I am in the “i dont have autism, i am autism” camp because i consider stereotypical autistic behavior to be “autisms”.
When neurotypicals start saying “they or everyone also have a little autism” what i understand is they have 1 or 2 autisms but besides those scenarios they are completely within classic norms. The difference then with someone like me is there is no situation in my life where i am not actively experiencing one or more autisms. I have never known anything else and i therefore developed my identity with autism as a core part of who i am.
This said, i would so much prefer that everyone used the term neurodivergent instead and left the term autism for professional medical diagnosis only. Its so much more inclusive, and vague enough people don’t stereotype it in assuming rainman/savantism.
I am in the “i dont have autism, i am autism” camp because i consider stereotypical autistic behavior to be “autisms”.
When neurotypicals start saying “they or everyone also have a little autism” what i understand is they have 1 or 2 autisms but besides those scenarios they are completely within classic norms. The difference then with someone like me is there is no situation in my life where i am not actively experiencing one or more autisms. I have never known anything else and i therefore developed my identity with autism as a core part of who i am.
This said, i would so much prefer that everyone used the term neurodivergent instead and left the term autism for professional medical diagnosis only. Its so much more inclusive, and vague enough people don’t stereotype it in assuming rainman/savantism.