ASD is offensive?

Post Reply New Topic

Did you know that the term ASD (Autistic spectrum DISORDER) is now offensive according to whoever ran the training for the staff at my house? They now have to write it as ASC (autistic spectrum CONDITION). I'm confused. I never found the term ASD offensive... In fact most if not all books written by people with autism mention ASD...

Does anyone here find it offensive or do you have the same opinion as me??

_________________
I have HFA, ADHD, OCD & Tourette syndrome. I love animals, especially my bunnies and hamster. I skate in a roller derby team (but I'll try not to bite )

I think whoever decided that needs a solid smack upside the head..

I don't find it offensive at all, to me it's just a name. Pretty much everything has a name now, and I don't find the term "disorder" offensive.

I don't find it offensive.

I voted "Llama" as I see nothing at all offensive in the term Autism Spectrum DIFFERENCE.

Or DOMINANCE, even...

group homes sound terrible, im so happy i live on my own. being fully independent rules and it sounds like political correctness home, paint your furniture and all the fixtures white in your living room (if you know what i mean) and make your staff people clean it up

or get your own place. thats what i would do

I don't think it's so much that it's offensive. More that it was decided that 'condition' was a more accurate word to describe it than 'disorder'. I'm not sure why - but I assume that there are various medical definitions of the two words that make one a better fit than the other.

I wondered why Asperger´s was a SYNDROME and autism spectrum disorder wasn´t a SYNDROME but I guess it´s because the initials wouldn´t spell out appropriately... Is there really that much of a difference between a disorder, syndrome, and condition?

Quite a few people, mostly in the UK from what I've seen, have been using that term for years. It is also used in some research papers (e.g., see Baron-Cohen). I have used both ASD and ASC when typing.

I find the issue of how offensive it is to be much less pertinent than how accurate it is.

"Autism Spectrum Disorder" is accurate, as a disorder implies, to me, a permanent state in which the individual is in and cannot be cured, as it is hard-wired, whereas "Condition" seems to me like something that is temporary or a result of compounding influences, like athlete's foot or heart condition.

Someone with an ASD is less likely to be offended by the connotation of a word in the acronym than the accuracy of the words involved, anyway.

I honestly don't mind what it's called. It's just a label after all.

If I had to be truly nitpicky, I'd say that neither 'disorder' or 'condition' really explain what AS is. Disorder implies that something is somehow wrong or defunct, and considering we're wired to be as we are, you could argue that it's offensive. As PhilipWH said, condition implies that AS is something that's temporary, and easy to cure. But as I said, it's only a label. It's not worth spending lots of time on debating whether it could be offensive or not.

Language politics make ret*ds of everyone. Of course they changed it from disorder to condition because some moron though "disorder" was too harsh. But it is a disorder, no matter how you slice it.

Wonder what they'll call it next because you know after a year, condition will be considered too harsh.

For some "disorder" may have a negative connotation. Like another responder said "condition" sounds too temporary. I prefer "syndrome" which, to me anyway, is neutral.

My son is diagnosed with autism, I may or not have mild autism. I do not believe my son has a "disorder" I certainly don't have a "disorder." I am of the opinion that autism has always been around and it is a variation of normal. However, this "variation of normal" needs some extra care and learning (via ABA therapy, OT, Speech Therapy or combination thereof), some differences in learning and acceptance and understanding.

Homosexuality is also a variation of normal. I don't refer to my gay friends has having a "homosexual disorder"

I would prefer that "disorder" "condition" and "syndrom" be dropped and just Autism Spectrum and/or Aspergers be used plainly.

I'm really glad that Llama is an option. it's a relief to be able to vote in a poll even when I don't like the options. everyone should include Llama in their polls.

I kinda think it is a disorder, because brain development doesn't happen in the typical order. but then I think it's not a disorder, because it's probably a mutation and our brains work differently because of the atypical development pattern. we can learn how to do some things we're not naturally wired for, but we process it differently. so, a disorder but not a disorder.

maybe it should be called Atypical Development: Autistic Spectrum. or something like that.