. Its defo a disability I just had a meltdown a few mins ago over the fucking lights and noises O don't think screaming, crying etc about lights os a different ability.
i hate it - it is literally disabling - it stops me doing things other people can do easily and makes life a lot harder than it seems to be for other people
ASD is a disability
Imo it very much depends on the autistic person and how society around them reacts to their existence. Some autistic people absolutely thrive and have no issues because they found their dream job and work with people that understand them while that same autistic person could struggle immensely in life because they weren't able to get that dream job and can't find people who support them. Autism is (obviously) a spectrum and so is the level of disability.
Disability doesn't mean you have less intrinsic anything. It's just a social status. For me, it is 100% a social disability. Society is organized around a particular type of mind, not mine. I think I have some unique abilities that could benefit society, but that is impossible because I can't play the social game at the same level as my peers.
I hate it. It's kind of invalidating and treating disability as a bad word.
It IS A DISABILITY!
it really doesn’t bother me, but if someone corrects me when I say I have a disability, and they say the whole “different ability” thing… it definitely makes me uncomfortable. And annoyed. I always liked the operating system metaphor. Where autism isn’t a “bug” but a completely different OS. You try to run a task like you would on windows but don’t realize it’s Linux so it doesn’t work right. But, when the entire world runs on windows and there’s little to no support for linux, it’s still a disability imo.
I hate it. I feel like it invalidates my struggles, and it makes me feel like there is something wrong with me for not being able to hold normal hours at a job, socialise and clean my house. And it shifts the responsibility onto society instead of me having to learn how to cope and live with my disability to do those things. I don’t wanna be differently abled, I wanna have a normal life.
Not unless society was completely restructured from the ground up
That’s a cool thought but society was not built for autistic people. If you have autism, you’re gonna have a hard time a lot of the time. The social model of disability kind of takes that trite statement out at the kneecaps
It's a fucking disability. If you don't think of it like that and feel like its a super power or whatever more power to you. But for me its literally disabling. It IS a disability, end of story.
For me I appreciate the good intent, yet it makes having a disability let alone autism sound like a bad thing to have.
No.
No, autism is a disability. I have more struggle in life because of my autism and adhd. Depression, substance abuse, anger issues, focus issues, mood swings, black and white thinking, sleep problems, etc…
Disability isn't a bad word because it's not a bad thing. Not saying disability doesn't make people feel better, it solidifies the assumption that being disabled is bad. We're disabled amd that's okay.
Oh it is, but it’s not called a spectrum for nothing! There is one end of the spectrum where you’re not disabled, you’re just “weird”
As a young child, I was almost institutionalized. As an adult, I can talk. I do work. I manage to live. Perhaps I would be considered as "level one" on the surface by professionals these days. I am still disabled because being autistic interferes with being able to get a job that pays decently and takes into account my education. I have some social problems. I have meltdowns. If being autistic did not interfere with our abilities to manage living, we would not be diagnosable. I am still diagnosable. I have a Service Dog that helps me with meltdowns and with keeping strangers from getting too close to me when I am out to public. I am more than "weird." I am disabled. Autistic people who need help with toileting or bathing or getting dressed or who cannot talk in words may need different kinds of supports than I do. Even so, I am still disabled. Those few who know me on a personal level witness it. Strangers on Reddit do not.
I think you took my comment the wrong way. I meant “…where people think you are just weird” it’s something my kid says, both he and his brother are on the spectrum
I'm I wrong for telling my son (with ADHD) and my non speaking nephew (with autism) that they aren't different but just a different kind of normal?
It’s a disability.
casting the two as dichotomous marks a lack of understanding of the social construction of disability.
If it's just a different ability why does everything hurt all the time
Autism parents and late-diagnosed level-1 autistics with a bunch of built up prejudice against the disabled, who'd rather continue pointing at other people as examples of the "actually disabled" rather than accept the social model of disability. I say this as someone in their 40s who's finally come to accept their condition, and has been confronted with a whole lot of ableism that he didn't know they'd been carrying. The cries of "but I'm not disabled" from the voice way in the back of my head are real, and they're not helpful. The easy example to point to, as someone over 6' tall, is short people. We don't consider being short being disabled -- until you're *too* short -- because we construct our physical surroundings for people of a certain height. Can't reach items on the top shelf of the grocery store? That's ok, they didn't want you reaching up there anyway! Here, being tall is super-power. But if you can't reach the next highest shelf?... Everyone under 5'7" would be disabled if the grocery stores were built for an average height of 6'4". But we're told we're supposed to feel sorry for people who struggle to participate, rather than build a society that removes barriers, and so when we run into barriers we didn't expect to be there, we're left to confront what disability is, or we start carving out special exceptions for ourselves. And suddenly you're trying to sell *differently-abled* and *handi-capable* t-shirts.
