I’m somewhat new to learning about autism and neurodiversity, but even before that I was of the opinion that some of what is called “mental illness” wasn’t really, but just seemed that way because of how society is optimized for certain personality types. Now I’m trying to figure out if autism and any other ND types fit this idea.
So I wanted to gauge the community and find out how popular/accepted this idea is. Do you see these as inherent handicaps, like being blind, or just circumstantial, like say being 8 feet tall (side effects of gigantism notwithstanding)? Or, now that I think of it, perhaps like being 8 feet tall with the side effects: are they not inherent handicaps themselves, but often or always come with inherent side effects?
I don’t know if this applies to all or even most other autistic people, but my autism has almost been exclusively positive for me.
Really the only negative thing that ever happens is people being mean or making fun of me because I don’t understand the social rules. But it happens less and less as I both learn the rules and frequent more mature people who don’t care if you’re slightly awkward and don’t always know how to end a conversation 🤷🏻♀️
Autism is not a handicap in my case. Not even slightly.
Doesn’t apply to all, unfortunately. For me, it has been a mess. My life is a constant fight for survival, because even simple things, like eating, are difficult for me, and at the end of the day, I have barely any time to do anything that i want to do in life.