I have a gluten allergy. Several years ago people used to take that seriously because it’s a medical diagnosis. But now loads of people are self-diagnosing with gluten allergy. “Oh I don’t eat gluten, it makes me feel so bloated and tired”, “Gluten is crap and it’s so unhealthy”, “I eat gluten free to lose weight”. They eat gluten free food sometimes but other times when they feel like it they have a pizza and nothing happens to them.
Meanwhile I’m over here going into anaphylactic shock if someone touches gluten then touches my food without washing their hands. But people no longer take it seriously because so many are eating gluten free for non-medical reasons. They tell me “a little bit won’t hurt you” and “Sandra is gluten free but she’s eating cake today because it’s a special occasion so why can’t you?” Because there’s a difference between my medically diagnosed allergy and Sandra cutting down on gluten because she thinks it makes her fat!
This is where autism is headed. Loads of people self-identifying with autism will swamp the needs of the people who actually do have autism and need support and reasonable adjustments. Nobody will take autism seriously any more. I can see it now: “Sandra identifies as autistic but she doesn’t have a problem with noise and bright lights so why do you?” Because Sandra isn’t fucking autistic, thats why.