Is it ASD that frequently?

[EverybodyWakeUp]

And if so, why is this the case? It seems that in modern society we're heading towards so many diagnosis of ASD, that we might have to change our thinking and perhaps being neurotypical is not necessarily the norm?

Are there other things that explain traits/symptoms more accurately, like the way our society is, our education system, life pressures, etc?

I hope I am not offending, truly not my intention. I really want to understand more. I am a true supporter of diversity but I feel puzzled that some forms of ASD, say what used to be Aspergers, can be classed as a disability.

If my post offends it truly is because I haven't explained myself properly and I apologise in advance. Any good articles/websites/books on this would be welcome.

I would be much more convinced that it was a poster wishing to be informed if:
A) their post hadn't included this sentence: I am a true supporter of diversity but I feel puzzled that some forms of ASD, say what used to be Aspergers, can be classed as a disability.
And
B) they weren't a user name which hasn't posted anything at all since 2012

Combined, I feel disinclined to engage and I suggest others do the same. There is plenty of literature out there.

@ForTheLoveOfSleep Well, I can't speak for them but of course I know my autism is less debilitating than others. I know why you must be so angry about this but I am not the enemy. My existence should not be the problem. Autism is categorised by the information we currently have and that is, that for whatever reason, my brain and your daughter's brain are wired the same way. Why that causes one of us to be just a bit eccentric and another to be completely non-verbal and have very high support needs is unfair, I agree with you on that, but unfortunately that's what has happened. I do agree that all the 'support needs' language at the moment could be simplified, maybe you could make some suggestions, see if you can get a new phrase trending. They've got to start somewhere!

And I do know someone with very high support needs, I have a family member with Rett Syndrome. Her parents and siblings are all high achieving, low support needs autistic adults.

I have seen recently people saying l never knew l had autism/ adhd etc until my ds was diagnosed. As a teacher l have had parents say my dB has always been like ds but he was never diagnosed. When l started teaching years ago we had no training on autism so l can think back on children who nowadays would be diagnosed. I also remember children in school with me who would now meet the criteria, perhaps and more children went to special needs schools while now the focus is on going to your regular, local school.. So it's not that there is more but more awareness especially in the education system.
My ds has adhd but looking at my dhs father's family now it's very obvious this was prevalent throughout that large family but it was never assessed they just battled through with difficulty a lot of the time.

Lots of things can be true at the same time. There's a really important point to consider about the number of diagnoses being made.

A few PPs have mentioned how modern life is in some ways unhelpful for ND people- sensory stimulation, short notice changes, unheard of a couple of generations ago. People who may not have been significantly disabled by ND characteristics are under much more pressure now.

People who may not have been disabled then, would be now.
People who weren't diagnosed despite problems then, are recognised now.
Maybe frequency is also increasing for some reason.

All that together and you have to wonder at what point ND stops being a minority, 'additional' need. That NT is no longer 'the main/majority way of being' and is simply one way of being.

It seems to me that the world is set up for the benefit of a shrinking NT, extrovert population and we need to stop the bus and recover an environment comfortable for ND people, too.

Ok I'm sorry I've upset you. I don't think I am very good at writing down what I'm trying to say in my head so I will try again.

Due the fact that my DS is autistic and dyspraxic and has struggled his entire life, I have spent literally thousands of hours researching neurodiversity. I spend a lot of time talking to neurodivergent people -children and adults. I've been on multiple ND training courses. I have come across a LOT of adults (who I know extremely well and who I have spent a lot of time around) who would fit the criteria to be diagnosed as either autistic or having ADHD. I am well aware of the process of diagnosis and that it is not easy, but considering that my child was misdiagnosed by medical professionals on two occasions, I don't have that much faith in solely leaving it up to them.

My comment about them not being classed as disabled was written badly - they obviously would not consider themselves disabled as they are not aware that they have a neurodivergence, but I fully agree that they are disabled.

That's not quite all OP said, though... there was the
"but I feel puzzled that some forms of ASD, say what used to be Aspergers, can be classed as a disability"

Such judginess is not the comment of someone who genuinely is trying to find out.

Yes, I think you’re right.

