Does being autistic mean you are legally counted as being disabled.

[Howtostopthbullies]

I hope this is okay to ask this as I am seeking to help clarify things for my DD who has a recent ASD diagnosis. When I first told her about it and tried to explain it to her and family members I used the definition on the National Autistic Society:
'Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world.'

But I've subsequently heard some people saying that just because someone is autistic it doesn't mean you are automatically counted as having a disability. I've done some googling and I don't seem to be able to find a definitive answer. I would be very grateful if some of you could explain this to me. I'd like to know so I can better understand what legal protection she has now and in the future, but also she very much see her autism as disability and I'm worried I have told her the wrong thing now.
Thank you so much in advance for any help/clarity you can give me.

Under the 2010 equality act, autism is generally classed as a disability.

For me as an adult, I'm only disabled when the adjustments I need to function in this neurotypical are refused or unavailable. I have relationships, 4 adult children and a decent job that I'm good at.

Autism is legally a disability. You’re entitled to reasonable adjustments and can sue if someone discriminates against you. It’s helpful to see yourself as disabled in the sense that you know you struggle with certain things and can put strategies in place to help yourself. But it’s not helpful to think of it as a disability in a limiting way.

Thank you both that is very helpful ☺️

@Speermint
Thank you for your post. It has come at the right time. It's been a couple of tricky weeks for disability.

I highly recommend the book Different Not Less by Chloe Hayden (a young Australian actress who was diagnosed as autistic in her teens, I haven't heard of here before I read the book but she was in some TV series called Heartbreak High) it really focuses on being disabled as not being less in any way, just different and that society as a whole really need to reframe how disability is viewed. Just as PP says, it is matter of adjustments being available.

The book did make me cry but it's a lovely read, particularly for autistic women or late teens.

Thanks for these answers they are really helpful and have made me understand what I was struggling with. I wanted her to know that she is disabled so that she knows she has a right and expectation to reasonable adjustments, but as some of you have said above I don't want her to think that that limits her in anyway from what she might want to do/achieve. I will look at the book too - thank you.

Look up social vs medical models of disability if you’re interested - I think that’s quite a nice way of framing things.

Have a read of Unmasking autusm, it's inspiring

It’s an interesting one. I understand it’s classified as a disability, but I don’t really think of myself as disabled. It’s such a huge term that covers a lot of conditions!!