Work Colleagues throwing terms like 'autistic' and 'on the spectrum' around.

[Charlize43]

I just wondered if anyone else is experiencing this and whether it is the norm with younger people to use these terms freely?

I am currently working with a group of twenty-somethings (average age around 27) and we also work with volunteers of all ages. My colleagues are quite a judgy bunch and on downtime they often spend their time discussing the volunteers using terms like 'I think he/she is autistic / on the spectrum.'

I'm 57 and didn't grow up with those terms. People were described as shy if they were socially awkward, for example... I hear these terms thrown around all day, often in what feels like a derogatory way, like describing a volunteer who is really enthusiastic and passionate about a hobby - 'I think she's autistic / on the spectrum'.

Maybe it's because I'm old but I find it all a bit annoying... Is this the norm for younger people? Has anyone else experienced this?

I hear a lot of people my generation (Xennial, 40s) and younger throwing around the terms narcissist about anyone with remotely selfish or unlovely behaviour. I hate it because real NPD is devastating for the sufferer and those around them.

I don't like this thing at all, it's v ableist.

My Mum is 66 and uses autistic and on the spectrum about anyone she remotely doesn’t like. This includes me and DH! I had thought (because of this) that it was a generational thing among boomers. Autism was the ‘bogeyman’ of the 80s wasn’t it?

By the way, I’m not saying any of this behaviour is ok; I agree with you that your colleagues are being ableist. I’m just a bit surprised it’s younger colleagues.

Yeah it’s normal. And ableist and neurodivergent.

One benefit is that now that ‘not all disabilities are visible’ we can all use the disabled loos.

I think it is the modern versions of you know ‘spastic’ or ‘dumb’. Even special is now an insult in the playground, no one want to be special because it is associated with being weird or not very clever.

@Feliciacat yes it's funny how things being the bogeyman/condition "du jour" go in stages. At one point it was autism and maybe still is, now it's narcissism. In the early late 80s early 90s it was false memories, sexual abuse etc, mid 90s ME/Chronic Fatigue, then dairy allergies or wheat intolerances.

I think in the 50s there was a thing about ASD being caused by "cold" mothers and attachment issues, rather like schizophrenia used to be, and the stigma of these conditions was compounded by parents feeling unjustly blamed. I think parents must have felt very afraid of having a child with an ND issue back then. I do remember the vaccines scandal in the 90s and the worry that MMR need behind many cases.

you would think now with so much more awareness of Neurodivergent conditions people would be more thoughtful about throwing these terms around casually. yet I see ableism almost increasing these days amongst the young (I'm disabled myself with mental and physical issues).

My colleagues are quite a judgy bunch and on downtime they often spend their time discussing the volunteers using terms like 'I think he/she is autistic / on the spectrum.'

Have you reported them to HR? I reported a colleague for using similar ableist language persistently, he was given a warning and has stopped. He’s in his 40s though. The younger people I work with don’t act like this. They all seem shit hot at being PC and many of them also reported the man I did.

Increased awareness is a good thing, but no one should be using these terms negatively or speculating about work colleagues. If you see it being done anywhere, pull the person up on it or if it’s at work, go to HR.

It's younger people that I hear using those teens, too. Which isn't surprising as those terms are relatively new to our vocabularies.

I hate to hear it, alongside with 'I'm a bit OCD'' (aka 'I like things to be tidy').

I wish I was brave enough to challenge people on it more often.

Well those terms are thrown around on Mumsnet all the time and I wouldn't have thought everybody here is young

I haven't seen it on mumsnet with ASD, (that's not to say it doesn't happen) but have seen it a lot with NPD. I actually think MN is full of genuine "voices" of ASD, but the ableism on those threads seems to be from those posters who plop on to the threads and minimise and belittle the lived experiences of those with ASD. Increased awareness is a wonderful thing but we still have a long way to go.

@saraclara yes as someone with diagnosed and medicated OCD that one grinds my gears. People wouldn't even recognise the type of OCD I battle, and it has nothing to do with being neat. People confuse perfectionism and neatness with OCD.

Maybe it's because I'm old but I find it all a bit annoying... Is this the norm for younger people? Has anyone else experienced this?

Not something I have experienced in real life, but it happens on MN a lot.

People are always saying "on the spectrum". It's incredibly ignorant. It drives me mad.

I manage a team, I'm the oldest in my early 30s. Almost all of them have diagnosed themselves with either autism or adhd, which apparently makes them feel like they can throw it around and apply to anyone too. It's almost like a trend now.

I suppose there is more awareness. I know a couple of people in my sphere who I suspect are autistic. I'd never speak that thought though.

