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Well that settles it
(thelemmy.club)
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this post was submitted on 28 May 2026
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Autism
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Here we have the diagnostic definition at odds with the desire to socialize the specific condition to the layman and advance acceptance.
I agree the new descriptors sometimes runs counter to that effort. So I tend to describe my L1ASD condition as "the Asperger's style of autism" to the uninitiated.
Unfortunately, this can also draw negativity from the cohort of autistic folks that want to see the term Asperger's deleted because they misunderstand who Hans Asperger was and what he actually was about. The popular story about that has been distilled to a soundbyte of "He WaS a NaZi" spongebob font and all.
It's frustrating and anecdotally I'm 10+ years in my journey parenting autistic children and the consensus with the professionals is that the new descriptors are a continued challenge. Will it change with time? Who knows? All I can do is advocate for those who get left out and/or left on the wrong side of these memes because like my younger son they cannot advocate for themselves.
It will change when all the regular folks learn to use their sense of reason to question their own emotionally-driven judgements.
I don't see that being a skill that is encouraged in many parts of our society, because it would make the people more capable of thinking critically and less susceptible to the political/ideological manipulations that prey on their anger and fear.
It is my firm belief the only way things will change is if neurotypical people are forced to have relationships with autistic peers. Right now we do not do this. Autistic programs by and large are professionals helping autistic kids while working with other autistic kids.
There needs to be programs in schools that force children to become peer buddy groups with autistic kids.
Maybe.. but I feel like forcing people to do things doesn't often yield the best results. I do agree that consistent and positive interaction would be meaningful.
Culturally, we need people to set the examples and to lead correctly. And that's adults, whether its teachers or parents, including and accepting the autistic kid and encouraging the neurotypical kids to be the same.
If that's in line with what you're saying, then we're on the same page.
Yes.
If it makes sense it's the whole, "I have a child with autism not an autistic child."
I think I understand, despite not personally being one to take a position over how to express that concept. It seems like it might be more meaningfully applied by yourself as you can clearly relate the distinction along the severity gradient of autism.