I would appreciate a diagnosis or classification of autism that isn't described as a disorder
I would appreciate a diagnosis or classification of autism that isn't described as a disorder
Using a social perspective to autism, I would appreciate if there were a way to classify someone as autistic without calling it a disorder. Yes, we have difficulties, but from a social perspective, a lot of them come from society being structured to meet the needs of allistics. They get guidance, acceptance, and ultimately privilege of a world that is designed for them, while we have to try to meet their expectations. From this perspective, we're not disordered, but oppressed/marginalized. How does that make us disordered?
I agree that there are different levels of functioning, and that some individuals might meet criteria for a disorder due to autism spectrum characteristics, so that would be valid. However, many individuals would function quite well in a setting that was designed to raise, educate, and accommodate autistic brains.
Anyone have any insight or ideas on this?
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I posted something similar as a comment on the ADHD magazine and got an equally negative response, as you seem to be getting. I'm not sure why there is a resistance from some about not labeling these neurotypes as a disorder, but I find it really interesting.
The comments you are receiving seem to come down to these neurotypes aren't normal and therefore any associated difficulties therefore constitute a disorder, which is fascinating and completely misses the point you are making. If Western society wasn't structured in the way it is, those who struggle so much would not, as had been the case for years prior to the definition of autism. I'm not sure why that is a controversial statement but apparently it is.
Side note, the bizarre, ableist mention of "moron" in the top comment is really interesting.
Also, if you are going to comment or disagree with what I write, that's fine, but please don't be aggressive or offensive. I get enough abuse and adversity from allistics, I don't need it from autistics, too. This should be a safe space to discuss things that interest us, it's a facet of our neurotype after all.
I prefer the term neurotype over disorder. It should be seen as a neurological difference not a medical condition.
Yes, exactly. This is how it should be officially described, which, I think, is the point OP is making.
Yes! Thank you! That's the term I was looking for.
If Western society wasn't structured in the way it is
And if humans never evolved to talk, or weren't social animals... Those hypotheticals are totally useless and doesn't change the fact that issues making it harder for affected people to interact with the fast majority of people are in fact disorders
Once again back to words.. moron is a word, I know some people can’t handle certain words but that doesn’t make them not real and I have no problems calling someone that in the context I used, if someone judged you for being autistic then yes I believe them to be a moron as it is a stupid position to take
Yes certain neurotypes aren’t normal and let me make this clear that doesn’t reflect on the person as it has absolutely nothing to do with you it’s not a choice if you have 100 people and they are born without genetic abnormalities and you have 1 person who is born with an abnormality then yes they aren’t part of the norm that’s just how biology works the human race wouldn’t exist otherwise. I’m sorry if you don’t think that’s fair or like it, science doesn’t care about that, you think that including the difficulties is part of the disorder it’s not, that’s just you projecting that, the disorder is the genetic abnormality not the life you lead being autistic and having to deal with a normal world
Words matter, otherwise verbal assault wouldn't constitute a hate crime (at least in the UK). You used an ableist word and that matters. The word has an interesting history, in case anyone is interested (see below) and using it is ableist given it used to be a psychiatric classification. I am assuming you wouldn't use the 'F' word to describe gay people or the 'N' word to describe black people. Those are just words, too, what makes them different?
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/the-sinister-history-of-the-word-moron-explained
Also, taking the "science doesn't care about your feelings" line of thinking is really lazy. We don't have to keep the status quo. In fact, it's generally good if we don't. I can see from your responses that you aren't interested in discussion, so I'm leaving it here. It's OK to be wrong about things sometimes. Maybe you are wrong about this. Maybe not, but maybe you are.
I do agree with you words do matter that was my entire point, a disorder is not a bad word it’s a technical term, do we need to make up a new word because it has a stigma attached to it for some people? As far as moron goes what words that you don’t like are next is idiot gonna be on the chopping block? Dim witted? Should I spell it like this? m*ron does that make it so it’s not the same word and doesn’t hurt people? Sometimes policing what other people say can go too far you saying ableist could be bothersome to me but I’m not gonna tell you that you can’t say that
Comparing moron and the N word is a stretch but hey words are hurtful to you personally I can’t change that, good luck navigating life if that is going to set you off, not everyone is gonna be nice or agree with you that’s life though
Pretty sure scientifically proven facts are truths, unless they are disproven or the methodology is flawed if that’s lazy then I don’t know what to say lol
I do agree with you on my possibly being wrong, I don’t have a problem admitting when I’m wrong, on the flip side maybe, just maybe you too are wrong
You didn't answer my question, so I'll post it again:
I am assuming you wouldn't use the 'F' word to describe gay people or the 'N' word to describe black people. Those are just words, too, what makes them different?
I didn’t reply to that question cuz quite frankly it’s a stupid question, those are words that are meant to be offensive they were never clinical terms… their sole purpose is to insult someone
Disorder isn’t an offensive word it’s a clinical term
A genetic abnormality doesn't have to be a disorder. Someone could have a genetic abnormality that protects them from the bubonic plague and not be considered "disordered".
Also, calling someone a moron for judging an autistic person is an oversimplification and generalization. That person could be quite intelligent, but not have the culture, compassion, or education to not judge others.
Science doesn't care about anything. Science is a system we've created to help progress our awareness of the universe. However, all scientific theories are based off of assumptions, those assumptions come from society's values, and those values come from the people with power. The point is that science still has aspects that are socially constructed, which means that it's not entirely definite. A measurement can be definite. What that measurement means is subjective.
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Yes!! Thank you! If everyone were autistic, then our society would be structured around it. People would understand sensory overload, direct communication, dislike of hierarchies, lack of conformity, disappearing for days/weeks/months, need for order, etc. Society would be built considering all that into it, so it would just not even really be a thing.
Kind of like there could be an alien species that looks exactly like us and enjoys stimulation while sleeping, so they think that humans are disordered because we have difficulty sleeping on beds that shake like an earthquake all night. "Op, yep. Those humans and their sensory sensitivity while sleeping. They're disordered and need accommodations."
Since the majority of society doesn't have autistic nervous systems, the assumption is that deviations are disordered and allistics are not. That's what I'm getting at. Surely, there would be individuals that need more support than others, but support would probably be woven into the fabric of society, just like there are some individuals that suck at defending themselves from violence, so society created systems to protect those more vulnerable.