I’d like to start off by saying I have autism.
Many people - autistic and otherwise - have debated whether to refer to us as autistic people, or people with autism.
I’m aware that some people with autism prefer the former description, autistic people. Personally, I don’t mind either description. I’d guess most of us aren’t that bothered, although I don’t know for sure.
That being said, the latter description, people with autism, is widely considered to be more politically correct.
Neurotypical people will visit this community, and we don’t want to offend them by using the incorrect term to describe ourselves.
/s, by the way. Never let an NT tell you what to call yourself.
Reaches the end of the post
“Quick, take the downvote back!”
Damn this page took a long time to load what with the influx of new users today, that was a long time sitting with my blood pressure rising before I got to the /s lol
- posts completely sarcastic post in autism subreddit *
deleted by creator
That being said, the latter description, people with autism, is widely considered to be more politically correct.
I’d heard (from an autistic person) that it’s generally the other way around.
I may be mis-remembering some of what he said, but he seemed to indicate “with” is usually used a bit more for temporary, or maybe treatable conditions. He described it in terms of his identity, he is autistic.
…
Just spent 10 minutes thinking about all of the above and then got to your “/s”. Feeling like I took a lot of the above too literally… Ya got me!
Oh you got me steaming until I read the last line 😂 well done!
Noting the /s:
It’s so weird the NTs are about stuff like this. It reminds me about the “Latinx” when it came about.
Don’t have autism but am in the field specifically with younger kids. We have switched from saying autistic kids like “I work with autistic kids” to " I work with kids with autism." Curious if one feels better to you as someone who has autism.
I think it really depends on the perspective you use to understand autism. If you take a medical approach, then kids with autism would be appropriate because it’s a kid with a disease. It’s like describing someone that has caner would be a person with cancer, not a cancer person. If you take a social approach, then kid with autism sounds absurd like describing someone as kid with Hispanic rather than Hispanic kid. A person that is autistic is fully autistic. It’s integral to whom they are. A person that has cancer wouldn’t change whom they are if the cancer were cured. However, a person that is autistic would be a different person if their autism were gone just like a Hispanic person would be different if their Hispanic were gone.
I can’t speak for everyone that’s autistic, but it seems that the trend is going towards a social understanding. A lot of people are proud they’re autistic and don’t view autism as a disease. Instead, they see it as a personal characteristic that is fundamental to their being, and they call themselves autistic to help others understand how they function and their mental culture. I tell others that I’m autistic, not because I want them to know that I’m broken, but so they know that my actions aren’t symbolic of neurotypical behaviors. For example, looking away from someone’s eyes doesn’t mean I’m not paying attention. It means I’m paying so much attention, that looking at their eyes would be distracting. But, it makes sense that they would think I’m distracted because that’s how neurotypical people communicate. So, I don’t tell people I’m autistic so they know that I’m broken or have a disease, but so they understand that I’m different and to consider that when they interact with me.
Autsim is not an accessory or something that can disappear. It is a fundamental part of who we are, at least in my book. (others may disagree, but I met more autistic people who agree with this.)
I tried to imagine myself as non-autistic, and I just couldn’t. I love my special interests, and my passion for learning. My literalness has given me a great sense of humor. What would I be without them? A different person, and probably a very boring one.
You can’t untangle the person from autism. Autism is how my brain is wired. It does affect my personality because of that, and I get so mad (and fad for the kid!) at the same time when I hear parents talk about their real kid being trapped inside the autism cage or whatever word they use. Those parents will never be able to see their kid for who they are, they will always see them as deficient compared to who they imagined their kid to be.
