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Here’s Why It’s Offensive to Say That Autism Is Not a Disability
It’s dismissive of people’s real problems
Some people don’t consider autism to be a disability. These people are wrong, and such attitudes could do more harm than good. Here, I explain why.
What is autism?
According to the UK’s National Autistic Society, autism is:
“A lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world.”
(Emphasis mine.)
Autism is also referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder. Disorder is an important word here. A disorder can be defined as:
“A set of problems, which result in causing significant difficulty, distress, impairment and/or suffering in a person’s daily life.”
That’s the critical issue here — it causes difficulties or suffering in daily life. People with autism struggle to understand and interact with the world around them. As the National Autistic Society says, this can take the form of:
- Social and communication challenges
- Repetitive and restrictive behaviour
- Sensory sensitivities
- Highly focused interests or hobbies