I've not heard it used nastily about another person. I've read it used as a possible reason for bad behaviour on Mumsnet.
I've also read people claiming they have it on the internet, to justify their response to things. My own (18 year old) child has said it's the reason they need to be at the front of the queue, but only the front part of the queue that includes their own family members, they're perfectly fine with non family members being in front of them. Said child has never been diagnosed with ASD or ADHD, and it seems to be purely self diagnosed. Though, I can kind of understand, when he was at school, and also college, it seemed like most of the class had some sort of issue, which they got special treatment for (not saying they didn't need it, I always told him to be grateful he didn't need it!) and it seems very popular on TikTok at the moment.

There were very few people diagnosed with adhd, autism and dyslexia 30 years ago, simply because it wasn’t picked up but it’s very different these days. If the young people have a diagnosis themselves or know relatives and good friends with autism then they are likely to have some idea about how the diagnosis presents within some individuals. I think how behaviours are discussed matters hugely, with kindness, support, discreetness and understanding being fine but harsh judgemental put downs reportable.

I manage a team, I'm the oldest in my early 30s. Almost all of them have diagnosed themselves with either autism or adhd, which apparently makes them feel like they can throw it around and apply to anyone too. It's almost like a trend now.

If your team are ‘throwing it and around and applying it to anyone’, you need to manage them better. And report them. It’s ableism and poor management by you you allow it to continue.

I'm in my 30's. I would say autistic and on the spectrum get thrown around a fair bit.

There does seem to be a surge of unjustified 'self-diagnosis' of ADHD and Autism. I'm tempted to tell all NDAs (Neuro-Diversity Appropriators) that I have ADHDAD - that's ADHD, Authentic, Diagnosed.

Possibly start a trend similar to the expansion of LGB. I rather like the idea of ADHDU for the fantasists - that'll be U for Unicorn.

ADHD and Autism awareness can only be a good thing in the long-term. Informed understanding would be even better. I'm hoping this fad for NDA will run it's course soon. If it doesn't I'm going to have to pretend I'm neuro-typical (or whatever they call it now). Oh, wait, I've done that.

(Sighs) It could almost make me long for the days when I was a relative rarity; being the only ADHD 'A' in the village...

@Smartstuffed

Part of the issue is that assessment waiting lists are years long. Not being diagnosed doesn’t mean someone doesn’t have it, isn’t authentic and isn’t struggling.

Thats a different issue to using things like autism as some sort of derogatory term or speculating about others in the workplace which OP talks about.

I couldn't agree more with you. The waiting list situation is beyond dire. I'm trying to provide support (as best I can) to a friend who is on a waiting list; I can see how badly it is affecting them.

My beef is with those who decide to 'adopt' ADHD as their attention-seeking trend of the month or for some perceived special benefit to the detriment of the genuine. I think there is real risk that the public perception of ADHD, Autism, etc., will be negatively affected.

I will admit to a bit of an hasty response on this thread (I do have ADHD, you know! 🙂) but my line of thought was influenced by a later post. My brain went off on a tangent and I omitted to respond to the OP's remarks on the casual and wholly inappropriate use of speculative/derogatory(?) labelling in her workplace. It constitutes potentially (if not actual) damaging gossip and should be dealt with promptly.

It can't be excused by participants pretending it arose out of genuine concern for a given individual's well-being. If so, it should have been raised discretely with a manager. Nor can it be passed off as an innocent interest in/discussion on diversity if the focus is on one specific person.

(Hope this makes sense - I'm tired; need to sleep but brain not complying - can't get hold of my meds due to shortage...)

I don’t care if I pissed of anybody referring to myself as ND before my NHS diagnosis for ASC and AdHD. I had both before and I have it now. It wasn’t my fault I had to wait 55 years for diagnosis and frankly being lectured to by those lucky enough to get their diagnosis early is a bit rich. My son is the middle of his diagnosis. He hasn’t got it yet but he absolutely does have ASC and ADHD and is being treated by services as if he is.

This thread is about ableist behaviour in the workplace. Op you need to go to HR.

A secondary-school teacher friend says that ADHD and autism have replaced anorexia as the popular self-diagnosis among his teenage students. It seems to be a very sad and attention-seeking attitude for most of them while obscuring those who do need proper help.

I think it’s common - but possibly more from older people (40s/50s) than the younger age group you describe.

It certainly isn’t ok to do it the way you describe, if you don’t have the authority to bring it up with them, talk to HR about arranging a training session.

It’s an inevitable consequence of the fashion for everyone self-diagnosing and wanting a label. Once they’ve diagnosed themselves, they’ll diagnose others.

I do hear it quite a lot. Usually from people who have experience of someone with a diagnosis, so they try to diagnose other people! I hear it often in my workplace. I work with my other half (who was diagnosed as a child) so when I hear another colleague say it in a jokey way (about someone else), I don't like it.