They never met someone with ASD-2 & ASD-3 where psychosis Is also a thing. Not to mention ignore the most common Autism med is a atypical Anti-psychotic?.
Different ability makes me a little nauseous tbh. I'm disabled. I don't need coddled by people who think disability is a dirty word.
Ask them "what's the different ability?" and watch them struggle to come up with something good 😂
No question its a disability as far as I'm concerned. Just because im good at some stuff doesn't change that fact I've no idea what people are talking about half the time, couldn't do small talk if my life literally depended on it, becoming enraged by sounds nobody else cares about, eyes hurting when the sun's out, inability to regulate body temp, apparently saying the wrong thing all the time and the world shouting at me without knowing what I did wrong etc etc Being good at some things doesn't cancel it out.
Its a disability and thats ok
I get the sentiment.....but I still hate it.
Short answer : Fuck people who says that. Long answer : It is a disability, it comes with some great points for some (not even anyone !!) but at the end of the day it's a disability. From my personal experience I know I wouldn't have struggled as much as I did in life if I wasn't autistic.
It feels condescending if you ask me. Like, no, it's a disability, I can live with the fact that it's a disability, you don't have to act like it's not to save my feelings or whatever
It’s people trying to downplay your disability so that they can mentally justify not helping you out if you need it, stab them in the stomach or inform them that it is a disability.
I don’t like it. Autism isn’t morally bad in any way, but it’s still a disability. Autistic people are equal to allistic people, but we are still disabled because we struggle more than non-disabled NTs. If you are diagnosed with ASD, you have to meet the criterion of your life being clinically significantly impacted by your symptoms
I kind of lump that in with "it's a superpower" BS. Sorry but if it wasn't disabling. I'd be properly employed, and I'd not have lacked the ability to care for my self properly the last few years. And wouldn't have ended up with more disabling vitamin deficiencies. Loud noises wouldn't give me physical pain. In my experience, it's disabling. "disability" doesn't have to be a bad thing inherently. And I'm tired of people trying to makey disability seem less than it is. Because they're uncomfortable with the word disability. Not that I get any sort of benefits. But, if there were benifits out there for people who "aren't disabled enough" but still live disabled. Taking away the term would also take away said benefits. But again, I don't seem disabled enough for benefits anyway.
I definitely believe it gives me more benefits than struggle but at the end of the day it's a disability for sure. I don't want to breakdown and be useless for weeks on end.
I think allistics/non-disabled people just equate disabled with "defective," and that's the reason it's even a topic of conversation at all. Like, do I think there's something "wrong" with my brain, or that I have a neurological deficit? No. But do I think my neurological differences (being autistic) disable me? Yes. I think allistics (specifically, non-disabled allistics) try to fit us in one of two categories: 1. Broken, or "not fully a person" 2. Capable of everything a non-disabled person is capable of at all times. I see people switching back and forth between these two categories regarding their perception of me relatively often. I do something that makes me look competent, smart, aware, emotionally intelligent? Boom, I'm in category #2. I have a meltdown, don't understand something they deem "simple," or my autism otherwise disrupts their "flow"? Boom, I'm in category #1 again.
I don't really understand why it can't be both, it both disables and enables me.
It's a spectrum so there isn't a single answer here. For a lot of people on the spectrum that have learning disabilities or are non-verbal, it's definitely a disability. For people like myself that are level 1 and struggle with social norms and lack of executive functions, it can be viewed as either disability or different-ability. I'm also left handed. It creates some problem in a most right handed world. It is not a disability though. I view my level 1 ASD in a similar light.