OP, just take your ‘puzzled’ mind, your faux support and your judgement of how debilitating autism can be elsewhere.

I have ASD

i do not consider myself disabled at all and find the suggestion offensive.

My brain works differently than the “normal” person, but it provides me with many advantages in life. I just have to navigate in a world built for average people.

some people have very different experiences with ASD and they are free apply their own interpretations as appropriate.

You're a true supporter of diversity but don't understand why Asperger's is classed as a disability? Then you're not the supporter you claim to be. In fact your disablism is pretty offensive.

And ASD as a spectrum but all falling under the same name

Absolutely. OP comes on looking for information and gets slammed for not knowing enough...

Partly they shut down a lot of sn schools in favour of inclusion, you see more of them now. I went to a school for people with autism and some other special needs, that got shut down a couple of years after I left. It's more visible now as as well as improved diagnosises among girls especially

Nah. Look at the language used. Not buying it. And it’s a regular theme on here, possibly the same fucking poster.

No, they are not slammed fir seeking information or not knowing enough, but for insinuating that some people with ASD should not be regarded as disabled.
If you genuinely are looking for information you wouldn't go making ignorant judgements about the thing you claim to know little about.

Yes 100%. I'm getting really tired of the orthodoxy demanded on certain topics and the endless shrieks of disableism. And I'm both neurodivergent and physically disabled now.

My ADHD has undoubtedly fucked me up and probably contributed to my chronic illness but it has also given me a drive, curiosity and creativity that has added magic to my life. And although today I'm hating my hyperfocus there are other times it has been enormously helpful. It's helped me achieve things that other people haven't.

There's no one universal viewpoint on any topic of importance.

700,000 people out of 60 million diagnosed so really not 'more normal than normal'.
My son has Aspergers, it affects his social abilities hugely, anxiety and depression are frequently comorbid, the world is not set up for him. He is extremely clever but will struggle hugely to get a job because they require doing interviews, excellent communication skills, working closely with others in a team etc all skills he just can't manage.

The diagnostic criteria for autism require significant impairment. By definition it's a disability.

Yes but you are disabled, a person in a wheel chair can say exactly the same as you - they just have to navigate a world not set up for them - but they are still disabled. The point is that navigating that world is more difficult for you - that's literally the point of being disabled.

@SquirrelSoShiny it makes no sense to say 'my ADHD has undoubtedly fucked me up' but there's good bits too so no one should call ADHD a disability or be criticised for suggesting Asperger's isn't a disability. It certainly is for my son - and that's despite him also (probably) being very clever due to having it.

@SquirrelSoShiny

“endless shrieks of disableism”

this is a thread discussing autism. You are not autistic. Please have the dignity and decency so refrain from such patronising and minimising language which is clearly directed at those of us who do feel our autism impact our daily lives.

@Dontaskdontget woah way to shame working mothers.

I would never minimise your experience of autism. I just get frustrated that when any other poster offers a different view on their own autism they get shrieked at as if there's one orthodox view.

It's not negating your personal struggle when other autistic posters say, actually I don't feel disabled. It's just their experience. Challenge by all means but the constant cries of ableism are getting really old. Using that word so loosely really takes the power out of it and renders it meaningless.

That's a general comment btw not aimed at anyone in particular. I just keep seeing this word ableism / disableism used over and over in a number of threads in a really sloppy manner. Sometimes it just seems to mean Agree with everything I say or else you're a bad human!

Again this is a general observation and I'm only quoting you as you responded to my post. It is absolutely NOT aimed at those feeling the impacts of their autism on their daily lives I would never minimise that struggle. It's aimed at people lazily throwing around rhetoric to shut down discussion.

You might not consider it a disability but it is considered one by the medical profession or you wouldn't have a diagnosis.

Perhaps @Clymene, people who say that they don’t consider themselves to be disabled are referring to the social model of disability rather than the medical one. It’s an important distinction for some and I think it is what @Ponderingwindow and @SquirrelSoShiny are referring to.

www.scope.org.uk/about-us/social-model-of-disability/

I feel this thread has gone off on a tangent but I'm not sure if anyone has directly answered the OP's question.

YES IT IS ALWAYS ASD