"On the spectrum"

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I hate this phrase. Why? Because it has the risk of watering down the serious impairments of autism into quirkiness and uniqueness. I'm not saying it does that for sure, but when I get described as "on the spectrum," I feel like the person is saying I'm high functioning, which I'm not and I feel like they are saying my impairments are mild, which they are not. Because if it's a "spectrum," anyone can be on it.

Yeah I know what you mean. I've written the same concern about the seriousness of autism being watered down a few times. I've seen many saying they wouldn't want any kind of a cure because of how special being an aspie is. I would just like to not be disabled as fcuk because of fcuking autism. I'm not on any spectrum far as I'm concerned, I'm full blown autistic.

That is interesting. It sounds like you take it as a personal slight. I don't think that way. I don't mind being referred to as on the spectrum and I do not see it as devaluing me and my difficulties in any way. My deficits are fairly obvious to anyone who spends time with me and I don't have the energy to waste on worrying what other people think. I do think some people use the term spectrum because they don't like saying the word autism. I also think you would find many NT people are rather confused about Aspergers, HFA and classical Autism so it's just easier for them to say spectrum and people tend to like easy options. I don't think it's done to suggest autism isn't serious but I may be wrong. I don't spend much time thinking about it to be honest.

I couldn't care less about being described as being "on the spectrum". It doesn't affect my personality any. I'm me...I just happen to be an Aspie.

I usually describe myself as being "somewhere on the Autistic spectrum" I think it helps people to understand that not all autistic people are like Rainman (or any other stereotype they have) and that we are a varied bunch with unique strengths and weaknesses.

To each their own, but for me I feel like describing myself as just "Autistic" puts too much of a label on me. Being on a spectrum implies it's not that simple. I'd like to be known for my character first, not just to be put in a box.

I would wear a hat with autist on it if people would leave me alone.

I usually use the term "spectrum" or "ASD" because it includes many different disorders, whereas "Aspie" is much more specific and doesn't describe everyone.

I sometimes refer to myself as having ASD because I don't know exactly where on the spectrum I fall.

I also sometimes prefer ASD because, on the rare occasion that I actually disclose that personal information to someone new, I feel like it doesn't carry the same negative stereotypes that "Autism" does.

I use “autistic” most often “aspie” second and “on the spectrum” third. People stereotype “Autism” and “Aspie” deny you are “Autistic” or “Aspie” or say since you are an “aspie”or “high functioning” you do not have “real autism” . For some reason “somewhere on the spectrum” seems not to offend so many people.

Most NTs have a limited understanding of autism altogether. If and when they learn contemporized buzz phrases, they know little else but to accept it and use it as if it is newfound knowledge. I visualize the phrase "on the spectrum" as all of us being hung up in a huge section of outer space (think Neo escaping his Matrix pod). I like the clinical description of the autism spectrum, just not its jingoistic uses.

"High functioning autism" is often really just "high passing." People who've learned good social camouflage that can lead to extreme meltdown if taken too far and if the autistic side isn't well nourished.

I've always liked "on the spectrum". To me, there is nothing negative about it, nor does it say anything about a person's level, just that they are somewhere on the spectrum (although I can see why it could be assumed that it is HFA, as it's more similar to the language often used about HFA compared to LFA or MFA).

I guess to me it sounds a little vague. It's not that I care what people think about me but rather the consequences of that. It's like a way of dancing around the subject. I'm full blown autistic and it's immediately obvious.

I say I am on the spectrum because I don't want to refer to myself as autistic or say I have AS. To me it just means being somewhere on it.

The “spectrum” aspect reflects the diversity of autism.