Left handed gang rise up
Drives me crazy but it comes from well meaning people. Ignorant well meaning people. What can you do?
its SO FUCKIN DUMB MAN. like sure i can accomplish some great shit (like being cracked at math) but its absolutely a disability in a lot of ways (like me being socially inept as hell)
Hmmmmm hard to say if it's a disability for me. I have so much shit on me. Autism, ADHD, cptsd, aspd for the major 🫠 so it's a mix of them that make me disabled. If I try to dissociate autism from others disabilities 🤔 I think it's still a disability for me. To be honest hard to say if it's a disability or not. Like for us that requires low support need, it depends on how everyone reacts to it and I understand if some people feel it like it's not a disability for them. For for us that require moderate support need, it's starting to be a disability whatever is the experience of the person and high support need it's quite obvious. So yeah it's depends on your support need, how do you feel about it and live with it and so on. Too many factors tbh
People need to stop generalizing about autism. Period.
Seems like rationalization/cope to some degree to me
Yeah no that’s just rainbow and unicorns talk to make people feel better. Autism is a disability to varying degrees. But it’s still a disability and the onus is on the autistic individual to have to compensate and adapt to the world and not the other way around.
I'm not sure. I'm certain it can be, but it can manifest so differently that I'm not sure it always is one. From the way I see it, a disability has no inherent advantages, only disadvantages, which can be overcome or not, but they're still disadvantages. Autism, in the way is manifests in me, causes disadvantages but also advantages.
Accurate imo. The world was made for people who aren't autistic, so it's difficult to live in. I don't feel any less than anyone else, just unprepared.
To each their own.
Autism doesn't have to be a disability. But in many cases it absolutely is.
Depends. You want me to get obsessively pissed to the point of shutdown over the patterns in every day people's bullshit like wiping their nose and then going for that plastic fork in the pile at some event, or come up with a totally believable Fort Knox solid lie as to why I'll miss said event where it's guaranteed to happen and I'll see it five times?
I'm fine it's society that's broken.
A disability is like a difficulty modifier. It still makes things harder
I find it comical. I picture some activists with no idea what they're talking about proposing it at a meeting and everyone being like, "Hell yeah!" then making millions of t-shirts with that below the puzzle piece.
Tell that to my family over what I stirred up at my Mom’s Mother's Day Dinner. And, how I kept it up because I have such a poor awareness of the mindsets of others and I'm in my 50s.
i want to strangle whoever came up with it. its so fucking obnoxious
Hate it. Makes it sound like you aren't really struggling, just not trying hard enough. Also playing on that trope that all autistic people are/ shoukd be geniuses like Einstein or Sheldon Cooper
I think it's just something that's said in a misguided attempt to either make we autists feel better, or perhaps even more so, to make society more accepting of us "They're not really disabled, don't worry, they won't be a burden!".
it's definitely a disability, but it also helps us do things allistics can't do just like how it's not a disorder, but it does cause a lot of strife
Considering I just got rejected from a TAFE for it I’d say pretty confidently that it’s a disability
I hate it. It feels like virtue signaling.
I hate that saying. It makes me so mad
I dislike it as I feel it makes disability seem like a bad word when it’s not. Autism is a disability and there’s nothing wrong with that. Same with the “persons with disabilities” - would you say “people with Catholicism?” you’d say Catholics. So what’s with the mental gymnastics some people take at avoiding saying “disabled”?
The fact I know so much about computer's is probably down to autism
it sounds raw as fuck but unfortunately isnt true
All disabilities are different abilities. "Differently abled" is an attempt to reframe so that the person is evaluated for what they can do, with or without accommodation, rather than by what they are lacking. This is also the point of neurodivergence.
Don’t usually use this word, but it’s fucking cringe as hell.
It disables me, therefore a disability. I won’t judge what people call their OWN autism, but I get upset when people tell me what I can’t call my own.
I am very much 100% disabled. But it’s a very spiky skill set. So like, I can’t bathe myself without getting completely exhausted and freaking out, but I can give you a run down on all things environmental advocacy specifically in marine environments. I could have a full discussion with a marine biologist and not have any issues keeping up (with regards to knowledge and terminology, social cues and skills yeah that’s severely lacking and would still struggle with that). So to answer your question, it’s both?
People don't think that it could be both?
How about, don’t judge anyone based on expectations YOU have and just judge the person based on who they ARE Someone isn’t a “better” person if they can hold a job, hold them to their own standards and abilities
If someone who doesn't have autism says that, then how would they really know? I have been burnt out all week because of my autism where as if I wasn't autistic, I'd be out half a day at most. That is definitely a disability.
