AIBU to hate the expression 'on the spectrum'

[sleepingbelvi]

Prepared for a roasting because I posted in here but I keep reading 'could they be on the spectrum', 'maybe they are on the spectrum' etc when people are asking advice about their children.

I am Autistic and have 2 Autistic children, and this 'on the spectrum' really winds me up. If you think someone may be talking about autism, just say so!

'On the spectrum' makes it sound like a fucking carnival ride.

I much prefer autistic to ‘on the spectrum’. A large part of that is because so many people claim everyone is ‘on the spectrum’ which makes no sense as it’s a spectrum of autism.

I’m with you, it’s along the lines of “everyone is a bit autistic” to me

I think that might be where my intense dislike comes from actually, the 'everyone is on the spectrum somewhere' shite

sirzy yes!! It's just so infuriating.

I agree. And it’s usually bandied around as a casually perjorative term.
As the parent of one diagnosed ASD child (and very probably a full house of us) I want to shake people when they use this comment

As you are Autistic and I am NT you have an absolute right to request that I refer to your condition in the way you prefer when I am speaking to you.

I think people use “on the spectrum” for a couple of reasons

1. it feels less blunt than saying Autism especially if someone is struggling with a situation (the same way some people say passed away rather than died)
2. It is a spectrum condition so the phrase covers the fact that people may present in different ways with different degrees of severity.

I and my son have aspergers and I dislike it.

But my most hated phrase is 'he/she is probably on the spectrum' when people are explained with their partners are dicks. Or when anyone displays behaviour that's people dont like.

I really hate it.

Not a phrase I use but doesnt bother me. Iv two kids with asd.

People seem to use on the spectrum to describe people who they think might be autistic or who display some of the traits of autism. My son is autistic and I never describe him as being on the spectrum. I don't like it when people do it but autism can be complicated to understand so I get why it happens but I tend to correct people.

The phrase doesn't bother me, but in agreement with PP about the way it is suggested when posters describe someone being abusive. People with autism are far more likely to be abused than abusers.