"I'm ASD" "My son is SEN"

[ArtTheClownIsNotAMime]

This is everywhere on MN and irritates me so much. You're autism spectrum disorder are you? And your son is special educational needs?

When did "have/has" go out of fashion?

I'm autistic and I say "I'm autistic" or "I have ASD" or "I'm diagnosed with ASD/ autism". I have no problem with someone saying that I have autism even though I don't tend to say it.

I also have no problem with someone saying that I'm disabled even though I'd usually say 'I have a disability or some disabilities' (because I am and I do have chronic physical disabilities/illnesses/conditions and mental health ones). I have no problem with any of these because they're factually correct. Anything else is sentiments or nitpicking words.

I agree that saying "I'm ASD" (also see "I'm neurodiverse") is factually incorrect as i cannot be an illness or disorder itself or diverse alone. It's like saying I'm cancer or I'm anxiety or i have mental health.
It doesn't make sense.

"They?"

Yes. I can see the point is going to continue being missed, which is somewhat frustrating. Or perhaps I should say "I'm frustration."

I’m autistic is the most used term (I’m autistic myself)

The difference is between using the adjective and the noun.
I am autistic (correct use of language, even if offensive to some people).
OR
I am ASD (a grammatical error unless the person is somehow claiming to embody the essence of ASD).

I have freedom vs I AM freedom.

We know that Louis XIV supposedly said: 'L’État, c’est moi.' but we all know where that ended up for his family--

Sorry not a great example, just amusing to me...

I

Incase I wasn't clear, the point of my earlier post was to say that I agree with the OP.

What you do mean "they??"

???

Well, I’m an autistic person and I agree it’s non sensical. You cannot be ASD

You saying I cannot necessarily see things the ‘proper’ way because I’m disabled is what is offensive here.

The logic is that autism is such an innate part of you that you can't separate it out into something you "have" - but even then it would be "I am autistic" not ASD.

However my personal view is - you have the condition/diagnosis = you get to pick what you refer to it as... it's my autism, if I want to paint it purple and call it Bob I can do so.

See also “I’ve got mental health”.

So on a desert island a person in a wheelchair would be perfectly capable of taking care of themselves, and it's only modern Western society that renders them disabled? And that makes sense to you?

I don’t particularly care how people choose to describe themselves but I think it’s a bit shit, even in pedants corner, to be annoyed at how disabled people with communication problems word things.

It doesn't tend to be the person themselves in my experience. For example, my son would say he is 'autistic' while I've seen parents say 'my son is special needs'. No, they are a whole human being with additional needs.

Sorry, perhaps I didn't explain correctly. As you are aware, all autistic people are different, and will look at the same things in a different way.

If an autistic person wants to refer to themselves in a specific way, which may not necessarily be the 'right way' according to other people, the point I was making is that they want to do that, so they shouldn't be criticised for their personal choice.

I've noticed that too.

I understand your grammatical point perfectly well, though I'm not sure why it irritates you so much. Perhaps it would be better for your blood pressure if you decided that ASD could also stand for 'Autistic-Spectrum-Disordered' and 'Special-Education-Needing'.

Not at all. My daughter is both Autistic and is disabled. In both cases it is her environment which disabled her, not her body.

She uses walking aids and a wheelchair, she can get anywhere she want to get to until her environment puts things in her way.

She struggles with too much chaos, but is fine until the environment around her makes it impossible for her to have a quiet space to move to.

In both scenarios, society is the problem because we both have to try hard to get people to understand what she needs rather than judging her or always expecting her to try to fit in.

“Both autistic and disabled” should read “both autistic and physically disabled”

“He’s/she’s special needs” is by far the worst. Makes me cringe.

Feel very sorry for those cared for by people who refer to them this way.

I have wondered this about autism being an identity. In my line of work we are told that a person does not 'suffer from dementia' or even 'has dementia' and definitely isn't 'demented' but rather 'lives with dementia'. They are more than their illness, in the same way I never use 'an epileptic' or 'a diabetic' however autism seems to be the exception?

Dementia is an illness, autism is not. It’s an inherent part of a person.

I remember - he's HIV.

i agree. It’s dehumanising.

But you wouldn't say "a Catholicism person".

Some people may also have learning difficulties and/or disabilities alongside, so using the correct grammar might also be something they genuinely struggle with.