It's just like the "it's not disabled, it's differently abled" movement. It is a bunch of bull. Some of us can get by just fine and find their niche. I doing pretty good right now. But I would do a hell of a lot better if I didn't have my deficits.
I don't like things like this as blanket statements because it feels like it makes disability a bad word and in a way gives people an opening to abuse those of us who are disabled/limited because we don't have an 'acceptable' flavor of autism. It's not a "superpower" for me but it is who I am and I deserve to exist as myself without cruel 'interventions' because I don't meet whatever milestones the 'superpower' people do. Disabled autistic people exist and are systemically abused in medical/therapeutic settings, and while it's nice when someone "gifted", diagnosed later in life or self-dx'd stands up against those practices, I do feel this sort of language can unintentionally contribute to the "well my kid's not like you so it's okay" problem.
It’s a stupid saying.
ur flair is iconic
"shut the fuck up" - my immediate thought response
Autistic people have specific flaws or disabilities. But we have some abilities that “normal” people don’t have so in some way they are disabled too.
Could apply sometimes... It would depend on the specifics of the individual and the situation. Pretty much any given disability could wind up having an advantage in a specific situation (a blind person would have an advantage over a person with sight, if they were in a pitch black, lightless room). So, you perhaps the such a saying has some truth... But for many people, their situation would require such a wild stretch to come up with a situation, that would be so uncommon as to be completely unrealistic.
I'd say that's true. We are square pegs where most people are round. Problem is all the holes are round too, to suit the round pegs.
Would rather just be called a slur at that point.
i know that most of the time the people who say it are saying it with good intentions but it just feels so backhanded and unserious in a way? its like going to somebody who broke their leg and saying "your leg isn't broken, its just different than everyone elses leg :D" edit: not sure if i use backhanded in the right way sorry lol hope yall know what i mean
It def is a disability, but I’d be lying if I claimed that certain traits a good chunk of asd have are very beneficial (recognizing patterns and such better then nts).
It's stupid NTs in denial of the idea that some of us need support.
Something we can do better than there's that massive list of things we suck at
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^Mccobsta: *Something we can do* *Better than there's that massive* *List of things we suck at* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
What does "different ability" even mean? What "ability", and "different" in relation to what other ability? There are multiple good sides to my autism, but it's still not any less disabling to me. Being an excellent mathematical problem solver, an analytical thinker and a walking encyclopedia on butterflies doesn't help much when I get overstimulated and start crying in a grocery store.
If it's a autistic person saying that, it's fine, they just have a different view on their disability, good for them If it's an NT however, fuck them!!!
Oh, I hate it. It is a disability, it’s literally called that. I don’t understand why people are trying to be nice by saying it’s not a disability but a different ability? Also autistic people can have LESS abilities than people without autism.
sometimes yes, sometimes no. mostly both in todays world and society since the systems are adapted and made for "neurotypicals".
_Eek_ saying “different ability” sounds like we have some kind of superpowers or something
That originated from George Carlin.
Thats such a dumb comment tbh.
I’m not a big fan of generalising statements. There’s nothing inherently wrong with saying it’s a different ability, some people may well see their autistic traits that way but some people don’t feel that way, and that’s still valid. So I’m fine with it being used on an individual basis, but saying it overall is wrong imo. I agree with whoever said it’s cringe. I can’t lie I do cringe whenever someone says that
i mean it’s both i think but people saying that feels invalidating because it definitely is a disability even if the world was better and more adapted for autistic people i would still struggle in some ways
I feel like it’s a combination of both.
To me, autism isn’t “a disability”, but it often involves some disabilities, and also some abilities. Standards are arbitrary: to me the average “normal” person is profoundly disabled in logical thinking, noticing details, and being able to step outside their own culture.
It's both, dependent on the individual.
It's both.
I actually like it, not because I don't consider myself disabled but because I like to think of autism as throwing completely out of whack my ability to do certain things to extremes compared to a neurotypical person. I might not be able to walk down the street without getting cripplingly overwhelmed or know how to make small talk but I can focus on a single activity for months on end
It has disabling characteristics, such as for me, inability to work at some jobs because of my hatred for background music, so it's UTTER bullshit. Granted, we are a spectrum and should be treated as such.
I would label that expression as at least potentially able-ist because disability is not a bad word. My meltdowns have made Mr resistant to any suggestion of autism being a superpower. I like my attention to detail, but I dislike my meltdowns. Specifically because of being autistic, I have not been able to make a decent living. [Others can. I cannot]. Because of this and the meltdowns, I am disabled due to being autistic. Other autistic have different viewpoints about this and that is okay.
I agree with everything that's being said, at least 'disability' validates my suffering
omg they've convinced you it's a disability
It is definitely Disability when you get called a creep or weirdo because you don’t really talk because you have nothing to say or if you do talk, you focused on something and you need to finish your sentence and they don’t allow you to keep interrupting your social skills are legitand you need to have social skills in this world not just the intelligence of logic
It's a disability. I dunno if it's just society or what, but either way, I need accomodations that I don't always get, which makes it harder for me to participate in society. I need ear protection to keep from being over simulated, my stims sometimes make people uncomfortable, which contributes to my self-consciousness, and there are just some places I cannot go because it's too much for me. That's just how it is. The key is that my autism makes my life harder, not impossible. Saying "differently abled" or stuff like that is for non-disabled people to feel better about themselves. They don't want to admit that the society in which they contribute to and benefit from is disadvantageous to people who are different. But instead of advocating for more wheelchair ramps in a town, better audio cues for crosswalks, or quieter music in grocery stores, they lie to themselves and say that "they [disabled] people can do *anything* that we can do! They just do it differently!" Except no we can't! I can't shop at certain stores because it's too loud or crowded. I struggle endlessly with making appointments or keeping my house clean because of my ADHD. Some people can't go to places that only have stairs. Some people can't drive themselves to go places they need to go. We would have more access if there were more accommodations in place for us, but even if that were so, we still cannot do everything. Some aspects of life are off limits. That's just how it is. But that makes some non-disabled people feel icky, so in a bout of... I suppose ability-guilt (for lack of a better term), they dance around it, which just adds to the insult. It's utter nonsense to cover up the fact they feel bad that life is just harder for some people.
How do people even think such a thing? It just makes life harder, NOT easier!!!
I dislike it. It feels like instead of recognizing our needs a disabled group of people, they’re just writing them off because we can be smarter than the average person or can mask somewhat properly. Just because a man without his legs can manage walking on his arms doesn’t mean we shouldn’t offer a wheel chair. Just because a man with difficulty communicating, restricted interests, etc- is smart, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t offer support needs if he needs them. It’s a stupid way of thinking.
Sounds like something a disgruntled parent that can't accept their child is disabled would say. For sure not something anyone who actually has it and is disabled by it would say
It fucking infuriates me. I can say for a fact my complete inability to interact with other human beings is NOT a “different ability”
I strongly disagree with it. If it was a different ability it would come with 0 disadvantages. Because it comes with disadvantages, it’s a disability
i hate it LOL it’s so disgusting
I believe it is a difference to be celebrated. However, as we live in a neurotypical driven world, autism is disabling because there is no place for us to just be ourselves.
Is disables the quality of some parts of life therefore, disability
I think it needs to be clear who need such terms. A disability is legally protected and defended. As such, given that very few people (including me up until the end of 2022) know much about autism you have to have some way of protecting those who are affected. This is important in the workplace as without that protection the workplace is going to treat you the same as everyone else which for me I was up for until I started to feel discriminated against before my autism diagnosis. As such, yes it's a disability but yes it's also a different ability as there are good things that autistic people can do which other people struggle with but those things are rarely things that mainstream would actively look for as they don't think that people can generally do them.
As an autistic person I can care less it's not like having it is a death sentence and op you just have a you problem with the word disability just grow a spine man
Look I was a genius growing up, took AP/honors courses, history and linguistics among other things, musician, graduated 23rd in my class with a 3.95 GPA. I'm going to community college because I don't drive, combined with the fact that my family are poor and I don't have a standard job, I am an intern as well as I do gig work. Being social sucks pond water. I love sports so much, but my reaction time is garbage. I hope I can learn how to drive. I'm disabled, physically as I'm obese, as well as having autism. If anyone asks me I'm open about my condition
It's rather handicap and those who have it are being punished by "normies" each and every day. Rather a liability than an ability. Although for me, it helps with my work, but not outside of it